My career change is here

[George Hatch]

Gary,

Whatever you do, don't burn your friend. If for some reason you can't perform a specific task or you have a question, it is far better to ask than to try and work your way through blindly. Recognize what your limitations are at all times, which is actually a philosophy that applies to even the most gnarled veteran. Meanwhile, strive constantly for forward progression. Try to avoid making the same mistakes twice. If you'll do this, you will prevail. Good Luck

George Hatch

 

[Tim L]

I've been a Trainee for about 2 years now and looking back some of the hardest thing to learn are the task most Appraisers take for granted , i would recomend going to all the courthouse visits with your mentor, get familar with acesser cards, plat maps, property deeds, retreiving tax info at the treasurer's office, sale disclosuers, *county maps* practice finding the location of a property by using the legal description , and practice locating a property by referring to the plat map , i cant remember the amount of times i would get to the courthouse to find out that the subject property is not in the name that the client provided, thats when you go to the plats and legals and find out who currenty lives there so you can pull the appropriate card. I would learn the ofice envirement also spend all the time you can in your mentor's office watch and learn the file managment practices ( with some appraisal software like Athena it can take months to learn well) if you live in a rural area like me really practice with the county maps!! and the most important thing to remember is not to get overwhelmed by it all, I can remember when i first started after doing 2 a day my head would be spinning, now 2 a day is a vacation, good luck and hang in there. :wink:

 

[stuartmintz]

Hi Gary and all,
Like you I am ready for a career change, I have been a large retail chain owner, and computer analyst. I also have a friend in Ohio willing to give me an apprenticeship, but worried that if I learn in Ohio, I might not have any connections to get a position in the Phoenix, Az area. How do you think I should go about it. my preference would be to get an apprenticeship here in Az, and take the necessary classes at the same time. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Stu

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Suggest you attend some chapter meetings of a professional organization. The Phoenix chapter of the NAIFA is attempting to get a chapter meeting set up for the evening of Sept 10, after the seminar that will be held that day by the Santa Ana HOC and the AMLA. Get acquainted with other practicing appraisers, listen to their discussions, read the postings on this chat room and NAIFA.com chat room. All are open to any one that is an appraiser or interested in appraising. After you have listened and read--you might decide to run for your life away from appraising!! But then you might desice that this sounds fascinating (as I have for 35 years) and want to research it more.

 

[stuartmintz]

Thanks for your input Jo Ann, I will remember, but I saw another posting, possibly from a disgruntled appraiser, but he was complaining that the field is too crwded now as is, and that only a 3rd of appraisals will be required in the future, is that so?
Thanks again

 

[stuartmintz]

Thanks for your input Jo Ann, I will remember, but I saw another posting, possibly from a disgruntled appraiser, but he was complaining that the field is too crwded now as is, and that only a 3rd of appraisals will be required in the future, is that so?
Thanks again

 

[Farm Gal]

Suart:

The business enviroment EVERYWHERE is changing, telecomunications, web access, etc.

There will always be a need for some indivudals to look at and make an opinion on houses. The number of persons needed for that service will vary based on many issues to complex for us to discern. My crystal ball is REAL hazy.

As long as divorce is legal there will be SOME need for precise valuation services, as long as homeowners lose the right to pay their mortgage ther will be a need for a off-site bank to know what's left.

Mortgage lending (which is what put residential appraisals on the 'top ten' list of best jobs a few years back) is morphing, and NONE of us knows exactly into what.

I have a long term loan officer friend who now calls himself a 'glorified form filler' and wants to do something else for a living: he says lending has become nothing more than acquireing reams of papers to verify income, and the machine spits out an answer, and he cannot affect the answer without cheating something. not fun... He USED to really enjoy his job: matching persons with programs, and helping solve problems!

If you have a deep interest in this area, go ahead and earn your license! Do NOT expect to get rich, and DO NOT anticipate an easy path to the license.

You MAY wind up with the temporal freedom to follow other interests, watch your kids or grands grow, Learn interesting things about peoples personal hosuekeeping habits, and a great deal about commercial interests, law, and bookkeeping... or you may wind up regretting deeply ever getting started in this direction.

Few appraisers are encouraging their children in this field, this is NOT a good sign of confidence. Those of us in it will second Jo Ann's advice and encourage you to get with professional organizations, in your pursuit IF you really want to join our ranks.

Just remember, if there is some one somewhere willing to do what YOU do for less money, your job is not safe. You may as well pick one that you like as opposed to one you just think is going to be stable!

Good luck in your decionmaking!