Shoddy Appraisers Are Rampant

[Terrel L. Shields]

Ever hear of a tape recorder? I frequently record, just put the file in my digital folder. My notes may be quite sparse, depending on the SOW. And I have 2 Mavicas which do files about 350kb...so? My Pentax DSLR is in the car, I shoot comps with it. Software and Adobe will resize pix to about 350 or less Kb resolution...nothing is gained resolution wise if you take a 20,000 kb pix and compress to 350. One persons actions is not evidence of an epidemic of malpractice.

You are jumping to conclusions and we wonder why no one can keep a local appraiser group going. Everyone is convinced everyone else is an incompetent boob. Suspicious minds... no wonder we have no idea who our peers are we are so convinced everyone not doing it "my way" is a scumbag.

 

[Deleted member 80407]

You are not wrong. Even on a simple small ranch style house, my inspection times are well north of 30 minutes (FHA reports north of 1 hour). I too take many pictures as well as notes. I know there are appraiser's that rely on the dimensions and square footages reported (for subject property) within Maricopa County Web Site. If a property is not measured, this will save some time. I come from the State of Illinois and often the tax records reported incorrect GLA's. I do believe, the county's in Arizona report what the developer's provide them with which may or may not be correct. The only way to tell is to do one's job ~ MEASURE THE HOUSE.

In the past, I have read appraiser's on this forum bragging that they can complete an appraisal in 2-3 hours (which includes inspection and field time). With this type of mentality, one can assume the quality of a particular report.

 

[ICT RE]

...or shoddy appraisers are rampant!

Water is wet.

 

[TJSum]

Rampant........but only because lenders let them get away with it.

Is value where we need it? Yes?

Done. Nothing to see here folks.

Appraisal is one of the rare professions where the users expect all those in the profession to be the same or equal. What other professions is this the case? Most professionals are hired way beyond holding a government license, that is just the starting point, it is the quality of their work that matters. The powers to be keep using the quality of appraisal work to propose work arounds to having the appraiser involved or to what level, but these same decision makers are the ones who send the vast majority of work to the cheapest and quickest.

 

[Walter Kirk]

I'm willing to bet that the appraiser in question was working for an AMC and being paid around $200 for the job. I know that the amount of the fee paid should not have any effect on the quality of the appraisal prepared but in fact it does.

 

[Phil McDonald]

We seem quick to judge others in this profession. It is a good thing that we do more due diligence in our assignments before reaching a conclusion than we do when we pass judgement on a peer.

I appraise some pretty complex properties and I buy all of my cameras at the pawn shop. The resolution on my pawn shop cameras is already so high that I have to reduce resolution for reports. I keep a tape measure in my vehicle as a backup and use a laser tape which fits in my pocket. I keep my pen in my pocket and only pull it out to write things down.

My inspection packets are multiple pages because I am old and need big font and need to write big. At one time I could fit it all on one page. In fact, before wifi and tablets I completed inspections on a Sony Picture book and didn't need a pen.

Did he drive the right appraiser car and wear the right appraiser shoes?

 

[Deleted member 152047]

The "appraiser" that valued my home for a refi was very nice and took HIS time. Unfortunately, when I read HIS report, I noticed that his wife is the one that is licensed. The certification indicated that SHE inspected the property and no one was listed as providing significant appraisal assistance.

The worst part is that I told the guy that I am a real estate appraiser. I hate to turn anyone in, but I almost did on this one.

 

[ucbruin]

The "appraiser" that valued my home for a refi was very nice and took HIS time. Unfortunately, when I read HIS report, I noticed that his wife is the one that is licensed. The certification indicated that SHE inspected the property and no one was listed as providing significant appraisal assistance.

The worst part is that I told the guy that I am a real estate appraiser. I hate to turn anyone in, but I almost did on this one.

Fraud is probably the only reason I'd report an appraiser to the board....

I believe you should have reported this to the board....

 

[glenn walker]

I just watched an appraiser do my neighbors house (close friend) which is being refinanced. I was pulling out and he was taking photos of the front and street. He had an old camera in his hand, one sheet of paper in the other, he went to the front door and I watched as my neighbor let him in. I was thinking, no pen, no measuring tool? I called my neighbor an hour later and asked her how it went. She said he had an old camera, took no notes, took photos of each room, didn't ask any questions, didn't measure was abrupt and left. He was there for about 5 minutes! He did say he'd been an appraiser for about 4 years because she asked him.

When she purchased the home about 12-13 years earlier, it was much larger than the county assessors drawing. One of the girls from the office I used to work at did the purchase appraisal because she asked me to measure it to be sure. (there have been no appraisals or measures since its purchase so he has no prior knowledge)

Wonder what's gonna happen? BTW the sketch hasn't been updated in the assessors for GLA. I told her to call her lender and let him know.

Either I'm doing wayyyyy too much work at inspections or shoddy appraisers are rampant!

Maybe he was really high tech guy and you didn't notice his Disto downloading his measurements into his I pad which was on hi scars seat and and the drone that flying over the house for exterior photos did front rear and sides including a neat video

 

[Evincere]

You are jumping to conclusions and we wonder why no one can keep a local appraiser group going. Everyone is convinced everyone else is an incompetent boob. Suspicious minds... no wonder we have no idea who our peers are we are so convinced everyone not doing it "my way" is a scumbag.

And people wonder why the powers that be want to do away with appraisers. Appraisers always talking shxt about each other. To hear it there ain’t another honest appraiser save the one complaing. I find it disgusting