Comments on: Drive By Comp Pictures and Appraisers Safety

By: Dee

Dee — Tue, 09 May 2017 16:26:04 +0000

In this day and age it’s getting more and more dangerous to take comp pics. This rule needs to be changed before someone gets killed for a stupid pic of a house then can pull up on Google maps or some other mapping program.

By: Bryant

Bryant — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 22:39:25 +0000

I have been appraising for over 23 years. I guess God is looking out for me. Every time I have had to talk to the owner of the comp house they were nice. One asked if it was legal and a few others were fine with it when I told them I was an appraiser. I really feel like I have missed out. Nobody has chased me down, cussed me out or tried to take my camera. But I have been called incompetent and an as.hole for not getting them their value.

By: Michael Powers

Michael Powers — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 18:56:40 +0000

Not too long ago I came to the conclusion comp photos are a huge waste of appraiser time and money. Yes, I still take photos of every comp in the report and some that don’t make to the report. My extras save me the trouble of another trip should on of my preferred comps not qualify. My reasoning is the property is likely to be 6 month older than when it sold. So many things could have changed since the sale. To take it to the extreme the comp could have burnt to the ground and could still be used as it’s the condition at the time of comp sale that you are reporting. And as some have pointed our there are a host of other sources for property photos like assessors, MLS, Trulia, etc.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 20:07:28 +0000

Adjust for a junky yard next door………………

By: Retired Appraiser

Retired Appraiser — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 05:03:59 +0000

In reply to Tom Woolford.

IF I were still appraising for today’s anemic fees I would cut every corner imaginable. I would steal every photo possible (including shooting photos of the PVA card if necessary), hire someone from India to type my reports, and give each report no more than 5 minutes of my time for analysis. Cost cutter fees will give you cost cutter/cheater appraisal reports. That is the ONLY way to stay in business today. Notice that I said IF I were still in the business. I’m not dumb enough to still be in the profession.

By: Retired Appraiser

Retired Appraiser — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 04:56:46 +0000

Been there…Experienced It.

I’ve had a home owner run out of the house and chase me on foot for 1/8 of a mile cursing and spewing threats the entire way.

I’ve had a guy stand up on his porch (rural) and aims his gun at me.

All the more reason to get the L out of the business. At $400 to $500 fees (pre 1004MC, pre 6 comps, pre UAD) it was barely worth it. At $225 to $275 I will gladly allow you guys to play JFK and take a hit for me. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t touch a residential appraisal today with the added BS addenda and liability for $1,000 a pop.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 02:21:21 +0000

You can trust my opinion of value, but not that I’ve driven by a comparable. If you don’t think you can trust the 2nd statement definitely don’t trust me on the 1st statement. Appraisers drive by their comps. As for current photos, you are using the comparable at the state it is in at the time of sale not 30-60-90 days or months after the fact. The photo of the comparable should be the photo of when it closed. I’m tired of are you sure you have the right house, because it doesn’t match (siding different color, it has a covered porch, etc) the MLS photo that was taken 6 months ago when the property closed. Then they say just add both photos. Well I’ll just start charging for each additional unnecessary addendum. Will the computer be driving by when they switch to AVM’s?? Thanks for listening!

By: Tom Woolford

Tom Woolford — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 15:24:32 +0000

Unfortunately, the corner cutters insure that this requirement will never be dropped. Unless forced to visit the site and view the comparable, how many do you think will actually fulfill their requirement to view the comparable from the street if not forced to give proof. I submit it would be very few. “I know the neighborhood, I don’t need to look at it again” or “I can learn more from MLS than looking at the front of the house”. While those may be true, they are no substitute for visiting the property and noting the junky yard next door, or the people who raise Peacocks that roam all over and scream night and day.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:36:53 +0000

Dustin,

Everyone agrees except the people that make the decision. With geographical competence, the necessity is reduced as well. Satellite views will also show other land uses in the area. It is time to move in to the 20th century – but only part way (no AVMs).

By: Phil Gray on Facebook

Phil Gray on Facebook — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:28:11 +0000

Don’t slow to a stop when taking a comp photo and make sure you’re not facing the wrong direction on a dead-end street. Someone comes out of their house, hit the gas and get out of there. I’ve had beer bottles thrown at me before, but didn’t hit my car because I wasn’t stopped and when they came flying I just hit the gas.