VA Fee Panel

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Originally posted by Robert Anderson@Apr 28 2005, 08:02 PM
Liz,

Congratulations on joining the panel. I've been a member for about 15 years and have always enjoyed the work. Unfortunately, I'm in a high-value area and rarely get any VA work any longer.

One thing that will surprise you is how old the members of the VA panel are. Last year, an agent commented that I was the youngest VA appraiser she had ever met, and I was 57 years old at the time. The last VA meeting about a third of the members of the panel were using canes to get around and a few were using walkers. I found this a little sad.

Four or five appraisals a month is not a lot, but it's a good base to build on.

Bob Anderson

Yeah, I figured I had enough gray hair at 45 to qualify finally.

 

[liznindy]

Shoot, Robert, you are younger than I am. I was hoping to be the youngest Ever! (45 here too, but with very few gray hairs)

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Robert/Liz,

Hey, good luck to both of you.

I lasted two months with VA. As RHM posted, there's easier work out there for the time spent. For the 1 a week I was getting and the extra time spent doing a VA, it just wasn't profitable for me. Actually, it was kind of sad as I waited 25 years to get on and then I got off in a flash.

Bob, I see they put you on about the same time I was put on last year. So now you have to go it alone until the annual VA meeting in Newark in July...Just don't screw-up between now and then. I already had cases assigned to me in the VA system before I even got the letter in the mail.....I didn't even know how to use the TAS computer. When I finally got in...that damn turn time clock was already ticking....

If you have any questions, give me a call. If I don't know the answer, I have 3 friends that are VA appraisers that I can call to find out for you. They sure helped me a lot to learn the VA ropes and to stay out of trouble.

And for the record..the worst accounts payables I have are VA lenders... I still have invoices outstanding since last July.

Ben

 

[Don Clark]

B) One and all. Don't know about the policy of all VA REgions but the Roanoke Region will assist the appraiser with collections over 60 dyas old. But even then, it has taken me over a year in some cases to collect. good luck.

 

[Jim Onderisin]

I applied for the panel in 11/03, found out I had been put on the panel in 11/04, since then have heard nothing and received no orders. I logged on to the website and created my account, but that's about it. You say there is a seminar or something?

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Liz,

What Region are you in? If it's Cleveland, you're in for a rude awakening!

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Jim,

Usually, the state VA office has a mandatory meeting every year of all VA appraisers...

 

[Hank Outlaw]

I would like to put in for the youngest VA appraiser. What's the award??? I applied right after graduation from college (both VA and FHA). I had been apprenticing during college, so I thought I'd give it a try. That was 1986. I was finally accepted in 1989, after applying every six months during that time. I was the ripe old age of 26... now 42. I have been very thankful overall, to have been on the VA panel through the years. I work in one county for VA assignments.

I agree with the others re: turnaround times, which in NC have become more stringent over the past couple of years. The panel in my county has grown from two to five so the turn times have improved.

The main thing I like about doing VA work is, as long as you are doing your job right, the folks at VA are behind you 100% (at least in my region), which really helps when dealing with disgruntled borrowers, real estate agents, etc. I don't get that with conventional work.

I guess it depends on what you are used to. For me, FHA / VA work was a welcome change from my first full year out of school when practically all I did was work for AMCs which I don't touch anymore. They were much more of a pain to deal with to me. One thing I've learned through the years... don't put all your eggs (appraisal clients) in one basket (VA only, FHA only, etc.). I would like to gradually transition from lender to non-lender work.

Hank O.

 

[Jim Onderisin]

Thanks, Ben, I'll look into this state meeting thing.

 

[liznindy]

Charlotte,

Do tell!! Cleveland it is.