I just found out today after speaking with Mike Ford, and I honestly wish I had known sooner. This is a tremendous loss for AGA and for the appraisal industry as a whole. Jan was a fighter, and she stood up for appraisers when a lot of people would not.

She will be greatly missed.

Keep me posted on the AGA please.

I am also a Teamster, for 3 years as of December 1st.

Don

She will be missed by all that knew her.

Don

That simply is not true where Jan is concerned. I love when members post stories of how Jan helped them personally.

We still dont know the path AGA is going to take without Jan; or whether any path is even possible.

Jan simply cannot be replaced.

When my brother was dying of prostate cancer, it was Jan who knew of or found many of the holistic solutions and texts to direct him to (in addition to accepted medical science/treatment). I credit her for the extra years my brother Dan had with us and his own immediate family.

Jan did SO much more for members than anyone knows. Jan was persoanlly ivested in every single problem our members were ever confronted with.

Thank you again, for sharing memories with us all.

Elaina, like yourself, our hearts are broken with the loss of Jan.
Talk to you soon.

I asked her what she said, but she just laughed & told me it was classified. I still don’t know what she said or how she handled it, but knowing Jan, she probably killed them with kindness. Only she could turn an overdue invoice into a FedEx delivery overnight with nothing more than her voice, her charm, & that quiet determination she carried so naturally. She had a gift for getting results while making people feel like they were lucky she called.

The appraisal profession lost a true advocate, but many of us also lost a friend. Thank you, Jan, for your kindness, generosity, and the countless ways you supported appraisers. You will be greatly missed.

Thank you, Pat. Jan also felt highly about you and the Virginia Coalition of Appraisal Professionals.

You, Mike Smalls and so many others have always been voices appraisers could count on.

Keep it up as I’m sure Jan will be monitoring all of us!

Your friend,

If there was anyone that believed in the power of the AGA it was Jan. We had numerous phone calls and times of laughter and times of pure madness. She would always be the first one to say “ Mark… just send them my way and I’ll make sure they get taken care of and paid”. She sure did.

Jan not only stood for independent appraisers she stood firm on what they needed and how they should be treated. While she wasn’t an appraiser… she sure acted like one.

During my coester lawsuit Jan was there by my side. Always offering up words of encouragement or offering to meet me in DC for drinks and talk. She was the best.

Jan Bellas was not just the face of the AGA. She is and will always will be the face of change for the appraiser. When I went through my time of drunkenness and trying to get sober… Jan was there by my side. Always checking in on me and my wife to see how things were going.

Jan Bellas was, is and still what the residential appraiser is and stands for. She never took no for an answer, she managed to get many appraisers off DNU lists, including a certain major Amc chief appraiser, and she never ever ever asked for anything in return.

Jan Bellas was my AGA partner , She was my second mom and most of she was my friend. I’m better today for knowing Jan and working with her.

My heart aches for you, Mike. She sang your praises often.

Jan was also the best friend other appraisers had. Even those who were not AGA members.

Im unable to rearrange my commitments to be there this Thursday. I wanted so much to say goodbye in person. I also wanted to try to convey to her family, just how important Jan was to us.

I’ll reach out to Elena shortly after the final services and farewell is concluded.

Its my fervent hope that ALL DC, MD & VA appraisers will go to the funeral home, or final services.

You dont have to be a member if AGA, or to have known Jan personally. Just know that the most faithful advocate appraisers ever had, is now gone.

Let her family know that Jan’s decades of service are truely remembered.

Jan deserves a monument. We can’t do that, but through the funeral homes linked partners we can donate living memorials to Jan that will hopefully outlive all of us.

“Good bye, my dearest friend. I am Blessed for having known you.”

Des, thank you for such a great remembrance. Among her many friends, you were especially loved by AGA in general, and Jan & I in particular.