Appraisers' Free Forum

I am happy to see that the general consensus on here is that answering the question without bullying is the correct thing to do. The next time I read a post elsewhere where the poster says...WHERE IS YOUR MENTOR, WHAT DOES HE SAY...THAT IS A BASIC QUESTION...YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT KIND OF REPORT, YOU AREN'T QUALIFIED/LICENSED TO DO IT...ETC... I think I will crawl through my computer and strangle that arrogant ass who forgets they were once new, and uninformed and looking for the light. Ticks me off to no end.

DB wrote:
Seems like a lot of times, the nubes don't know whether their supervisor is competent or not until they come and ask some questions

Yes, Yes, and YES!

Furthermore, their supervisor may not be a BAD appraiser, however, they may not be teaching them the skills they need to be a GOOD appraiser! They create form-fillers. That's my beef. So let the newbs ask away.

Timothy Evans wrote:I am happy to see that the general consensus on here is that answering the question without bullying is the correct thing to do. The next time I read a post elsewhere where the poster says...WHERE IS YOUR MENTOR, WHAT DOES HE SAY...THAT IS A BASIC QUESTION...YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT KIND OF REPORT, YOU AREN'T QUALIFIED/LICENSED TO DO IT...ETC... I think I will crawl through my computer and strangle that arrogant ass who forgets they were once new, and uninformed and looking for the light. Ticks me off to no end.

That use to irk the hell out of me too!

Newbies should feel comfortable asking for help...makes em better appraisers.

They shouldn't feel like some Busy-Body's hiding in the wings - ready to pounce.

They do love their little games over there don't they?

I don't hink that this or any other forum should be the sole source of anything ... but it is a good thing to gather the opinions of your peers .. and if not your peers, at least those that know more or have been active in the profession longer than you have ...

These forums should provide additional information and moral support, but should not be the "sole" of anything for anyone .... but that is JMO ....

I agree with both Mako and DB. The forum can be a very good source of premiliminary information, or possibly a verification of data, but, as some on here do, which I found very good, they reference books/courses to help further research something.
I'd never view a forum as the be all and end all of resource, and, hopefully, any of the people who post on here will realize that this is one source.

Edd Gillespie wrote:OK, let me put it this way. Should we start a mentoring program so we have someone to refer these newbies to? The AI chapter is trying here, but isn't getting a lot of takers. One problem is that our margins have become so razor thin that newbies can't afford a mentor. That is a direct result of offering "affordable and quick" appraisals and at the same time pumping poorly trained baby appraisers into the pipeline as if there was some sort of shortage. Bad stuff, it is.

Should we offer mentoring for free?

Is anyone taking advantage of the peer review program?

This is not a mentoring program, per se, Edd, as I'm sure you know. It is a source of information along the path to completing a bit of research. I'd think that, if an newbie asked a question, and wanted to know if someone in their area could offer further guidance, they may be contacted by an appraiser on here. Offering mentoring for free would be a personal business decision, and would be between the trainee and their mentor.
I've been involved, years ago, with the training and acquiring of a trainee that was discovered on the old forum, and he is a good appraiser now.
I don't know if anyone is taking advantage of the peer review program. I'd be surprised if anyone posted if they did.
But it is there for usage.

That is correct, Edd. I will rarely argue with a more experienced appraiser. I will ask for clarification when I have further questions, and more detailed information if deemed necessary, but no one on here is my mentor. I respect most everyone's opinions, and weigh the final decision I make carefully, but I know this is an information source, not a 'written in stone' source of information.

benluby wrote:............. I will ask for clarification when I have further questions, and more detailed information if deemed necessary, but no one on here is my mentor.......

Not too sure I agree, Ben. To become a good anything, you have two phases. First is basic training. The 90 hours education allows you to be called an appraiser, just like graduating medical school allows you to be called a doctor. But you don't get certified until life experiences teaches you. In appraising, it is essential that the supervisor (a different job from mentor) be strict about process, ethics, etc. But it is the mentors job to talk the trainee through the process.......the "How would you handle it if this element changed?" questions and guide the trainee through the problem and thinking process. Hopefully the supervisor is also a mentor. But those on this (and other) forums, who take the time to talk another appraiser through a situation or problem are filling the role as mentor....we just can't be supervisors.

I accept that correction and will remember it Greg. I've asked you enough questions on the phone and take it serious. Thanks for the clarification.

As I said, I fully agree with both. Greg and you are correct. I neglected the difference between a mentor and a supervisor. Onine CE classes require a mentor, but not a supervisor, per se.
I forgot about that distinction. See? I learned something today. Thanks guys.

Well...I have nearly two decades of experience, and I've I bunch of stored up information in my head I consider superfluous.

If you'd like it...give me a ring...it's takin up valuable space.

I gotta purge...I gotta purge!!!