The Appraiser Coach Podcast

There are a lot of wants in an appraisal  business, but what are the bare bones tools that are necessary to start appraising? Dustin gives his list today. 

Today is another Appraiser Stories episode, but with a twist.  Dustin talks with Jesse Ledbetter about how he fell into appraising and his thoughts after being a trainee for a year.  If you are thinking about training, he offers some sound advice.

We do them all the time, but how long has it been since you actually read what you are doing? Can you do a final on a property that you were not the original appraiser on? What if you find stuff that the original appraiser should have caught? How do you handle these things? Dustin tackles those questions and more about the 1004D today

Matt Krodel from Alamode is here to talk about Titan Analytics. Alamode is making the MC Addendum  fun again.

A Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan is what the big boys and girls use on Wall Street to keep their top CEOs from getting poached by other companies.  The same concept might work to help put 'golden handcuffs' on your own employees.  In the final episode in this Minisode series of benefits for employees, Dustin talks about how and why it works.  

Joel Baker From Alamode is here to talk about the new Total. Titan Reports will be out by the end of the year, and it will put your appraisal software in the cloud.

Who are your key employees?  What would happen if they were not around anymore to assist with your business growth.  We put life insurance on our family members, but have you considered doing it for employees?  Dustin shows us how, in Part III of the Minisode series on employee benefits.

We do it every day; appraise to find the market value, but is there a problem with the very definition of market value?  Tim Andersen joins Dustin to discuss Fannie Mae's definition of MV and what an appraiser can learn from semantics.  

In Part II of this Minisode series, Dustin talks about providing Long Term Disability Insurance for your employees.

Michael Simmons from Axis Financial is back to talk about the appraisal profession, where it is headed, and what is being done about it.  

Dustin met recently with his Financial Adviser and is here to pass on some valuable ideas about benefits for your employees.  Today, he discusses how an IRA Retirement Fund with Employer Match works.

Desktops are becoming more and more popular.  Many appraisers shy away from them, but are they a product to consider?  Can an appraiser make a living and never leave the comfort of their office chair?  Dustin and Ernie explore.    

Dustin uses it and he talks about it all the time on this show.  Today, Dustin sits down with Greg Fandrick at the 2017 Fall Val Expo to get into the nuts and bolts of what ANOW is and why every appraiser should be using it.  

Datamaster is an amazing tool to help save you 30-60 mins per report.  Now, the new Datamaster is here (in Beta form).  Ryan and Mitch joined Dustin at the 2017 Vegas Val Expo to dig into the nitty gritty.

Do you have a regularly scheduled pay increase policy with your employees?  Maybe there is a better way to do it.  What about providing raises based on actual performance?  

One of the best parts of the Val Expo is to become familiar with the different appraisal-related vendors who are there.  Let's meet a few. 

Do you, as an employer, provide your appraisal employees with E&O?  How have you structured it?  The way you set it up could make a difference should there ever be a claim.  

What is it like to attend the Valuation Expo?  This year it happened during the most tragic week in Vegas history, but the events that fateful Sunday night did not stop participants from doing what they do.  Let's listen in as Dustin interviews a few.

Recently, Dustin was hired to perform a personal appraisal for someone looking to sell his house by owner.  The conversation that came after the product was turned in was, well, interesting.  

Jim is a new member of Dustin's Dream Team in Dallas.  He says the experience has been both "good and bad."  Find out why.  You will also love hearing about his recent experience hiding behind his female trainee when a dog came after them.  

You have heard Dustin refer to the different levels of employee expertise in terms such as Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III (see Episode 188).  Now, Dustin introduces a new term; Tier IV.  What is it and are you working toward it in your appraisal office?  

Note: This interview was recorded nearly a week before the massacre in Las Vegas.  Of course, the attack has overshadowed things.  I am checking on Dave's status now.  Dave Radcliffe is a high producing real estate agent in the Las Vegas area. He is not happy with appraisers who do not do their jobs correctly. Two years ago, he produced this video expressing some concern with appraisers with 'gonkulators': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW9jwS1FvJg&feature=youtu.be Dave agreed to be on the show with me.  Listen in and see if he still feels the same way.  What is a "low appraisal" according to real estate agents?  

There is something special about being self-employed.  One of the greatest, yet least recognized aspect is the ability to be in control of your own climb up the success ladder.  You are in control of your future.  

Meet Robert Sanders.  He is an appraiser converted from the music industry.  The man has all daughters and has his priorities strait.  You cannot help but like this guy.  

Going mobile for your appraisal inspections is a hard transition.  Sometimes, appraisers give up before they have really given it a chance.  A few tips on better use of your laser might give you the nudge to stick it out.  

Does the appraiser own their own appraisal reports?  What about the client?  What implications does that have for our business and our future.  Tim Andersen kindly lends his time and knowledge today to help us understand this issue.  

We all try to follow sound appraisal business principles, but sometimes the lure of big money can make us think stupidly.  Don't do it.  Pay attention to your gut and know when to walk away.  

We hire hoping for the best, but sometimes things go bad.  It can get ugly fast.  However, there are six rules to follow that will reduce the risk of an employee going bad.

Tim Andersen is back to talk about the ominous "BIG DATA."  What is it?  Should we be afraid of it?  How can we as appraisers look at what is real and start to incorporate it?  

Human beings are hardwired for comparison.  We naturally look at our peers and compare ourselves to them.  This leads us to follow them, but this is not the right recipe for success.  Rather, success is often defined by doing the exact opposite of what our competition is doing.  

It is a question Dustin is asked frequently; "Should I hire my family member?"  Though it is normally not advisable, Dustin shares four rules that, if followed, might make it an okay arrangement.  Note however, if these rules are not followed, you may be in for a disaster.  

Sometimes goodwill turns sour.  More importantly, make sure you cross your Ts and dot your Is because people find every reason to attack you as an appraiser.  

We might think we know the difference between an arm's length transaction and one that is not, but do we really?  Tim Andersen joins us again to have us consider looking beyond just the parties involved.  

We all get annoyed when our clients ask us to go beyond what is typical as an appraiser.  How about when our client's really don't ask that much?  Should we choose to die on the hill of minor requests?  

Ben Page, a 20 year Insurance vet, joins us to look at our risk and exposure a little difference way.  Insurance for appraisers is not just about E&O.  There is much more to it.  

Let's face it; you want one.  A standing desk is all the rage.  The health benefits alone justify the purchase.  That is to say nothing about the coolness factor.  Yet, they seem to be so expensive.  Dustin got one recently that is very affordable and a great little desk.   https://www.autonomous.ai

When you find volume has slipped and you are in need of a business boost, there are four areas you should look at.  Here are the four steps to increasing appraisal volume or revenue.

Here is a little mind trick the Dustin uses at the gym that can also be used in business when you don't want to do something.

The Val Expo is one of the biggest gatherings of appraisers and valuation professionals in the nation.  This year, they will be meeting again in Las Vegas on Oct 2-4.  Jim Morrison joins us to tell about some exciting new technologies you will see at the Expo.  You will not want to miss this event.  Use coupon code: COACH for 20% off your ticket!

Dustin is currently moving some employees into different "seats on the bus," and it triggered a question; are appraisers statisticians or analysts?  

You have heard Dustin refer to A clients, B clients, and Y clients, but what are they?  What makes an A client, and how does it differ from a B client?  Where are the C clients, and what exactly is a Y client?

Dustin had a recent experience at the In and Out Drive Tru, and there are four lessons he learned from it.  Listen in on some things that might help you be a better appraisal business owner.  

Mike Brunson ([email protected]) joins us to help explain what an Evaluation is.  Mike is very knowlegable and you might be surprised at some of the things he says.  

Another, on-site, videosode for you today.  Dustin is on site at a Veteran's Administration loan inspection.  He tells you about the "90% rule."  Is there such a thing?

Can and does your personal bias play into an appraisal?  Whether we like it or not, it can, but we should watch out for and avoid it.  Tim Andersen is here to teach us more about personal interests and the appraisal process.  

Being mobile is more than just having the tools you need to inspect properties.  What about having a fully mobile office?  Dustin shows you how to have all of your tools wherever you are with a docking station.  

There are a lot of appraisers who hate their jobs.  There is no other way to describe it.  Today, Dustin outlines four steps (though they are not easy) to take to start enjoying what you do again.  

What are the pros and cons of virtual offices?  How about a brick and mortar?  Which one is right for you?  Dustin explores this topic today.  Please add to his pros and cons list below.  

Customary and Reasonable fees?  What are they in your state?  Isaac Peck from WorkingRE is here to give us some real numbers.  

We hear a lot of complaining about AMCs.  Frankly, much of it is probably justified.  Let's explore some of those complaints.  But, are there some good things about AMCs as well?