things are changing, including my attitude toward a lot of things in this business. i used to care about turn times and getting reports back quickly, now i dont. dont get me wrong, i still do a little bit, but our world isnt at all the same as it was 15 years ago. if we are going to be forced to walk on eggshells every minute, and if state licensing boards can prosecute us even without justification, then screw the deadlines. my reports nowadays are about quality and thoroughness, because turn times wont do me any good or will be a valid excuse if i have to defend my report to anyone over the next 5 years.

if someone doesnt like that, then too bad – cry me a river. not losing my license and keeping myself out of trouble comes first. and if someone doesnt like that, then go find a different appraiser. you know – someone who really knows what they are doing, hasnt retired, isnt dead, or may actually still be in business anymore.

also, the other day i fired an AMC for asking too many ridiculous questions in multiple revision requests. feels good.

the bleeding continues . . . . .

Do not know about your area, but my areas that I cover the pendulum is swinging back my way. There are only 600+/- active appraisers for 1.9 million people throughout the state. I have client’s calling me every other week to appraise properties not in my coverage areas. I turn them down because I’m too busy. Within my areas the due date is when I say it is. I’m 100% on time anyway when there is not a client/borrower related problem. Gone are the 48hr turn times (about 10 days out now), gone are the 50% less the my standard rates (never excepted them anyway), gone are the updates every 4hrs on how I’m proceeding with the report.

I agree with the above posting. In my areas try business casual while stepping around dog poop, muddy acreage and so forth. When going to any property the dress code is a clean polo shirt, clean carpenter pants and two types of footwear consisting of comfortable slip on shoes (interior) and a pair of boots (exterior). These pencil pusher need to get into the field once in a while so they can see/remember how it is in the trenches!

Don’t get me wrong I love appraising and everyone I come in contact with knows that with how I professionally present myself and treat them. But I will not be pushed around or taken advantage and that’s how we been treated since this crash that we did not perpetuate.

In our rural area you should have a set of overalls because after you crawl through the bushes, discarded car and truck parts, cat and dog poop, horse, chicken, pig and cow poop, and interiors of homes that should belong to hoarders, your casual dress attire may not look so good.