The Appraiser Coach Podcast

In Episode 059, Rob Bodkin shared with us a bit about his life's journey and how he loved being a staff appraiser.  Well, Rob is now back to fee appraising.  Why?  What happened and what was the transition like?  

What do two types of fertilizer/weed killer have to do with appraisals?  Not much, but they have everything to do with running a successful appraisal office.  

It is a common mistake appraisal business owners make; they hire the best, train them well, and then leave them alone.  No matter how good your employees and contractors are, this is a recipe for disaster.  In this episode, Dustin gives some helpful tips on how you can stay in touch with your appraisal staff and keep your business running smoothly.  

Craig is not your typical appraiser.  He has two branches and is looking to add a third.  He is a professional in every sense of the word and is heavily involved in making the appraisal profession a better place.  Every appraiser who is interested in growth should listen to this episode.  

When you find something that works, it is easy to slip into a mindset that is unfair.  You start to think it works without trial and error and that it works the same for everyone.  Dustin does his best to teach true principles, but sometimes forgets that it does not happen overnight.  

What is it like to appraise in the Great White North?  Leigh shares some crazy stories and why appraising in Canada is different than in the US.  

What does it mean to have integrity?  How can we better do what we say we will do as appraisers?  

Sometimes we don't know what we don't know.  For appraisers who do work for Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs), it is important to understand what their role really is.  John Dingeman, Chief Appraiser at Landmark (www.landmarknetwork.com) joins us to explain.  John was an independent fee appraiser before he worked for an AMC and helps answer the hard questions.  

Sometimes it is easy to slip into a mode where all we think about is lender work.  Well, we are valuation professionals and there is a whole world of other products out there that we can (and should) be doing.  

Episode 089 Carrying a Firearm on Appraisal Inspections generated more traffic than any other episode.  There was a also a lot of buzz online about that topic.  The biggest criticism surrounded whether or not an appraiser had the right to carry a firearm in another person's house without permission.  It is an interesting question.  Chris was kind enough to join us and give his perspective.  

You have done the inspection.  You know there are items that need to be repaired?  Do you tell the borrower at the time of the inspection, or wait till the lender calls for it?  

What is the SRA designation from AI?  What does it take to get your SRA?  Is it worth it?  You might be surprised when you hear from Woody how it has changed his financial situation.  

Our job is so fun.  We often get asked the craziest things.  How do you respond when someone asks you a stupid question?

Mark is an interesting character.  Find out what happens when he walked past the "No Trespassing" sign to get a comp picture.  

The Tidewater Initiative is a VA-specific program that Dustin believes should be considered and adopted by other clients.  

Dave is a Certified General, but gets most of his work through the residential side.  Have you ever been charged by a herd of cattle while doing an inspection?  Dave has.  

Today we take three questions which are all centered on how Dustin runs his office.  

Ashley Hammond of the Appraisal Buzz joins us to share some exciting news about the 2016 Valuation Expo!  In addition to her surprise, Dustin will be broadcasting the podcast from the vendor floor and there is a full, 20% OFF discount if you use "Coach" at checkout.  You can reach her at 443-944-0897 or email [email protected]

Don't you just hate those mass emails that go out to appraisers and the first one to grab it gets the order?  Well, like them or not, they are a reality.  How to you play in that sandbox?  Should you play in that sandbox.  Dustin has a few ideas.  

Ernie is the epitome of "Chicago Southside" and is here to tell us what it is like to be an appraiser who splits his time between commercial and residential.  You will love the story he tells about Bachelor's Grove Cemetery.  Here is the link if you want to know more about this haunted place: Bachelor's Grove

What is appraising like outside the United States?  What about appraising in a third world country like Belize?  Dustin recently took a "research" trip to Belize to find out.  Spoiler Alert:  It is much different than appraising in the US.  

Where is this profession headed?  What are the barriers to entry doing for the future of appraising?  David Brauner, Publisher of WorkingRE Magazine, joins us with a survey taken by over 3,500 appraisers across the country to help answer these questions.  Some of the answers may surprise you.  You can get the survey in the link below and it is not too late to participate and make sure your voice is heard.    

We all have busy schedules.  Most of the time, Dustin is not near home or the office when it comes to lunchtime.  So, what are some healthy choices for fast food for appraisers?  

What is it like to be both a home inspector and an appraiser.  Lanny balances  both, but it is is tricky.  

We often take the little things for granted.  If you are striving for better efficiencies, planning ahead for bad weather is an important part of the process.  What do you do when it is raining outside?  

Joe and I are longtime friends.  Joe will tell you his story and why he loves technology, maybe even more than Dustin.  

Many appraisers want to expand, but they do not have the physical space to do so.  Can you really hire, train, and manage appraisal help virtually?  

Ann joins us again discussing her article in the recent Appraisal Today on Big Data.  We all know that Big Data is here to stay, but Ann tells us why appraiser data is the best kind of data.  

We have opened a second Appraiser Mastermind in Chicago!  It is almost full (as is our Salt Lake Team), but there is another possible option right now in either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.  Listen in to find out what the Dream Team is and why you might want to consider securing your seat.  

Josh is back and he addresses how regression tools can help, but makes it clear they are not the end all/be all of adjustment support.  Listen in as he describes how regression can be a great tool and it does not have to take a lot of time.  Two links for items discussed in the podcast. Webinar on Regression Market Machine Tool

There were many comments following this recent blog article:   Appraisal Fees Do Not Tell the Whole Story   Bill was particularly outspoken.  I think he had some thought-provoking ideas, but I am not sure the whole story was explored.  Here is my attempt to address some of the issues. 

They say there is a shortage of appraisers in Denver, but we sure have interviewed a lot of appraisers from there lately.  Jeff spends a lot of time doing VA stuff and you will love his scary story.  

Last week, Dustin shared his experience with joining a local gym.  This week, he reveals the gym he joined (hint, it is alluded to in the title) and why you might want to consider it as well.  It seems like the perfect gym for appraisers.  

We use the term all the time, but do we stop to think about what it means?  A sale is not a comp.  How often do agents and clients use the term? Perhaps we need to be more careful as to how we use it.  

I have never been what others would refer to as a "fitness guy."  In fact, I a pretty lazy and not very careful about my eating habits.  However, I recently discovered a great surprise when I joined a gym and started to work out.  

What does an appraiser in the training process have to say about the appraisal profession.  Join us as Dustin interviews Mike Taylor from Austin, TX.  

I try to see the glass half-full most of the time.  That is not always easy.  Recently, I had an experience with my neighbor that reminded me that we, as appraisers, still have it pretty darn good.  

What do you do when you pull up to the comp and there are people in the front yard?  Do you take the picture?  Are you required to do so?  What does FHA say about it?

Issac Peck, Editor of Working RE Magazine, joins us to discuss his recent article:   The Decline of Appraisers   This is a short, informative article that really nails down the problem facing the future population of appraisers and (more importantly) what we can do about it.  In the article, Issac gives a call to action.  Here is the contact information you will need to participate:   Appraisers are encouraged to submit their (concise and considered) comments to the AQB before the March 31, 2016 deadline: Email: [email protected] or mail to: Appraiser Qualifications Board, The Appraisal Foundation, 1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 1111, Washington, DC 20005.

As appraisers, we often defer to other professionals (home inspectors, mold experts, engineers, etc) to pass off questionable items.  When it comes time to do the final, do we reinspect?  Can we trust the other professional's opinion?  

Meet Ken; a new appraiser following in his father's footsteps, but not really.  Ken is a forward-thinking appraiser you will not want to miss.  

A question was recently posed by Joan Trice regarding who is responsible for making sure the appraiser is paid Customary and Reasonable fees.  Is it the client?  Is it the appraiser themselves?  Let's explore it.  

Dave Towne ([email protected]) is back to let us know about a little known provision in TRID which REQUIRES an estimate of value from the borrower before the appraisal process takes place.  This could lead to some interesting situations.  

What is the proper way to go about hiring employees and contractors to help in an appraisal office?  Can you hire a Tier III person out of the box?  It is important to not only get the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus), but to put them in the right seats.  

Can you believe the Appraiser Coach Podcast has been a thing for a year now?  To celebrate, the tables are turned and Dustin is interviewed for a change.  Find out more about what makes Dustin Harris tick and hear some funny stories you have never heard before.  Special thanks to Matt Frentheway for being our guest host for this episode.  

It comes up once in a while among appraisers; which vehicle is the best one for an appraiser?  Since we spend a lot of time in our cars, it is an important consideration.  Also in this episode; to lease or to buy?

Seems like many of our willing appraisers are coming out of Florida.  Brian has only been a business owner 3 days when this was recorded and he is on fire!

We spend a lot of time doing nothing.  What are you doing to improve your life, relationships, and business as you travel down the road?  Here are a few ideas.  Podcasts mentioned on this episode are as follows: This American LifeStuff You Should KnowFreakonomicsLoreCriminalCrackedYou are Not So SmartRadio WestSexy Marriage RadioRadio LabSerial What are your favorites?

There has been a lot of talk in the national media lately about guns.  Today, we have two appraisers on the program who both choose to carry a firearm on appraisal inspections for personal protection.  Mike and Lisa join us to discuss why they choose to protect themselves by carrying a concealed weapon.