Yellow Book

[Pittsburgh Pete]

How are you able to even get the work as a CR? It sounds like it is very limiting without being a CG, even as a designated appraiser. Just curious. You can certainly PM me if you like so as not to open this to the world as a whole (unless you want).

Thanks so much for talking about this.

In PA, Penndot updates their approved list every five years. To get on the list you are required to have some background in preparing reports for eminent domain purposes and must provide references for such assignments. Nonetheless, I know several SRAs that are on the list.

Best way to get experience is to work with someone on such a list. Cosign as many reports as possible and get on the radar screen of the RW departments, the ones that can supply the references you'll need to officially get on the lists. I performed many with my father prior to getting on the list myself nearly 15 years ago.

Plan B would be to do work for property owners contesting takings and get on the radar screen of the attorneys that fight the government. Good background to continue on the plaintiff side or eventually get recognized by the state. It's good to have experience on both sides. Many attorneys like their first question to be "so, do you always represent the condemning body in such cases?" Nice to be able to say, "no sir, I've worked for numerous claimants in the past in contesting the State's conclusions."

 

[David Mescon]

Have performed hundreds of appraisals involving residential properties for eminent domain purposes. While there may be those out there that don't do such assignments appropriately, your "more often than not" statement is BS. All appraisals performed for such functions are intensely reviewed with State and Fed regs in mind by qualified reviewers (either in house or from RW service companies). As a result, "inappropriate techniques" are rarely an issue.

Also, the vast majority of CGs I know "cut their teeth" on residential work. Residential is a good place to learn general theory and practice as the volume of sales is easier to deal with than in the commercial sector where oftentimes sales are few and far between.

But I'm sure you feel better for having posted this.

The "more often than not" statement which you so eloquently refer to as BS, was clearly prefaced with the, "in my personal experience," statement which you conveniently chose to ignore.

It may be true that the majority of CGs you know started in the residential arena, however, the vast majority of the ones I know did not.

I can't imagine what portion of what I wrote sent you into such a tizzy that you found it appropriate to respond to what I thought was a helpful post with a personal tirade ending up with a smear, but hey, that's what makes for horseracing.