“One of the best courses that I have had in 17 years!” -Amy H > RemoteVal > AMC Guide > OREP E&O ★★★★★ “They are knowledgeable, professional, and understand urgency.” – Joe Thweatt Editor’s Note: Share your experience with trainees in Working RE’s Survey for Trainee Supervisors and help the entire industry. Take the four-minute…
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“Low Bid” Appraisal Ordering and Its Effect on Quality
by Isaac Peck, Associate Editor
Any appraiser who has worked with Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) is likely familiar with the “order by email-blast” system that some AMCs rely on to fill orders.
The process goes like this: an AMC sends an email blast to all appraisers within a…
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Editor’s Note: Kenneth W. Brown, SRA wants you to work the system- in a good way. Appraisers- Working the System By David Brauner, Editor Kenneth W. Brown, SRA wants you to work the system- in a good way. Here’s what he means. Brown, appraising since 1991, is sending and posting the following message (below) to…
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Editor’s Note: A desktop appraisal product introduced last month is the subject of concern among many Working RE readers and OREP.org members. Below is guidance issued by the North Carolina Appraisal Board. AMC-Desktop Product: USPAP Compliant? By David Brauner, Editor A new desktop product from a large, national appraisal management company (AMC) is drawing questions...…
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Making AMCs Work for You by David Brauner, Editor Here’s a story about one appraiser who makes working for AMCs work for him. Many appraisers choose not to work for Appraiser Management Companies (AMCs) because, they complain, the top priority of AMCs is getting appraisals fast and cheap– with quality a distant second. This story...…
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Profile: Making $300,000 a Year Appraising by David Brauner, Editor When it comes to success, your parents were right; there’s no substitute for hard work and a positive attitude. Those looking for a secret formula will be frustrated by what appraiser John Ugrotzi says about his own success; when asked how he consistently earns $300,000…
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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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Getting Full Fees By David Brauner, Editor Appraisers will tell you that fees haven’t budged in 15 years or more. For many, fees are falling. Welcome to the world of mega banks and the AMCs that service them, AVMs, the Internet and an appraiser-supply that outstrips demand. But some appraisers manage to command full fees....…
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Appraiser Wins “AMC-Agent” Judgment Against One-West Bank by Isaac Peck, Associate Editor The appraiser community is still reeling from the decision of a Florida bankruptcy judge to absolve JPMorgan Chase of all liability in the case of Evaluation Solutions/ES Appraisal Services (ESA) bankruptcy case. Over 10,000 real estate appraisers and agent/brokers were left unpaid by…
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Getting Out: Why I’m Leaving Residential Appraising A sometime contributor to WRE, appraiser Mike Read, sends us this letter: I used to love appraising. Long before there was any appraiser regulation my clients came to me for valuation opinions because of my years of experience in real estate and their recognition of my accurate and...…
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