I agree with Larry in part....we all know what a living room, bedroom, kitchen, bath etc. should look like There are certain things you expect to see. If you don't then write it down. If there's anything out of the ordinary write IT down. Seems pretty simple to me.
That being said, I have a form I use that includes salient features of the 1004 form....a "fill in the blanks" thing. It's legal size and, on the back, I put my drawing of the house along with features and defeciencies.
Works for me.
Blue, it is too easy for me to overlook something, especially, when I have two homeowners, and three dogs following me around, pointing out their new canopener, (it happened) their new curtains in the bathroom, etc. And asking me if I know how much it is worth. I would rather have a sheet where I have a written record. Because when you go to court in a divorce, or just to defend your appraisals, as I have. It is much easier to refresh your memory, and to point out to the judge your original notes as documentation. Especially if the opposition questions your choices. I don't want to be in the position of telling the judge four years after the appraisal that I did it in my mind, and can still quote every appraisal verbatim.
I can do my appraisal sheet by circling the choices as fast as anyone can walk through a room and check everything. It works for me, but everyone to their own. I just offered it as a suggestion. But I do every appraisal as if I will have to go to court to defend it, because as I said earlier, I have gone to court up to four years after the inspection. I document every phone call to realtors, brokers, county planners, state officials, etc with the date, time, and contents of the call. It is extra work, but it is cheap insurance, and I sleep better at night.
I also have a couple of other forms I use for other purposes, but that's for another post.
Jim
