Appraisers' Free Forum

This one is pretty much beat into the ground, but I'll post it anyway. Review appraisers should be nothing but review appraisers/investigators. Nothing more to it than that. They should have minimum of five years experience, and pass review by a board that is NOT politically appointed, to be qualified to review, and their continuing education requirements should be geared toward that aspect.
A good review appraiser should also be REQUIRED, as should all appraisers, to turn in questionable work. Incompetent or crooked, it doesn't matter. Both hurt the appraisal profession.
One thing I'd like to see, but we know it won't come to pass, unless it was two review appraisers that knew one another, would be that they could look at questionable reports for the other one, and both could then come to a professional and unbiased opinion of the quality.

I agree with all of the above EXCEPT that a review appraiser should do nothing but reviews.

He should have to do a certain number of reviews per year to maintain his certification as a reviewer, though. Ben, what's your reasoning for restricting them to do only reviews?

See a lot of reviewers that work in the torpedo category. They'll take a good report and try to rip it apart, solely so that they can attempt to get the customer to start ordering from them.
I'm open to suggestions on how to work around that issue.

benluby wrote:See a lot of reviewers that work in the torpedo category. They'll take a good report and try to rip it apart, solely so that they can attempt to get the customer to start ordering from them.
I'm open to suggestions on how to work around that issue.

Ben, any professional appraiser/reviewer would NOT do anything like this. If they do, they have no business being in this business.

I can tell you that last year, 90% of our business was review work. These reports came from national lenders and were submitted by local MB/LOs. I can honestly say that "competion removal" was NEVER an issue. Besides, even if that was our goal it wouldn't work because the MBs/LOs that use the quick turn-around, cheap appraisers would never use us with higher fees and longer turn around times.

In addition, a reviewer needs to keep in touch with the "real" appraising work. You can't stay sharp by doing reviews only.

Oh, I see it now.

Maybe a nice libel suit would dampen their enthusiasm. Four or five appraisers with the same issues could join issue and share legal expenses. First, seek a TRO to make him cease doing ANY review work. Then seek damages to professional reputations that will take him down to his other shirt. He'd better have good general liability insurance.

Ben, I see your point, but disagree with you. I'm a residential appraiser with over 25 years experience: appraisals, reviews, relocations, consultations, court work, peer reviewer for the state. If an appraiser intentionally sets out to rip an appraisal apart, then s/he should be removed from that perspective. However, I do see a need for TAF to consider another aspect in potential qualifications "minimums" and potentially a separate certification for people who can then exhibit the knowledge, experience and ability (unbiased and research factors).

However, it will not stop the lenders, investors, and others, from searching out the cheaper/faster aspects. Until such time as those lenders/investors are required to abide by a minimum standard/s, anything that we, as appraisers or TAF, come up with is mute, IMHO.

I do think January changes will have a positive impact on the profession, and, as bad as it is right now, it will serve to get rid of a lot of the rollers that are running around now running the mills.
Glad to see some other opinions about it. I'm open to all the ideas you have. And I am not close minded toward changing my perception with good points.

I disagree. Appraisers are appraisers, the only difference is in the scope of work. Poor review appraisers are very likely poor field appraisers too. Advocacy can work both ways, the review out to "torpedo" an appraisal is no better than the appraiser out to make deals happen. Coming up with little niche certifications will not do anything but cost us all more money.

I disagree with the 5 year rule. The worst appraisals I have ever seen were from a gentleman with a license number between 100 and 150. I did my first review before I had done 50 appraisals (of course under the thumb of a CG). I agree that there should be special training and testing, but time doesn't make appraisers, understanding of USPAP, SOW, and supplemental standards etc does. Some old timers I meet in CE classes shouldn't be allowed to vote, drive, or breed and couldn't appraise a doghouse without a sales price or owners estimate, but they are "tenured" appraisers.

Personally, I think tests are a waste of time. Let me perform a few appraisals, you review them, then find out how my work is. Some people do great on tests and suck as appraisers.

benluby wrote:Personally, I think tests are a waste of time. Let me perform a few appraisals, you review them, then find out how my work is. Some people do great on tests and suck as appraisers.

Opens up the good old boys club doesn't it? I guess to keep my work board full I can shred any applicants work and eliminate competition. OF course, my best friends son gets a pass............

Wow. Not even a full page and we've already got it going. Look, the issue, in my opinion, is yes, we do have some appraisers with some early on numbers that, quite bluntly, suck. However, we also have some young appraisers who suck as well. Seniority is only worth it if someone actually wants to improve. I seriously doubt if Rex was targetting you, Edd.
I think what he was inferring to was those who think that because appraiser Y is a licensed and appraiser Z is a CR and appraiser X is a CG, that it automatically means X is the best, Z is second and Y sucks eggs.
Bad idea. Maybe by and large most of those appraisers are good, but they are still people, and they are only as good as they themselves work toward being.

Edd Gillespie wrote:

mr rex wrote:I disagree with the 5 year rule. The worst appraisals I have ever seen were from a gentleman with a license number between 100 and 150. I did my first review before I had done 50 appraisals (of course under the thumb of a CG). I agree that there should be special training and testing, but time doesn't make appraisers, understanding of USPAP, SOW, and supplemental standards etc does. Some old timers I meet in CE classes shouldn't be allowed to vote, drive, or breed and couldn't appraise a doghouse without a sales price or owners estimate, but they are "tenured" appraisers.

If we need arrogance and condescension we now have an available source that is absolutely reeking. What bugs me in these classes are the inexperienced, poorly educated, but incredibly vocal whipper snappers who don't even know what they don't know.

Come back when you get some rings on your horns and your heels wounded and we'll see how smart you are then. You sound like you must be all of 15 and very, very wet behind the ears. I qualify for social security buddy and you do not have my permission to call me an old timer. In your case the time required to qualify as a reviewer should be extended to at least twenty years. I've got the impression it may difficult for you to learn what you need to know to be a good appraiser or reviewer.

Get a mentor.

Edd, Ill go brain cell to brain cell anytime you want old timer. If you want to get ugly, why is it that you have a juris, and are a lowly appraiser? I love a challenge, and if the state would allow it, I could pass the bar in under 2 years. Come back when you have a better argument, and not one based on your training as an arguer.(if that's a word) It seems you need a lawyer mentor, or you wouldn't be wallowing in our problems. Now, you want to rassle? I have horns and I bite. You want to play rough, you don't have the expertise to scare me, the brains to outsmart me, or the balls to call me out in person. I will gladly meet you anywhere you want, and we will compare intellect and Dick sizes if thats what flips your trigger, but don't dare give me the kind of bullshit you just posted.