Editor’s Note: Times have changed and so should appraisers wanting a long-term and profitable career. If you haven’t learned how to promote yourself and your business, the next down cycle could be your last. Charlie Elliott lays out a few choices. Power of Networks By Charlie Elliott, Jr., MAI, SRA An appraisal “network” can be...…
Read More
Growing Business with Existing Clients By Ken Rossman Here’s a riddle: how do you grow your business without adding new clients? The answer is, you grow business by cultivating your existing client base. Here are a few simple ways to add to your bottom line without spending time and money chasing new clients. The appraiser...…
Read More
Going Mobile: Today’s Super Appraiser By Matt Johnson Every ten years or so a new technology emerges that revolutionizes the appraisal and property inspection industries. The 80’s brought the fax machine. The 90’s gave us digital cameras. What would even the most old-school practitioners do without these tools today? Appraisers and inspectors were some of...…
Read More
Appraiser Cleans House By Christie M. Bond I own and operate a two-appraiser firm in a small, under-served town in West Michigan. I have worked very hard to build a good reputation for my firm and myself. Fed up, burned out and tired of the day-to-day struggle to maintain that reputation and keep a steady cash flow, I have decided to take drastic measures with my current and future clients…. I fired them all. After six years in...…
Read More
Appraising Disasters: When the Levee Breaks Part II: Real Work Begins By David Phillips, SRA As the date for the inspections drew closer, we enlisted the help of the Village Clerk. She was an invaluable partner in the process because she had addresses and phone numbers for most residents. After the flood, many residents went...…
Read More
Editor’s Note: The following is excerpted from a freewheeling online discussion among appraisers about AVMs. It makes for interesting reading: if you want to know about something – ask an expert. AVMs: Ask an Expert(s) Just what is “Value” Anyway? – Since accuracy is determined by sale price, how can an AVM not be the...…
Read More
Editor’s Note: Regulator and appraiser Larry Disney shows how USPAP is more flexible than many presume, when it comes to reassigning appraisal reports. Dos and Don’ts: Readdressing, Reassigning and Transferring Reports By Larry Disney Real property appraiser licensees often ask, “Can I readdress, reassign or transfer a real property appraisal report?” The answer is “no,”...…
Read More
The Apprentice: Trainees Gone Wild? Just like the popular television show staring Donald Trump and a band of would-be executives, the reality of training appraisal apprentices these days involves more drama than you might expect. Recent legislation in Florida, a decree by The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) and horror stories of appraisal “sweat shops” churning out...…
Read More
34 Secrets for a Successful Appraisal Practice By Thomas G. McDowell Here are a few things I have learned over the years. I shared them with my trainees when I was in private practice. 1. You have earned the right to join a group of professionals unique in industry with a long and distinct history....…
Read More
How to Date a House By Alan Carson As home inspectors, we have some tricks for figuring out the age of a house. In newer subdivisions we pick up dates from manhole covers, sidewalks and curbs. This will give you an idea of when the subdivision was built. This obviously doesn’t work in older neighborhoods....…
Read More
