Because IF a cabinet door were missing, it is a repair need. Even though minor. You missed the bigger point. WHY would they call an appraiser that explained it, a liar?

If portfolio lenders and FNMA are making loans to high FICO score borrowers without appraisals, the remaining appraised property loan are less secure and have a higher chance for default.
The lenders are protecting themselves with historic credit information which has always been creditable.
Debt security, a fall back to protect the lender.
Appraisers are asking to be measured, can we stand up, its a questionable task

The most pitiful appraisers in our group allow you to exist!

By the time I drive an hour for an rural appraisal and comps are 10-12 miles in different directions, then drive back home, I would have about 3 hours in drive. This happens to me 5 times per month. And I have been appraising 20 years, so I have become competent in many counties. It doesn’t take long to become competent. I got kicked off an AMC because they wanted 2 other comps. I asked them what they didn’t like about the 5 comps and 2 listings. They said they just wanted to bracket, like a patio and a 1/2 bath, and can expand my search.

You are SO much nicer than I am! Whether my religious observance is on Saturday or Sunday, I’d never let an AMC push me around about how I spent my off time. Of course, this is exactly why they are the target of so many lawsuits or anticipated lawsuits.

IF I choose to work on a weekend that is MY choice, not theirs. Monday through Friday is for routine work. IF I chose to give up a week end it is for what I describe as gravy work. Either expedited work for a premium; or work that I have chosen to fit into my normal work routine…again at a premium. I truly doubt I’d have been able to maintain a polite demeanor after having told them I am off for religious reasons on a non working day while they still maintained a report was “due”.

I suspect I’d have kept with the religious theme of discussion and extended an invitation for them to visit a very warm Biblical location.

Seems like that LAW forbidding use of social security numbers for identification purposes is another one of those never enforced citizen protections. First it became common among government agencies-then credit reporting agencies, and now pretty much anyone with an internet access point.

You should not be applying logic. LOL

AMC has the same protocol manual as any government agency where the logic circuits are disabled on employment.

Save time. Bid all jobs at $1,500 and three week turn time…unless they accept one – then check it our real carefully.

Too true.

What makes me legit and worth more than $350.00 for an appraisal is when one side of the table believes the list price is legitimate at $400,000 more than what any of the market data supports and everyone involved in the transaction is waiting for me and my report as the final say. This is usually confirmed by less than 1% of the appraised values ever being contested. I just saved someone $400,000!!!

Yes, thanks Mike! You drove my point even further home.  “We appraisers already know that”! Nadias one line comment says it all. When fellow appraisers, think it is necessary to remind other appraisers, that we have standards that we must adhere to, then that’s just not good for business. I prefaced my comment by saying those bad habits were not good business. 99% of the appraisers I’ve met in my 32 yr. career are honest, decent appraisers. The general public knows we’re honest because they leave me alone in their homes! For the past ten years’s its been the AMC/lender comments that cast dispersions of doubt on the appraisers’ ability, integrity, and honesty, with the sole intent of keeping the pay low or doing away with the appraiser. Unfortunately, their tactics are rubbing off on some appraisers! “All for one and one for all”!!

Glad to hear you were vindicated.

TBT – the ONE reservation to the think more like a business person than an appraiser with head buried in paperwork idea — we are licensed or certified and have standards that we must adhere to. Eliminate all those pesky rules and limitations and we would all see skyrocketing income (followed shortly thereafter by skyrocketing foreclosures and a return to RTC or TARP). There should be a balance. Right now Lenders and AMCs have their thumbs on the scale.

It’s hard to argue against kickbacks referral fees commissions performance bonuses, all of that. Those are powerful tools which effectively motivate staff. That’s why I take the whole bonus for myself and don’t share.

We’re all legitimized through several working sectors, through a regulatory structure designed to guarantee citizens continued access to lending products. You guessed it, to protect the liquidity of lenders for the benefit of consumers so neither one would be defrauded, so there is a checks and balances system in place so neither one would go under. To that end the gse’s are formed, to provide a federal framework for the effective uniform standards of lending and valuation. Don’t believe the marketing hype, our income is not what makes us legitimate or not. The aggressive income guys and gals can please step towards the sales and brokerage doors, independent unbiased appraisal valuation as a non advocate may not be the best place for you. This is not tech. This is not sales. This is not lending. The is not HR or efficiency focused. This is the valuation department. Thank you, please hold.

Have a Pseudo-Happy New Year!