The Appraiser Coach Podcast

Ernie is always an interesting character to talk to.  He has some insightful comments about the current state of the appraisal profession and what we should be doing to attract new people into the valuation space.  

It is quite possible that real estate appraisers put their lives at risk every day when we take comp photos; and for what?  With today's technology, it is really still necessary for appraisers to take live photos of comparable sales and risk being chased down, threatened, or even harmed by a home owner?  What will it take before Fannie and Freddie and the rest see the danger in this acti...

Gerry sits down with us at the Valuation Expo to tell why appraising for the Veteran's Administration is different than working with other lenders.  Also, he reveals how to do it.   

The Appraiser Coach was live and on the floor of the 2016 Valuation Expo in Baltimore, Maryland.  Listen in as your fellow appraisers from all over the country talk about what the Val Expo is all about.  Spirits among appraisers are not low... at least not those who attended this year's Expo.  

There were some changes this year at the Valuation Expo.  Who better to find out about them and where things are headed in the future than to talk to Joan and Steve who head this all up.  

Many appraisers are running small, 1-2 person, shops.  Some appraisers want to grow their businesses again.  Craig is an example of an appraiser who has done just that.  

Dustin just finished a great book by Greg McKeown called Essentialism.  It is about what you might guess, given the title; the essentials.  We spend a great deal of our day dealing with stuff (physical and mental) that really does not matter.  This book teaches how to recognize it and focus on what is truly important.  

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...

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.