What Organizations Should I Join?

[Patti Hunter]

I haven't seen this topic elsewhere on the board, and am looking for advice as to which of the many organizations I should join?

I'm guessing that the Appraisal Institute (both nationally and the local chapter) is probably the most important, and the local Real Estate Boards, but any other suggestions would be most helpful.

If you could rank the other organizations in order of importance, I'd really appreciate it.

And, would it be beneficial to join them NOW, even though I haven't started my training? That way, I could start networking and marketing myself.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[wyecoyote]

Patti,

You really opened a can of worms on that one. Of course the apprasiers that belong to one organization will say that theres is better than all others. Would suggest that you wait and see if your mentor belongs to an organization.

Ryan

 

[Farm Gal]

Patti:

I'l bite! never being afraid of conflict... :wink: I gots teeth too!

It is my opinion that the single most important factor for a new appraiser is NOT operating in a vacuum. By your presence here on this forum, you are getting a great deal of information that I only WISH had been available to me well over a decade ago when I was starting out...

I think in answer to your specific question as to which it may behove you to attend several chapter meetings and see how well you 'fit' with the local chapeters.

I will give you my personal unbiased opinion of my observations in my locale (emphasis added after further reflection no change to wording):

The AI chapter is generally composed of very competent individuals who do very little networking nor sharing of information or client base. The designated individuals I have met have my respect (mostly) and I would feel fairly comfortable asking assistance of many of them, but probably wouldn't do so, in part due to their attitudes. I think highly of MOST of the continueing ed classes, although I have been unhappy with the bredth of content of several lately. The cost of membership is relatively high. I am a member (full disclosure :roll: )

The NAIFA organization in this area has some very competent individuals, I am on a good relationship footing with several local offices of designated IFA's and if overloaded refer work to them and vice versa. I have taken several classes, and found the coursework a little less complex and complete. I found the members to be slightly less sophisticated in speech manner and dress than the AI group. I was also very VERY HIGLY offended at some disinformation which was disseminated at one of the Standards classes, which prompted me to write complaints to the organization and request a face to face meeting with our state board director, to discuss my concerns. I WAS intending to continue membership but after that fiasco I declined to continue. Their membership fee does include some continueing ed in the fee structure. I think the individuals involved in my disagrement have moved on.

If you are working in other than residential you should seek input from other persons, again, specific to your area(!) for input.

I think the bottom line is that if you have this forum resource, your organizational affiliation should not matter as much, however it may behoove you to canvass your client (or potential client) base to see if they have an opinion!

I would encourage you or any relatively new appraiser to join and PARTICIPATE :idea: in a professional organization. Participate is the key word.

Good luck, and if you need contacts I would be happy to provide them.

Lee Ann in KS

 

[Anonymous]

I do not see any organization as "important". Some are more meaningful in a specific area than in other areas. If you have to travel 200 miles to attend a lunch meeting, then is it really what you want? The only organization in my area is NAR - Appraisal Section because no one could afford AI or NAIFA fees. NAR is helping us get cheap local Cont. Ed. something neither of the above can do because there aren't 15 active members in the whole state. If a chapter is so small every member has been president.....how effective could it be?

Until all the groups join, perhaps leaving each as a division within the larger organization, costs go down, and annual fees drop accordingly, I do not see any organization as being superior to any other.

Just pick one that has enough members you are not going to be picked chapter president in your second or third year.

 

[xmrdfghap]

What kind of appraising are you going to be doing? IRWA is good if you are into condemnation, ASFMRA is good and offers great farm courses, NAIFA is good in many areas and offers a broad selection of classes, the Lincoln Graduate Center offers a good selection of courses and has its own designation, the AI is good as well, as is the NAR.

What kind of appraising are you going to be doing?

 

[Paul Ness MAI]

I have to take issue with LeeAnn's comments about lack of cooperation and networking from AI chapter members. It really depends on your local chapter.

As a former AI chapter president, let me advise you to talk with a local AI member and ask if you can come to a meeting as a guest and get to know the people there. You'll be able to tell soon enough if they are friendly and cooperative. Most of the folks in my chapter believe networking among members is one of the benefits of membership and we encourage it. When I was president, I created a Yahoo egroup for the chapter (as well as anyone else wishing to join) in order to pass along information regarding data search, technical help, general chapter business, educational offerings, etc. Our chapter welcomes new folks and believe they are the future of the chapter and the profession, and we have a candidate guidance committee (all chapters are supposed to have one) to assist new folks in the pursuit of their designation. AI also has a national egroup for associate members working on their designations, as a place to go for discussion among peers and advice from national officers in pursuing their designations.

 

[Farm Gal]

Paul and all:
My less than enthusiastic comment was quite specific to my regional location, with those words preceeding the paragraph on AI. I think highly of the AI organization as a whole, but frankly competent well meaning and professionally goaled individuals coming in need something more than long glances down upturned noses. I clean up fairly well, and can hob with the nobs, but I'd rather have real friends in low places :roll: -

There are few opportunites to interact for those in our profession, I think it behooves ALL appraisers to interact with each other. Rumor hath it that appraisers in this area from ALL organizations used to meet once a month, but this hasn't happened in the last 12 years... I have tried to set somthing of this nature up for over five years, everyone agrees it is a great idea, no one wants to take the time, even if I bothered to include some credit hours or other educational opportunity!

If your chapter in your area had greater outreach than mine GREAT, so it should be in all areas. I have paid my dues for many years, and intend to continue, but cannot say I have EVER been given even minor encouragement or assistance, other than inquiries in passing as to when I am going to complete my SRA. If a smile and either "I'm working on it" OR "not working on it at this time" elicits no further inquiry, then from my point of view there is no real interest in mentoring!

Didn't intend to open the "MY organization is mo better" can of worms, just give feedback to the primary inquiry.

Lee Ann

 

[Paul Ness MAI]

No problem LeeAnn, sorry to hear of your bad experience with the stuffed shirts at your local AI chapter. Before the AI/SREA merger I was in a much larger metro chapter that was full of stuffed shirts, and it was no fun. However, I was determined to grind it out through their experience "inquisitions" to get my designation. Fortunately, our local chapter (born from an SREA chapter) now is much smaller and friendlier (about 95 folks).

With regard to appraisers getting together, our local board of Realtors has an Appraisers Council similar to what you are talking about. Also, commercial realtors in our area have a Commercial and Industrial Council that the local commercial appraisers have piggy-backed on and it has been a great networking opportunity over the years.

With regard to the organization debate that rears its ugly head from time to time, I don't try to sell people on AI, nor do I put down other organizations. My position on this forum has always been that if you are pursuing excellence and professionalism, you need to be affiliated with SOME REPUTABLE professional appraisal organization, pick the one that works best for you in your region. It is tough going through this appraisal world alone, so to speak.