The only good AMC is a dead AMC. You are part of the problem and even more so than the idiot appraisers who sell their bodies to the lowest bidder.

If you are who I think you are, then I also know we can always go back to you guys and say we need a higher fee, explaining why, and we may (usually) get it or at least have an honest discussion on why not. Again, if your company initials are GS, I also know I need never fear being blacklisted for declining a low fee assignment.

Why would you use the assessors numbers at all? If your numbers and assessor numbers do not agree, I hope you are not one of those appraisers that ‘adjusts’ the stated dimensions of your own sketch to fit, resulting in a misleading appraisal report.

MANY times assessors routinely include ALL covered area under the roof; including entry porch cut-outs. OUR job is to provide an accurate estimate of living area (or building area or rentable area).

In Los Angeles County, the assessors office makes no serious effort to verify additions are permitted, but they DO include known additions in reported living area. Their application in doing so is unreliable. Many owners report PERMITTED additions have NOT been included in reported GLA even ten years after the event.

I AM the reliable source-not the assessor.

I’ve done too many reviews where the appraiser has simply measured incorrectly. Either rounding outside allowable ANSI guidelines, or simply not knowing how to measure accurately.

If the ‘concern’ is amcs or title cos taking issue with different measurements;, it is easily avoided by following good appraisal practices.

When my taped area totals differ from the public record sources or mls data, I disclose it and attempt to identify the cause. Its not always possible, but in the end, either way I make a definitive statement as to why MY measured and calculated area totals are the more reliable.

Lets not shift our own responsibilities in this era of finger pointing. It is NOT the job of mls to provide accurate taped totals. many MLS have been sued successfully over this very thing, and are not about to put anything down on their own volition EXCEPT “assessor” or “appraiser”. When they put the latter down, I give it the LEAST reliability, since they don’t indicate who, or when (or why).

There are practical reasons for not hiring appraisers to do as Hamp suggests. Is the listing agent going to pay $200+ out of his or her own pocket? Is the home owner? Its all the agent can do to get the owners to sign the listing in todays competitive environment.

IF this is really an issue, then contact local boards and offer to TEACH agents how to properly measure; and which areas are legitimately included and which are not. While you are at it, explain how in many states (CA) condos are ALWAYS measured on an interior basis, even when they are stand alone townhouses.

We have REAL issues to deal with where we need NARs help. lets not alienate them or squander opportunities with foolishness.

As an appraiser haven’t we ALL learned how and when to simply tell and AMC or title company “No”? No one; and I mean NO ONE is going to tell me to change measured, permitted, legal living area that I have personally measured and calculated.

Commercial Appraiser
310.337.1973

We all need to work and I know appraisers accept low paying jobs to make ends meet and that is a sad day to say the least. We pay top dollar to our appraisers and someday the national chains may just squeeze us out of business for greed!