1. Federal agencies such as IRS hire subject matter experts as field reviewers (COTRS).

2. School districts and college districts also hire appraisers for condemnation work (and typically pay a very good fee).

3. Hard Money Lenders-but only those that allow (prefer) field collection of fees directly from the borrower at the time of inspection.

4. Your neighbors and other parties. It’s ok to ‘farm’ your neighborhood just as a real estate agent does.

Mike: I am lazy….that is why I have retired. As a certified general appraiser with 40 years of experience I could be working 24 hours a day 7 days each week. Never will I work with an AMC. I do not ask what will you pay, I state what I charge.  I am not trying to be boastful as any appraiser can do the same if they will just get with the program! LOL…so easy!

Well, I certainly can’t argue the 97% statement. Nor would I want to. You are correct.

Along those lines, when someone (or a group of ‘someones’) takes a positive step to try to build that unity it is counterproductive to disparage their efforts.

Wayne, there is never a shortage of us (including myself) willing to find faults. I’m trying to work on myself.

Isn’t that true! There’s nothing like winding down business the week before you need to leave, and when returning taking another week to build up business. To take a one week vacation (what is that), is to lose or slow down ones income for +/- three weeks.

As there was no whining, and it wasn’t a complaint fest, I wouldn’t have fit in.

Seek the truth.

I just can’t afford to go anywhere…

Mike: I questioned this conference from the inception. You are right that I did not attend. The fact that I did not attend was NOT an over site, I purposely did not attend. As a group the appraisal profession has a zillion problems but WE could solve 97% of all of those problems within six months if we were to just come together and do so. Appraisers could not possibly have any worse enemies than themselves! Thank GOD that I have finally retired from this business. I still love it and a lot of the people involved. It is just a shame that something so simple has to be so hard!

Wayne, how can you have an opinion about something you know nothing about aside from speculation and hearsay?

I’m never a fan of such conferences and this was the first I ever opted to attend. I was blown away by the quality AND the suggestions on exactly how the average appraiser can improve their business and professionalism. It exceeded all expectations.

Mike I did not attend the Appraiserfest. I thought the structure of this forum was ridiculous and did not serve the average appraiser in any way! They could have made a tremendous progress in leading the appraisal profession toward a goal of professionalism but they just did as we all expected, THEY SUCK!

The most effective solution to stop that is to simply assign orders in strict rotational fashion to all active panel appraisers. They don’t get back in line to wait for another one until the one they have is completed. They know their position is secured by simple standard rotational process. But how then to apply performance pressure to the appraiser or do clever things like shop for discounted rates to pocket the difference…