Trainee/Supervisor dynamics and finding a supervisor

[Timothy R]

As someone who was a CR, then upgraded to CG, I would just go straight to CG. You can appraise whatever you feel like and only go through training once. You just need a mentor who does both residential and commercial. It is not mutually exclusive.

Thanks so much for the answer! I’m a trainee trying to feel out what the best course forward is for me. Ultimately I want to be CG, but also have a daughter to provide for and don’t want to be a trainee for too long either.

I nominally straddle both markets, even though I live in a large metro region. I *could* have chosen to spend my entire time appraising the big investment grade properties but TBH I just don't enjoy the work and I don't enjoy those client relationships. I have always preferred to work with the community-oriented properties and the lenders who do business therein. That puts me into a very broad spectrum of property types including the weird ones. I get referrals for SFRs on occasion, usually from other appraisers and other clients, and some of the land appraisals I do are for lots with HBU for one or more SFRs; so I still need to understand SFR appraising. I suppose you could call me a general practitioner, not a specialist.

AFAICT the property types I work with will still need human-performed appraisals long after the machine takes over most of the more typical properties among the SFRs and commercial properties.

Speaking strictly in terms of stability, I would say that unless you live/work in a large metro area that has enough non-res activity to commit to doing that full time that you might do better for yourself by learning both, starting with residential. With that said, better to be all-in for what you do than to make your decision based solely on the income. If you prefer doing 1-4s for the GSE pipelines then commit to doing that as best you can and you'll probably do fine for yourself over time; much better in some years and worse in others. Over time, it isn't how much you make that counts anyway; it's what you spend.

My opinion only.

I live in a predominantly rural area (Cecil County, Maryland) that would probably be a more residential and agricultural market than anything else.

I can’t thank you enough for the detailed response!

 

[George Hatch]

One word of advice: if you want to learn residential well enough to eventually mix in with non-res work as a solo practitioner then it will be easier to do that in a shop that specializes in residential, one where those assignments are the main line and are not being treated as some afterthought being offered as a loss leader. Most CGs who have only ever dabbled in residential on the side have a horrible reputation for competent performance. Work toward your CR and SFR competency (not the same thing) first, then find a CG shop to make the transition. Expect a learning curve of 3-4 years of competently supervised experience for residential and at least another 3-5 more years under a veteran CG for non-res. Don't kid yourself into thinking you can competently go solo as a CG after only 3 years total experience. The longer you associate with appraisers who are better than you are the less time it will take you to become their peer.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

Thanks so much for the answer! I’m a trainee trying to feel out what the best course forward is for me. Ultimately I want to be CG, but also have a daughter to provide for and don’t want to be a trainee for too long either.

I live in a predominantly rural area (Cecil County, Maryland) that would probably be a more residential and agricultural market than anything else.

I can’t thank you enough for the detailed response!

Another reason to look at getting a CR credential is if something happens to your supervisor. I have seen people whose supervisor died and its harder to get hired as a trainee.

 

[Zsmithz]

Hello Karen. What is your current full time very rewarding business? And why do you think that being a real estate appraiser will be a low stress job?

I find it truly amazing (to the point of being unbelievable) that you have been about to complete a 15 hour USPAP Course, a 30 hour Principles Course, a 30 hour Procedures Class, a 4 hour Trainee and Supervisor Class, submitted the application fee of $300, gotten your background check and finger prints done all in two weeks and did all that prior to finding a supervisor. And your love of tests! I don't think I have ever heard anyone say that my entire life. Why don't you want to be a lawyer, doctor, or CPA instead of appraiser? I'm just curious how people that do not have any knowledge of appraisal decide to become an appraiser out of the blue. I had already been working for a different appraiser, so I had typed tons of appraisals, was experienced in using the sketch program to draw sketches from the appraiser's rough sketch, searching for comps in MLS, etc. Not to mention you have just moved to a new city, so how would you even have knowledge of the real estate market in the area to be able to help your supervisor out? I proved I could increase my supervisor's production of appraisal reports. That is how I got my experience hours. Lots of people think they want to be appraisers when really they just want to go and measure houses. They don't want to type reports or do research, which is the hard part. You might see about getting on at the local County Assessor of Property. They will pay for your education and you will have benefits like vacation and benefits.

I did that and am taking my Certified Residential Exam tomorrow. Almost exactly that actually and it was a huge selling point to the biggest local firm that I was taking appraising seriously. Also I'm married to a Realtor so had some base knowledge which helped and had seen a bunch of the reports that she got on her clients houses. Plus I have always enjoyed the challenge of tests even if they are tedious. Just saying even if it isn't your method it doesn't mean it isn't possible.