Editor’s Note: Appraisers can combine their expertise with technology to compete and beat AVMs, according to appraiser and Zaio Chief Executive Officer Thomas Inserra, SRA. Read his thoughts below. Out-Competing AVMs by Thomas Inserra, SRA Appraisers don’t have to accept the continued loss of business to AVMs. They can compete for the business and win…
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Editor’s Note: This story is one in a three-part series: Pressure: Dealing with It; Comp Checks: Learning to Live Without You and Getting Full Fees. Find more at www.workingre.com. Comp Checks: Learning to Live Without You According to most appraisers, the only way to “move on” when it comes to comp checks is to make...…
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Editor’s Note: In this story, a la mode Chairman Dave Biggers shows you how it’s done. After the Boom: Surviving & Thriving (in any market) by Dave Biggers, Chairman, a la mode The real estate market moves on a continuous up and down pattern, as we all know. Booms, busts and everything in between aren’t…
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Editor’s Note: The message to appraisers in 2007 is that business is not only slowing down but it’s changing also, and that those who want to keep appraising in the years ahead will have to pay greater attention to managing their businesses today. Here’s what we hear from appraisers on how they are managing to...…
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“The USL Documenter provides professionalism to my appraisals and keeps me from worrying about liability issues. I wouldn’t send out an appraisal without it.” – Greg Beck Editor’s Note: According to the developer David Braun, MAI, SRA, the Report Documenter Software operates in any modern Windows environment and no longer requires MS Excel to run....…
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Clarifying Copyright (by Someone Who Knows) by Tim Vining, MAI As the appraiser who brought suit in federal court for copyright, I wish to address and clarify some comments made in writing in other appraisal industry publications. Whether you realize it or not, once pen is put to paper the author has copyright protection. In...…
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Editor’s Note: Appraiser Pat Butler shares little-known but common measuring mistakes, reveals why two competent appraisers might produce varying sketch measurements and provides the best ways to reconcile the differences. Everything You Don’t Know about Measuring (Really) By Patrick J. Butler An important part of the appraisal review process performed by relocation companies and others...…
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Editor’s Note: We found the following quote among many similar comments online over the summer: “I took the seven-hour USPAP class to update myself on the new changes to USPAP. Most of the class left confused and unclear with regard to some of the changes.” (Appraiser wishes to remain anonymous.) The following is excerpted from...…
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Editor’s Note: As business slows, some of us need a little nudge when it comes to expanding our minds, our skills and hopefully our income. John Harris points out that there are significant opportunities for professional and financial growth appraising items other than real estate. Expand Your Mind (and Income) by John Harris What do...…
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Editor’s Note: Author Beverly Bayer, SRA says that lenders, fed up with shoddy appraisals, are laying traps for unsuspecting appraisers. Fannie Mae has said as much, indicating that one of goals with the new forms is to make appraisers more accountable for their work. In this story, Bayer exposes several “gotcha” traps designed to snare…
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