Wont work saturdays? wont take off shoes? SHAME ON YOU!!

[jim farrelly]

I can't believe all the whining that's been going on about these topics. Whether you beleive it or not, this is service industry. The banks service the loan applicants, and, we service the banks and their customers. if asked to take off shoes in a nice, obviously well maintained home, do so. appease the customer with the little things, it goes a long way.

Same with weekends. I heard an argument that professionals like doctors, dentists, and lawyers dont work weekends. I was in a hospital ER on Saturday with a kid with a broken leg. Let's see, my kid saw a general practitioner, and orthopod, and a radiologist. If wrong, I apologize, but i believe all were doctors working on a SATURDAY NIGHT!! an ambulance chaser even handed me his card in the waiting room. There is nothing unprofessional or demeaning about working weekends.

in chicago, almost every bank has saturday hours, some have sunday hours, and most are still open as i write this. why is the appraiser so important that he/she can't work some odd hour and some weekends? most of us have been so busy the last five years, that we had to work nights and weekends just to keep up with the demand.

for those who wont do these little things, the time will come that demand for our services will slow down. This has been a great run and when it ends, the one's who will survive are the one's who go the extra mile to service their clients and i dont mean number hitters!!.

 

[Paulette in Texas]

Sorry, but to offend is to...

Do you really think those professionals that do work Sat/Sun or after hours, don't block out another 48 hours somewhere in that same week? If so, then you are plain #X#KSK. Only in appraising do lenders (call that brokers) expect you to work other than 40-60 hours a week Mon-Fri.

We do inspections Mon-Fri 9:00-6:00. We work another 20-30 hours on top of that, but it is our choice and not theirs. And it is data/computer work. It is not field inspections. Are we having any blather from our clients. Nope. They actually seem to respect us for saying: Thanks but no thanks. Sears, etc. has only so many hours they work and they do windows of opportunity of 5-8 hours. We do 5 day work weeks with 2-3 hour windows of opportunity for the appointment. We'll call 15-60 minutes out if they want to let them know the exact time and so as not to inconvenience anybody. But we will NOT work 6/7 days a week plus 16+ hours a day. We are proud of our work and the product that we produce. We charge as much PLUS a premium for all our work and have a huge waiting list to that of our competition. Do I have an attitude? You betcha. Proud of it. Also proud of the fact that am known for it. Client wants the "blue-light" special subsidy, they know where they can get it. It won't be from us. Amazing, how often if you tell a client that Electricians, A/c, Sears, etc. gives them 4-8 hour windows and only comes 5 days a week if their A/C breaks down how often they find they can come home 1-2 hours earlier or meet you during their lunch break. As to shoes: "I DON'T DO BAREFOOT." But then I have a backbone and am not afraid to tell a client which end is up. Do they want an honest appraisal to take to closing or do they want to play stupid mind-less games. Not into the latter. For me and mine...let the twits and weaklings just get out of the way and let the good guys do their jobs. (Or attitude adjustors) It's just a business decision. We don't need any crap that bad. Paulette in Tx
go w... (don't blame him for my attitude, he accepts even democrats to the party)
Rotts rule and Shih tzus fine.

 

[BarbaraNJ]

Jim,

I was one of the posts to the "shoe" subject. As someone who has been self-supporting and self-employed in the appraisal business for the past fifteen to twenty years, I like to think that I have learned one or two things in that time.

One thing that I learned was that if I don't take an order, the lender has forty or so appraisers right behind me to take the order. Therefore, my health and safety is my foremost consideration. If I can't walk or drive, I cannot inspect the property.

With regard to SHOES, we are talking SAFETY, and safety only. First, socks or (ladies) stockings can be very slippery. Second, objects can pierce socks/stockings that cannot go through shoes. Third, a "bare" foot is vunerable to stubbing, objects falling, etc.

On your next inspection, please take note about fifteen minutes in if you are looking where you are stepping, or if you are observing the house. If you are a good appraiser/inspector, you are looking very carefully at the interior of the home. It is very possible, while you are intent on your inspection, that you will step into or on something. A child's toy with wheels may cause you to fall down a flight of stairs. A rusty nail or tack may necessitate a trip to the doctor's for a tetanus shot (will the homeowner who asked you to take your shoes off pay for the doctor visit or the shot or necessary medication?) The same goes for stubbing a toe or having something heavy fall on it, causing a broken bone.

As the saying goes, "its not personal, its just business".

If the applicant complains to the lender and the lender asks you why you did not remove your shoes, just politely suggest that if they will cover you for medical and disability, you will be happy to take the risk of hurting yourself on an inspection. I doubt that you will be asked again.

I ALWAYS wipe my feet upon entry, and make sure the applicant sees me do it. Also, I always inspect the INTERIOR first. This was due to one inspection where I did the outside first and (because I was looking at the house and not where I was stepping) stepped in doggy "doo". I HAD to take my shoes off for that one, but it was embarrassing none the less. The smell was so bad that I had to leave them outdoors !!!

Once you do this long enough, I think you will find that you will always be balancing your own best interests (income, safety, etc) with trying to give your clients the highest degree of service possible.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Thought I'd stay out of this but....

I've taken my shoes off only a couple of times and didn't like it at all. I'm in Florida; I don't wear socks; I hate being barefoot; it is dangerous for ME. I always carefully wipe my feet before entering the house. I have boots in my car that I will sometimes put on to do the outside and change back to my shoes for the interior. This works very well in any situation where needed. The best solution for the rare times when removing the shoes really is a good idea is those plastic booties that go over your shoes and I'm going to go get some. This makes the most sense and won't be needed very often.

Weekend inspections: When I first started this biz, I worked when ever I could. Sometimes, 24/7. Some LOs simply took advantage of that and told HOs that I would come any time - even Sunday morning. You don't get any added respect for this and more often than not, you lose respect. Now, I charge extra for weekend inspections which gains perspective from clients and HOs. On rare occassions, for the best clients, I will waive the extra charge if the house is in the lower price range. The higher price range homes can pay it and I charge it.

Respect yourself. Respect your clients (when deserved). Respect the homeowner. Win - Win - Win

 

[Anonymous]

I have solved the shoe thing. I went to a medical suply store and bought the surgical shoe covers. If it is nasty out, just slip them over my shoes as I enter the home.

The weekend thing, Paulette has it right. IF the store closes at 9pm can you call them and say, just wait, i can only make it at 10? You must learn to say no. I have all of the work I want. I turn work away all the time. Yes it is much more than a 40-60 hour week, however, I do like the flexibility. I will not be working friday as I will be prefishing a tourney. Of course, anyone who calls will think I am in a class.

 

[Dan/Fla]

Jim Your are right my bank too here in Florida is open on saturday till Noon that is but that is just the Drive Thru, you can not go in the Bank and take out a loan, and that is true of most Banks down here in the South. No I do not do inspections on weekends, nor have done 5 total on Saturdays the past 8 years. I can remember 4 of those and that is because due to Car problem or Son sick I had to reschedule. No I do not feel I am to Good to do inspections on Saturdays, But I will Say that My FAMILY is to good for me to do inspections on Saturday, Like most of the Appraisers on this site, most of use Do Not work a 8 to 5 M-F most I believe work past 7pm and even 9pm through the week and our families only asked one thing is to give them time on weekends. I have never lost a client due to not working Saturdays, Most every time I set an appointment if the one that feels they have to be their for inspection, can not get off work. They can find another family member, Mother, Wife, Dad, Husband, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Friend, someone somewhere to let me in. I can only remember 1 time someone got mad and told me it was Saturday or nothing, Told her fine, I would see her this Saturday at 6:30am before my family got up. She then said that Saturday, was her only day to sleep and to make it 10am, told her I can not make it thenm, and that i would call the bank and cancel the order, She ended up meeting me on her lunch break, Just for information, found out she came home everyday for lunch, but did not want me to interup her Soap Opera.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Jim.....It's a business decision and weekend work is a choice. I have found in my years of experience that if it's my idea, it's o.k. But to be available ALL days and times of the week is just not possible for me, and in my opinion, sends the "desperate" message. In our area, those who work all the time, weekends and evenings included, are the number hitters. If I get behind to the point where a settlement date may not be met, and it's because I'm backed up, I call and ask if there's an objection to a Saturday, Sunday or evening appointment. But, this doesn't happen often. I view myself as a professional. If I don't, nobody else will. I had a jerk asking me to come do his refi appraisal on Mother's Day. For even asking such a thing, I scheduled him a week later. Yep, I have an attitude too, like Paulette. As far as shoes go and new construction, the workers pp in the sump pump holes. Why doesn't the builder ban that and quit worrying about the carpet? I thought the goal was to get an appraisal done which would finalize the deal. A couple months of that sort of thing stinks up the place good and the smell doesn't leave quickly. I wear shoes as part of my uniform, unless little shoes are lined up at the door and the refi family is of a different culture. But I have to think about it! In conclusion, let the number hitters take the weekend, evening, and take-your-shoes off jobs. Pass the cream, please.

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

OK - I'll enter my .02 worth. Yes, I have removed my shoes before when asked. Usually I am so stunned they would ask that, I didn't know how to respond. I have old tennies in the car that I put on if it looks like it is going to be a messy one (I'm like Pam - I'm in Florida and don't wear stockings because of the rose and holly bushes and it is too hot). I have done 1 or 2 inspections on Saturday and I guess I was just in a good mood when I decided to do that. Also I didn't have to drive very far. I have gone on after hours appraisals but usually don't accept an appointment past 6pm.

I really have never had anybody press me on these issues. If they ask for the weekend appointment, I simply say, "No, I don't work on the weekend," and then they work with me on another time. I sometimes work in the office on the weekend but find that I can't concentrate as well as I am usually whipped.

 

[David S. Roberson]

Jim Farrelly;

Of course people in emergency rooms work weekends and all hours of the day. They are emergency personnel, and emergencies don't always happen at convenient times. This is not similar to the appraisal profession in any aspect. We are not expected to take an oath fashioned by Hypocrates to serve our fellow man at our inconvenience like medical professionals do. Can anyone out there tell us if they have ever had a true appraisal "emergency"? A situation where someone's health was at stake if they didn't get professional appraisal help immediately? Should we be added to the list at the 911 call center? "Help! I'm having a heart attack, my house is on fire, burglars are ransacking my living room, and I need a home equity loan!"

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

One of the nice things about being an appraiser is the ability to DO IT YOUR WAY. Each of us make business decisions everyday about how we operate.

I have worked Saturdays and Sundays...in fact, I usually do some type of work on both days..even if it is only preparing for the next week's work load. After 20+ years in this business, I have learned that I need personal and family time. For that reason, unless I am really behind or took time off during the week, I do not do inspections on the weekends any more. Since the bulk of my work is for the VA (government) I like to work the same hours they do....Monday thru Friday 9 - 5. That is enough.

The shoe issue is another matter. While I usually agree with Paulette on most things (we are both Bush fans), it is my decision to respect a person's home. If they ask me to remove my shoes...I do. Carrying shoe covers is the answer for those of you who chose not to comply with this request.

Folks, this is a service business. Ever wonder why the Ma & Pa grocery stores have gone by the board? Because Walmart will do it "their" way! If you chose to take the low road, don't complain about someone else getting YOUR business!

Nuff said...thus sayth the old guy.