USPAP Advocacy Question - Please help with this "discussion" in our office

[matthewl]

Hi Everybody!
Happy February to everyone.

A client asked us to fill out the grievance paperwork for him. We have a former paralegal on staff as a order coordinator, not an appraiser, who is familiar filling them out. It has been tossed around that we have this support staff fill the paperwork out for clients and charge them an amount to fill it out.

To me this would make us an advocate for them but I am having a hard time convincing others of that fact. I would appreciate any help. I have search and found similar discussions but I just wanted to start fresh since I am already having difficulty.

Also however, the extra money would be great so I am also ready to be proven wrong but I read FAQ 289 and AO-21 again today and I that is how I am reading it but maybe I am being overly cautious.

I emailed AI but I have never done that before not sure if I will hear back soon or not. I appreciate the help everyone.

Matt

 

[matthewl]

So yeah I am looking to the forum:



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[Hamlet]

If the person performing this service is NOT an appraiser and is not assisted by an appraiser, then USPAP would not apply.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I guess you are saying to file greivences against other appraisers to the state? I'd check with the state board in that case. It is not a valuation service. USPAP does not apply to you employee. If you had a termite inspector on staff, they are not liable nor are you, for USPAP issues.

 

[Spencer1025]

Sounds like it's like a tax appeal. You can accept if you follow the guidelines provided by the state or the county appraiser and acknowledge a lack of bias. Your sales will show that. I could be way off

 

[PropertyEconomics]

Our professional world ... it is a changing isnt it ????

 

[DWiley]

A client asked us to fill out the grievance paperwork for him.

The question is not clear - What is "grievance paperwork?"

Someone in your local market might know exactly what you are talking about, but I have no idea. Is this a form submitted for tax appeal? An IRS form? A complaint against an appraiser? An appeal to a lender regarding a "low" appraisal?

Without knowing exactly what you are talking about it is impossible to provide a meaningful response.

 

[matthewl]

Thanks for the posts everybody sorry for my lack of clarity. This is all for tax assessments. The paperwork to file a greivance with the local assessor.

 

[Don Clark]

Thanks for the posts everybody sorry for my lack of clarity. This is all for tax assessments. The paperwork to file a greivance with the local assessor.

An appraiser cannot be an advocate, except for their own work. Your paralegal is not an appraiser. However, your office can do an appraisal for a property owner to form an opinion of current market value. If that helps them fine, if not, then that is the way the cookie crumbles.

 

[matthewl]

An appraiser cannot be an advocate, except for their own work. Your paralegal is not an appraiser. However, your office can do an appraisal for a property owner to form an opinion of current market value. If that helps them fine, if not, then that is the way the cookie crumbles.

Thanks Don,
We have done many many many appraisals in this capacity to help an owner determine if they are overassessed, sometimes they are, sometimes they are not. This is the first time it was ever suggested that we help them do the paperwork and that is where I am having difficulty. The appraiser wouldnt be doing the paperwork but an employee of the firm would be.