Whenever I think I can’t go another day. I just watch another episode of Billy the Exterminator and remember that things could be worse.

How come I never get the ‘unwanted advances’? My handy metal cigarette case doubles as a form of bulletproof protection. But only if they aim perfectly for my heart. I could only be so lucky in this industry, to expire quickly without hardly noticing.

On the bright side, I’ve learned what that dotty grime on walls of abandoned houses most likely is; Roach sign. I was like, how could that even be there, and what is it, why is it everywhere except where pictures were on the wall? I watched a bug documentary and that’s almost certainly roach sign. Eureka! Finally some clear answers. Nobody else knew either and most simply wanted to not talk about it and forget they had ever been in there.

Who wants to go to the uppity locations all the time anyways. A good rule of thumb for appraisers; Try to limit your services to only neighborhoods you could ever hope to personally afford to live in yourself. Nobody even blinks at tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in hidden costs as origination and agency fees are buried in thirty year amortizing loan packages. But ask the people whom are supposedly making this major commitment to fess up an extra hundred or two out of pocket for the appraiser, all of the sudden everyone magically remembers how to negotiate and get thrifty. The life of an appraiser.

Good times, fun follow ups. Thanks.

Love the Kevlar vest comment. I used to work for Fannie Mae doing REO’s in downtown Atlanta until we came across 2 guys in the street getting ready to shoot each other. We were right in the middle of the 2. Left the area, went home and told Fannie, would love to do work for you but NOT in Alanta Metro. Too dangerous. That was years ago when they were not even on the BIAS train……they changed my area to closer to where I live and it was good for many years until REO’s dried up as the market improved.

Later that week another person was shot and killed on that street. No longer available for appraisals in that county- and that was twenty years ago.

When will they realize we are tired of nonsense?

Personally, I have run across squatters, crime scenes, a working meth lab, a dead body, dead animals, wanted criminals, unwanted advances, child abuse, and victims of human trafficking. I have been stalked, my life threatened, threatened with lawsuits over value, gotten injured and incurred medical bills over the condition of some houses. Yet I am still here.

Shall we even mention the number of times we have gotten ill because someone lied about the true reason they were home; every appraiser eventually becomes a germaphobe. Then came CoVid; they locked the government offices and banks while they sent appraisers into houses.

Most people in rural areas of the south who argue about the “value” problem are unaware that their “target” price is below the de minimis anyway. But hey, blame the biased appraiser who stopped your loan. Appraisers make great scapegoats.

Rant over, you good readers- appraisers that read to the very end.

If you are at liberty to give information. What happened?

There have been many times I have declined engagements before inspections and after inspections. Many times I ignore ridiculous offers. My wife asked me “why are you turning down business?” I told her all business is not good business and all money is not good money. I have the right to decline or accept any business.” If they ever balk I tell them “my business, my license, my decision”. I will not allow anyone to intimidate me! Life is just too short!

As a brother from another………..totally on point. A few bad apples caused Dodd/Frank. Now this? I am a part of the wonderful personhood of Appraisers!! We will rise above this!!

True, but they come from both. It is true assessors values are typically lower than fair market values. No one tells assessors that you have assessed my property too low. If they did their taxes would be higher. We complain when they go up on the value. It does not need to be a black & white issue. It is a made up issue that is costing unjust pain and anguish to Caucasians in this profession.

The racial bias complaint filed against me in Alabama was by the Seller (a man of color).

There is talk of Ben Carson as (he who shall not be named) VP, and boy, that would be a breath of fresh air. When Ben was in charge of HUD, things moved smoothly, everyone was happy. I miss Ben Carson, he was awesome, fair, intelligent, ethical, and honest. We need more people like that in government.

https://archives.hud.gov/news/2020/pr20-001.cfm
His achievements at HUD. Note how he decreased homelessness, helped veterans, created meaningful jobs, approached problems with incentives for achievement rather than unfair color coded benefits to only certain groups of people type of policies or penalties for others, promoted better financial accountability, worked with DOJ to stop false claims rather than promoting such false claims. And on and on and on. Opposite of what is happening now. Ben we need you now, please come back. How different things would have been…

I’m not slow; I specialize in complex properties that no one seems to want to do, cover 10 counties and am a member in 5 MLS systems, my fee is according to complexity and I have all the work I can handle now, knock on wood, so I can honestly tell them I’m booking out at least 2 weeks now…

‘proclaimed we are prohibited from turning down an assignment where there might be a perception of bias.’ The appropriate response; ‘Please point out where that specific guidance is located in the ethics book.’ The appraiser is always the final word on forming scope of work and accepting engagement requests or not. Sounds like the uspap instructor is confusing the difference between an employee and an independent contractor. One does not even need to give a reason to decline an order. No justification is necessary. Just say no thank you. ‘The rhetoric of No.’

Zoom, why would you even want to be recorded anyways, your image and questions recorded in some online database with infinite shelf life. Wait till that system gets hacked, going to be epic. If more people would read the complete terms and conditions before agreeing to use software. ‘Your likeness’ and recreations thereto, are no longer your own… I’ve got an old meme on that one.

Faux ethics educators, as if TAF even knows what ethics is anymore. They sure know how to force a captive audience to buy another over priced ethics book and pay for their over priced classes every other year. How to coordinate with non profits and lawyer groups whom actively pursue cases against appraisers. That they are very good at. Sign here.

So, true!!!!! Very good point!

They are working on biases class to be a mandated requirement apart from USPAP. It is coming.

Amen!