Need An Honest Opinion

[Allen Bruckner]

As you all know I am currently working . the workload is nill, but I am starting to get some of my own work. 6 this week. here is my question. I was interviewed today by a local company, very close to my house. they are a Mom and pop shop. They offered me a position. They have work enough to keep me busy along with the other appraisers thay have working. Should I go with them or continue with the person I am working with and try and build up my own client base. I feel bad about leaving my mentor, I am not the kind of person to jump ship. I really don't know what to do. the new position seems to be more stable. any ideas.


Allen

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Allen,

That would depend on the ethics and knowledge of the two different places. If you are receiving one on one training with a knowledgeable and eithical mentor, you are in a wonderful position. Most shops with more than 2 trainees are 'sweat shops' that will actually teach you the wrong ways of appraising..... but have lots and lots of orders.... at really cheap fees. Not all, just most. It can take a long time to get out from under the 'reputation' of a shop like that. There is a local bank here that still won't use me because of who I originally trained under.

Check out the reputations of the ones that are offering you a position first.
What geographical areas do they cover? Keep in mind the competency provision.

Just carefully check them out before you jump ship. You just might find out that you are one of the lucky ones with a good mentor that won't harm you later.

Come to the next FREAB meeting, Tuesday, August 5th, in Orlando. The education there is tremendous and you get 5 CE credits. Florida will soon be changing the number of trainees any supervisor can have. Something else for you to think about.

 

[Allen Bruckner]

He has 1 cert, 2 licenced. 4 full timers, of which the least time on job is 1 year, and 3 part timers who are firemen or policemen. the jobs are all local, the 2 counties close to me, He seems like a straight shooter, only deals with banks, no mortgage companies and is willing to train. Hard choice. he's not a youngster and put everything on the line up front. He will not force any more work than I can complete correctly and none of his appraisers work weekends, but i can if I would like to.
I can bring the clients i have and there no problem with that, he did say however that his clients come first. Like I said, it all was layed out up front. It doesn't seem like a sweat shop and he does not discount his appraisals. I have a tough choice to make. But at least I have this choice, Some of us newbees are still waiting.. Sorry.

Allen

 

[TC]

Why not do both? If you have the software for both shops and neither one minds, go for it. Work weekends, bust your hump, save your money, and in a few years go out on your own.

Just my opinion, worked for me.



TC

 

[Francois K. Gregoire]

Originally posted by TC@Jun 19 2003, 08:50 PM
Why not do both? If you have the software for both shops and neither one minds, go for it. Work weekends, bust your hump, save your money, and in a few years go out on your own.

Just my opinion, worked for me.



TC

TC and All,

Good suggestion, except Florida Law limits the Registered Assistant Appraiser to working for a Supervisor and/or a Secondary Supervisor. The Secondary Supervisor must be affiliated with the same firm or business as the Primary Supervisor and all must have the same business address.

If I'm not mistaken, Allen is in southeast Florida.

Frank

 

[TC]

FKG,

You are probably right. I was basing my post on PA laws, I worked for more than 1 appraiser at the same time before going on my own. They didn't like it much, but they needed my services. No doubt the law is different in FL.

In that case, take the job that offers the most long term employment.

TC

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Interesting law you have there in Florida. I was going to suggest the same thing which is perfectly legal here in Colorado...at least for the time being.

If you are comfortable where you are remember the old addage...."the grass may be greener on the other side of the fence..or maybe not". Didn't Bill Murrary say that???

 

[TC]

No, I think he said it's more of guideline than a rule.

 

[Allen Bruckner]

I took the other position. I am glad now that i did. i have learned more this week than the past few month's. i thought i knew how to do appraisals. Boy was i wrong. this gentleman has taught me how to make my job easier, how to look up comps the right way and how to use the plat maps for guidance. I didn't even know what a plat map was.
To all you newbees, As i am. Be sure you go with a good trainer, or you will have to relearn everything. At least my other mentor showed me what the forms looked like and the basics.
I am not knocking him, but being 30 miles away from him was hard for him to show me the changes he made in the appraisals. At least I hope he was making them.

He at least gave me a start,this got me into the new firm. I am a luck guy.

Keep your chin up....
Allen

 

[Dee Dee]

Good going, Allen!
Hope everything works out well with your new supervisor.

FWIW, I used to drive 50 miles each way, usually six days a week for two years to get to my mentor's office. That was just to make corrections and complete appraisals that were turned in the day before to my supervisor, and do research on my new assignments. That's not counting the drive time to and from my inspections. In two years I put nearly 90,000 miles on my truck and usually worked about 60 hours a week. I think after expenses I might have cleared $15,000 the first year and maybe $25,000 the second.

Was it worth it? I can tell you it damn nearly killed me and my poor neglected family, but yes.

If I had to do it over again now? NO WAY! :blink: