My Trainnee

[msking]

Interesting tidbit: the instructor for my 90 hours of appraisal classes told me that no more than 2 out of 30 people in the classes would go on to become licensed appraisers (in California). He said about 1/2 would never take the test to get a trainee license, and those that failed the test would not be likely to continue. Others would pass, but wouldn't complete the 2000 hours of apprenticeship and get their residential license.

Pretty low rate!

He shared this information with me one day during the lunch break in our day-long class, when he found me sitting in the back of my 9 year old Suburu station wagon in the parking lot, eating lunch I had brought in a cooler from home and studying my textbook. He laughed his head off and said I was one of the two from the class that would make it! I guess being cheap and a workaholic are excellent appraiser traits.

 

[terr]

I think it is scary when I go to an appraisal CE class and trainees are in the class that are doing appraisals and have no idea of what they are doing or no knowledge of the most simple appraisal concepts even after a year of doing the appraisals themselves with the supervisor signing off on their work.

I also review appraisals of trainees and some are just the most error ridden reports I have ever seen in my life.

Some people are just not cut out to be appraisers just as some people can not be doctors or lawyers, etc.

I hope I am only aware of a small minority and not the norm.

Terr

 

[davidjames]

How thick the irony.... Wouldnt it be strange if someone knew your trainee?? I know its all in fun but would you feel bad?? Lets assume youre trainee has been helping you for awhile but just took her appraisal classes in June...that would excuse many mistakes wouldnt it?? The key phrase is "she'll be a good appraiser someday" which she will. Say hi to V....

 

[Dee Dee]

In all fairness, I have to say that I was probably one of those trainees that many would have given the boot to .
Thank God my mentor was patient and understanding, and pulled me through. To this day I wonder how or why she put up with me.

In the two years that I worked under her, she had to contend with a barrage of things that happened to me through no fault of my own. To say she picked up some of my slack when I needed it the most is an understatement.

I had two sons at home to take care of, and she would lighten my work load just a little bit if I needed to spend more time with them. When my stepmom was dying of cancer in another state, she gave me a couple of weeks off to care for her in her home until her passing. She gave me the time off that I needed to get through some medical problems and get back on my feet. She took a sizable stack of files right out of my hands and practically shoved me out the door for several weeks when the Columbine High shootings occured, which left my entire family and most of our closest friends in shock and mourning. Then there was the accident that I had which nearly cost me a finger and made me a one-handed typist for several weeks. For three months I had my mom and stepdad living with us while he was ill and going through medical testing and treatment at a local hospital. And that's just a partial list....it was the worst two years of my life.

On top of it all I was trying to learn a profession that has a very steep learning curve. Although I gave 100% of what sanity and energy I had to spare to my apprenticeship, I'm certain that if put to a vote I'd have been considered the least likely to succeed by my peers.

In spite of a multitude of other wannabe's beating on her door that probably would have been a much better investment for her time, my mentor nurtured my sorry *** along. She had a gift for figuring out exactly when the right time was to give me a little space (perhaps the catatonic drooling was her cue) and when to nudge me back into the rat race of the business. For reasons that still elude me, she made me her personal mission. When I finally took my certification test and passed I did a wild screaming solo dance in the testing facility parking lot (fortunatley nobody called the white coats), then she was the first person that I called. Nobody seemed more happy for me than she did.

There were a few times when we didn't see eye-to-eye, but I will forever owe her for seeing something in me that I highly doubt others would have.

The point that I'm trying to get at is this...
anyone can train rookies, we have plenty of sweat shop appraisal mills out there to prove it, but it takes extra patience and probably less financial gain to be a good mentor. There's a big difference between the two. My hat is off to those who make the sacrifice of being a true mentor.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Dee Dee,

She saw what the rest of us here know from reading your posts.

YOU were worth the effort.

 

[Dee Dee]

Pamela,

That's a very kind thing for you to say. Thank you.

Although I'm not in a position right now to take on a trainee, I can only hope that when that time comes I'll remember that the best teachers rise to a higher level of respect because of the dedication and patience they put toward their weakest students, at least if those students are trying.

 

[graindart]

....the weakest students are almost always the most trying.... :lol:

 

[Stone]

One of the parts of being a newbie (and I have only been doing this for a few years, so I qualify as one) that seems to be forgotten once you have been doing this for several years, is how much there is to remember. My mentor, who is my father, was and is very patient with mistakes that I used to and still make. He understood that not only are you trying to remember how to write a report, you are trying to remember every step so that you have to back track as little as possible. And when you are working on several projects it is easy to forget something. In particular this is true if you are doing different types of appraisals and different types of reports.

I would say that only after a few years am I comfortable going back and forth between form and narrative reports, and between different types of properties. It takes time.

 

[Bemis Pownall]

ok
over worked
over stressed
Im sorry I ever started this thread.
Im just too much a perfectionist at times.

i do tons of reviews in my area and see tons of stupid mistakes and misleading reports, just wish I could change it. Guess I cant.

I had 4 mentors in 3 years

1. Didnt pay
2. Paid but not alot and wanted us to make wallpaper adjustments and do "whatever" it took to hit value.
3. Never came to the office, used a rubber stamp to sign reports, no review.
4. Value hitter and rates went up over night.LAYOFF

#1 still in business
#2 not in business
#3 in business but a mile long rapp sheet at the RE commission
#4 same as #3

How did I learn?, a little from the above, taking ALL the AI courses(wanted to be an SRA). Doing nothing but review work for a few years during the slow times. Knew MLS inside and out prior to even being registered.

I never took a partime job while learning, just concentrated on what I really wanted to do.

No one has taught us how to mentor.(perhaps that would be a great CE class) I could be a terrible mentor I dont know? We all have a strong points and thats what we should concentrate on; Highest and Best Use.

done

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Ahhhhh, now I understand!

Bet you're a really good appraiser. Highly motivated, intelligent and honest.... and a perfectionist.

Doing a lot of reviews can make a good appraiser really sick and cynical. Sounds like you could use a little vacation.