Comments on: Louisiana Makes History – C&R Fee

By: Wayne

Wayne — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 16:11:08 +0000

In reply to Baggins.

I am happy to see the State of Louisiana has at least made an attempt to do something about this issue. I am one of those that do not give a hoot about C&R. I cling to the premise that my appraisal business belongs to me. It is mine to operate as I see fit.

Each of us should be looking out for what we think is best for ourselves and our families. Just because “someone” decided that C&R for an appraisal in my area is Ten Dollars does not mean that I have to work for that fee. Just because AMCs exist as parasites on this industry does not mean that I have to work for them.

We are continually faced with challenges in this business. Soon FHA will impose a bunch of regulations on appraisers that will further reduce our income and increase our liability and workload. Again, I will say no to this. Our cheese is constantly being moved in this business. I suggest that each of us take some time and revise our business plan. Look at the big picture and seek some new business sources other than AMCs and FHA. Best of luck to each of us!

By: Baggins

Baggins — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:02:37 +0000

In the meantime, daily instances of violations of C&R flow out into appraisers email boxes nationally, minute by minute, and hour by hour. I don’t think anyone would take action, if I furnished all those ridiculous low fee requests. And these days the amc’s are getting savvy to impending enforcement, so now they call appraisers endlessly like telemarketers, trying to get the best fee and tat for each individual order. Their staff turns over regularly, so most callers do not even know they’re breaking federal law with their assignment methods. I’m on the do not call list, to avoid being hassled by telemarketers, but it turns out that every amc in the country is suddenly bothering me, trying to get my services cheaper and faster than the next guy. This whole thing is absurd, to think only Coester gets a fine, and everyone else walks scott free. Coester is absolutely not the only amc engaging in those practices. I care about the little things, you know…. I think it’s important for the assignment company whom demands ethical compliance, not break federal law as a routine course of action in their assignment approaches. It’s the little things that matter. Imagine if such a standard was applied to babysitters, and someone told you you’ll get better, more trustworthy babysitting services, if you’d just trust this convicted felon to manage hiring your babysitter. Think about it. How can we have confidence in an assignment company who’s job it is to increase the ethical reliability of orders, when they are both aloof and literally unaware of the law itself? Either your good enough to be on that panel, and receive a fair share of orders, or you’re not a good fit for that particular outfit, and should not be on that panel. Demand rotational assignment, stop it with the stats nonsense, and force separation of amc and appraisers fees with itemized disclosure separate. Audit every single amc nationally, bi annually. Force compliance.

By: Retired Appraiser

Retired Appraiser — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 22:12:24 +0000

$5,000 WHOLE DOLLARS?

OMG…AMC will all be out of business within a year! This could even take down some of the largest banks in America that own AMCs. So long Chase & Bank Of America.

(Sarcasm Detector: Off The Scale)

Please tell us that this is a joke rather than a genuine article.

Bubba sure hit the nail on the heat when he said, “NONE OF THEM ARE COMING BACK.”. I wouldn’t return to the industry if NBC News announced “AMCs Were Declared Illegal Today Across The U.S.” Why? They’ve managed to muck this profession up in a thousand different ways over the past decade and they continue to screw it up for appraisers on a monthly basis. You’d have to pay me well over $1,000 for an easy 1,000 ranch home appraisal (COLLECT AT THE DOOR) before I would even consider sticking my small toe into these liability infested waters.

By: bubba jay

bubba jay — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 17:28:14 +0000

i agree with you Koma – i am laughing too. and what makes people laugh? JOKES, and that is what this is.

allow everyone involved in LA to pat themselves on their backs today for a few seconds, but lets look at the bigger picture.

1. IT TOOK ALMOST FIVE YEARS to get here.

2. THIS IS ONE STATE. where are all the other states? what are all the other states waiting for? how many more years will it take before all the other states finally get off THEIR backsides?

3. THIS IS ONLY ONE issue that has gotten A LITTLE resolved. how many other issues have appraisers been barking about for years? Hint – A LOT.

4. how long will it be until all the AMC’s take notice of this, and actually release a little control of our fees, and allow them to get closer to where they should be?

the sad part is, its too little and way too late. we have lost over 50,000 members in about ten years, partly because of this low fee issue. none of them are coming back. how many more have we lost or are losing right now because of this one issue?

appraisers have been barking about all kinds of issues like this for a very long time, and its beyond comprehension and common sense why nobody is willing to listen. when decision-making individuals sit in their suits, in air conditioned offices, and get a paycheck no matter what the heck happens, i suppose they dont need to care about us, right?

yes this is a step in the right direction, but this story reminds me of looking into the big night sky and seeing one bright twinkling star, and this certainly doesnt keep us from becoming the next Radio Shack or K-Mart real soon.

the bleeding slowed for about two seconds, but we are right back to bleeding again . . . . .

By: Koma

Koma — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 15:29:50 +0000

Coester VMS, offers no admission of guilt but agrees to follow the current Louisiana fee schedule for a period of 12 months and pay $5,000 in administrative costs.

HISTORY…LOL… I’m laughing so hard I’m crying…..LOL…and they only did this in one state…LOL…

All the haters are going to say…Well what are you doing…I’M NOT ACCEPTING THOSE LOW FEES! It’s your business stop accepting low fees or if you think your worth pennies and want AMC’s to earn more money more power to you baby!

Koma