I don’t know what your appraisal reports look like, but my page three is COMPLETELY filled up. With an interior appraisal I state “Subject GLA obtained by appraiser measurement during inspection”. That’s all their getting. If they don’t understand that they need to get further educated.

In two of the counties where I appraise the assessors do not give out any information to the public. It is considered personal information that is the homeowners only. They were taken to the state Supreme Court to get the information released and the assessors prevailed. In order for me to look (no copies) at the information I have to give a lot of my information, reasons for needing that info and have to sign in with my credentials to retrieve it. Most realtors in the area leave the sf info blank on the MLS sheet. They say their afraid of being sued for incorrect information. The local MLS can’t have the info either.

In another county tax assessors method is for every colonial it’s base x2, every Cape Cod it’s base divided by 2 then added to base and if the basement is part/full finished they add it to the GLA and will not tell you the difference.

CU needs to start giving appraisers our information!

One reason why…we don’t have lobbyists…that’s why they pile on our (appraisers) backs!

If it is an interior assignment or one where the report relies upon the appraiser’s sketch then that rule should be dropped.  In no way shape or form can public records data supersede or should it supersede what the appraiser has measured.

Soap box warning:

Public records data always has statements tied to it that it cannot be relied upon.  At least it does in my market anyway.  When do we as a profession stand up and say , this is the acceptable method for measurement – and pick one. I don’t care if its ANSI or the American Standard – lets pick one, go with it and hold everyone accountable to that. Our profession is regulated by everyone.  We do not create data – we report it . If the sources that we have to rely on cannot be “reliable”  – then start with those sources and make changes.

It is absolutely ridiculous that we need a check of our report for our subject GLA that cannot be relied upon from the source they are using!

everyone wants our reports to be as correct as possible, including us. yet, we all know the realtors often times dont do their jobs recording and downloading accurate MLS data, and we also know the information we get from the assessors office can also be just as unreliable. we have all known this for a VERY LONG TIME.

so who holds these people accountable? why are we again, the ones being held accountable for inaccurate information, when we cant get accurate information from anyone in the first place?

why are the state boards not prosecuting and fining realtors for THEIR sloppy work and not doing THEIR jobs? (probably because they know they would be constantly flooded with complaints?), why isnt anyone doing the same with the local assessors offices? why is it that these people do not seem to be as tightly regulated as we are? assessors offices are not required to measure the houses they assess? nobody sees a problem with that? really? (i know for a fact that thats the case where i live too).

if the banks, the states, the feds, whoever, want accurate information from us, then accurate information needs to be provided to us in the first place. if realtors arent capable of doing their jobs and cant provide the accurate information everyone is demanding nowadays, then fine them, prosecute them and threaten to take away their licenses too.

its time for people to get off our backs, and start addressing the other problems that are out there..

the bleeding continues . . . . .

“The subject was physically measured on every level to ensure that the correct square footage is stated on the report. Any significant open areas on a second level that extend down to a lower lever, as seen in a story high great room, for example, were not included into GLA calculations for the upper level, however consideration is given to the contributory value of that two story feature in overall quality.  Variances in size from assessor findings or other appraiser’s results are not uncommon as sometimes they are not allowed access to the property or there are variances in the inclusion of areas into GLA, such as 2nd story open areas, porches or lower levels.  Should the lender request a review of another appraiser’s/assessor’s work to explain why their results differ from the results of this report, an additional fee of $100 minimum will be required.”

the bleeding continues . . . . .