Question about a review appraiser

[Mike Phillips]

Has anyone every had a review appraiser call and berate you over a comparable utilized in an appraisal? or start requesting where you gathered your data from and then say yours is wrong and mine is right? also this reviewer was talking down to me like he was better than me?

I screwed up an appraisal about 20 years ago. The reviewer knew the reputation of our firm (or so he said) and he made a courtesy call to let me know where I had screwed it up. He was right. I only had about 4-5 years experience then; I was much more of a rookie then than I am today.

I don't condone a reviewer calling and demonstrating an unprofessional attitude. But to be honest, I wish more reviewers would call.

As far as USPAP goes, sure, it probably was a violation. But I don't really care - I think parts of USPAP are pure crap anyway. I'd sure as hell rather have a reviewer call me and let me know what was coming and to give me a chance to prepare a response than to just send it in - without asking me, even challenging me for an explanation.

Oh...I almost forgot - the reviewer I mentioned above invited me to lunch. He was an SRPA as I recall. Nice fella. Never saw him again.

 

[Kevin Mc]

it is a desk from what I can tell, no certifications attached to it nothing it is the review form, comp grid page, comp pictures, map page, and a overflow addendum page.

My bold. It isn't worth the paper it is printed on. I don't respond nicely to "enhanced desk products". I suggest you do the same. If you do in fact find out who did the review, foward it to your state board and file a complaint. Once again the tail attempts to wag the dog.

 

[panappr]

Has anyone every had a review appraiser call and berate you over a comparable utilized in an appraisal? or start requesting where you gathered your data from and then say yours is wrong and mine is right? also this reviewer was talking down to me like he was better than me?

I remember I had to once rebutt a review from the same AMC... I actually got a copy of the review and was astounded that they rate your analysis 1 - 5, This was an in house review form, #1 being the worst with a recommended action, #2 high risk, #3 moderate risk, #4 Low risk, #5 nominal risk. I have to take offense that everything is a risk. I didn't see anything that stated good report, well written, value well supported. This particular reviewer was incompetent and seemed overly zealous. Just so you know my value was reinstated, so they do have a reconsideration system that lets another appraiser have a look at it and communicate. I find this to be an honorable code. Personally, I would not have communicated your designated reviewer, and contacted a Landsafe supervisor.

Although I used to do allot of review work (many years ago), it can be a thankless job, and very low pay. I've seen desk reviews lately for as low as $50.00 and have been asked to do field reviews for $75.00. There's something so wrong with this picture.

Tell the reviewer to just do his review. Knowing you can always rebutt his actions with this AMC. I have a feeling they are going through some sort of reorganization.

 

[Robert Rodgers]

Ok I got the final word from my client today.

They asked for 1 more comp, the underwriter then reviewed the additional comparable let my appraisal stand, they discarded the review and now have told Landsafe that they don't want him doing any more work for them.

 

[Kevin Mc]

they discarded the review and now have told Landsafe that they don't want him doing any more work for them.

Noble, but it won't happen. Doesn't matter who specifically did the review, the program remains the same.

 

[Mztk1]

Especially since I've been in a conference call with LandSafe where LandSafe specifically stated that they are having reviewers call to ask questions and asked us if felt pressured by them in any way, or if they were courteous.

I just got a call today from a reviewer at LandSafe, she told me that my comp #5 stated the condition was "average" like the subject but I made a 5% adjustment. She said she knows the adjustment should be made because my comments explain why, but that I might want to change it from "average" to something else so it is more clear. Also she told me my comp #3 and #4 photo were identical. She was right. I fixed it and thanked her. And I meant the thanks. I have no problem when I reviewer from LandSafe calls. If they have questions, some one else will, and it gives me the opportunity to make my report stronger.

 

[Kevin Mc]

I have no problem when I reviewer from LandSafe calls. If they have questions, some one else will, and it gives me the opportunity to make my report stronger.

Really? thats nice. I have never had a LS reviewer call me. I have been on the end of some seriously **** LARAs and enhanced desk reviews but no one has had the decency to call me. Then again if they are not Geo-competent in my area and haven't gone out and performed a field review before they question my report , it is in their best interest not to call me. If I made typos, no problem. Question my comp selection and report better have your ducks lined up. No quarter.

 

[Robert Rodgers]

I would not mind the call at all don't get me wrong but talk with respect not like you are better than me.

Maybe he was mad because I did the original apprasail and got paid a more normalized fee, not a split of the $150 they charged for the "what ever they call it" report.

 

[Mztk1]

Really? thats nice. I have never had a LS reviewer call me. I have been on the end of some seriously **** LARAs and enhanced desk reviews but no one has had the decency to call me. Then again if they are not Geo-competent in my area and haven't gone out and performed a field review before they question my report , it is in their best interest not to call me. If I made typos, no problem. Question my comp selection and report better have your ducks lined up. No quarter.

They started hiring staff appraisers in a big way here in Florida about a year or two ago. The staff does the review work and they are all local and competent. Before that, though, we used to only get the TX people reviewing and I never heard from them and never saw a LARA. I've seen LARAs on my work by the local people, just one actually, it was no big deal to me.

Once they start hiring en masse in NY as well, you'll start getting more local LandSafe staff appraisers calling. I believe talking with the appraiser (only if the appraiser is an approved LandSafe Appraiser with a LandSafe ID who did the report with LandSafe as the client; otherwise I understand they cannot talk to them) is part of the job description. It may be though that the ability to hire staff is not as easy as it was a year or two ago. Florida was the experiment state, the first one. I was offered a job. Back when they started hiring here it was when the market was getting terrible and independents were nervous. Many took the cut in pay to work for a company if it ensured a certain income. The package favored retiring or downsizing appraisers, secondary income appraisers and newer certified/licensed people. There was no way it was benficial to me. Now, the market isn't an unknown. We know how bad it is going to get because we are living it. Plus the newer people are not as aggressively getting certified or working the business either. It must be harder for them to get hirings. Maybe the system won't make it to NY.

 

[Kevin Mc]

Jim.

you obviously have much more respect for Landsafe than most. I have no problem with them but they have a problem with me and my kind because

A) I am an independent fee appraiser
B) there are mortgage brokers out there feeding folks like me work

They will typically "chop" any deal a MB sends to them. There are several reasons for this (rates and LTV quotes being skewered is one of them). More than one MB has been told that if the appraisal had been ordered through Landsafe there would be no review etc....I have no problem with LS. I have a problem with them questioning my values based on some 2-3 year jerk pulling comps from the MLS because he has been instructed to cut value. Black helicopters man.(and God help the 2-3 year jerk when I'm done with him)