Why All Caps?

[Flygirl 152]

I recently completed an FHA appraisal for a client that required 2 full appraisals for any of their FHA loans. Since the other appraiser missed a bunch of pertinent things such as the fact that no water comes out of the master bathroom shower, and a plethora of other errors they had in their reports, the client sent me a copy of their appraisal. In addition to the many mistakes in the report, as well as the fact that they used all MLS photos....they wrote the report in all capital letters. Why would someone want to do this? How is something written in all caps perceived by other professionals? Any comments?

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

We've had that discussion before. I think it goes back to hunt and peck typists. I learned traditional typing on a manual Royal Upright and cannot use caps without downsizing the initial letter in a sentence. I find it unattractive. For narrative it would be pointless and unprofessional. I would find it hard to switch back and forth between upper & lower cases if doing a mix of form and narrative reports.

OTOH, there are certain fonts which mimic upper case even when typing normally.

 

[Jungle Boy]

I used to type in caps because my mentor did. I quit the practice a few years after going solo, mainly in order to fit more words into the cramped quarters of the URAR.
So many residential appraisers write in CAPS, that I believe it is accepted by most open minded reviewers.

 

[Hamlet]

I do not type in all caps because I think the words flow better and the report appears more professional. It is personal style and IMHO should have nothing to do with a reviewers findings.

 

[TJSum]

WHAT IS WRONG WITH USING ALL CAPS ?

Okay, just kidding, one of my appraiser friends does work for an AMC and they demand it be typed with all caps, go figure, I guess that is why they pay the big bucks.

 

[Flygirl 152]

one of my appraiser friends does work for an AMC and they demand it be typed with all caps, go figure, I guess that is why they pay the big bucks.

Very interesting. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to get an engagement letter that read, "The URAR must be typed in all capital letters in order to conform with underwriting guidelines." I think I would fall of my chair laughing.

 

[Hamlet]

Very interesting. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to get an engagement letter that read, "The URAR must be typed in all capital letters in order to conform with underwriting guidelines." I think I would fall of my chair laughing.

Considering many of those AMCs are using workers from Bangladesh I’m surprised they don’t request broken English.m2:

 

[PropertyEconomics]

AMC .. isnt that all caps too? I see a corolation here!!

 

[George Hatch]

The use of all caps by some appraisers predates computers and (IMO) may be based on habits learned in military service. Back when typewriters were the norm, military personnel were trained to handwrite using all-caps because it resulted in more legible handwriting and eliminated capitalization errors from most people. Some forms of military reports and communications were typed in all-caps as well. Fast forward to when we handwrote appraisal reports and passed them off to typists, all-caps made the typists' jobs easier for the same reason. Since then, habits learned by the old heads have apparently been passed on.

 

[Em Tee]

Do you take your shoes off if you type in all caps? And do you wear a suit or jeans on inspections before you type in all caps?