With all of the changes happening in the appraisal industry right now, I thought I would share this article I did for Working RE a little less than a year ago that detailed my personal journey. In the article I made reference to some of the positives in the appraisal industry:

Excerpt from the Working RE article titled Taking Success into My Own Hands:

There is a lot of negativity in the appraisal industry and without question, certain things need to change. However, there are also a lot of positives appraisers can focus on to improve their business.

The Appraiser Movement

Today, with the help of technology and social media, I feel the momentum may be shifting in the appraiser’s favor.  The title of the article was “Taking Success into my Own Hands”.  Now, I think there is a new appraiser movement that is taking success into our own hands.  There are new internet shows like Phil Crawford’s “Voice of Appraisal” and Dustin Harris’s “The Appraiser Coach Podcast” that are helping get the word out for on behalf of the residential appraiser.  There are public Facebook groups and private members only groups like “Appraiser Insider” that has not only helped my business, but completely transformed it.  You also have bloggers like Gary Kristensen, Lori Noble, Tom Horn, Bill Cobb, Ryan Lundquist, and many more¹ who are helping educating real estate agents, homeowners, attorneys, and calling out injustices in the industry.

Just as recently as a month ago, after an AMC tried to demand the entire work file be submitted with their appraisal reports, the bloggers, appraisal shows, and Facebook groups got the word out and due to public backlash, essentially shut that down and within a week the company published a revision to the new requirement.  We also recently saw the first “administrative fee” of $5000 to a company for not paying “Customary and Reasonable Fees” in Louisiana³.  Individual state Coalitions like Illinois’ own ICAP, headed by current president Rick Hiton, are really making some positive headway with state legislators.  Multiple state coalitions are even getting together to discuss ideas and plans for the betterment of the appraisal industry.  Yes, the appraisal industry appears to finally becoming more united.

With what appears could be an appraiser shortage on the horizon, we are going to need some changes to the requirements to becoming an appraiser or  change how trainees can be used and thus facilitate more appraisers coming into the industry.  To that point, I recently received an email from a major national bank who refined its expectations regarding the involvement of appraiser trainees.  They no longer require supervisory appraisers to be physically present with trainee appraisers at all subject property inspections and driving comparable sales.  This will allow us to not only train the next generation of appraisers, but make it financially feasible to do so.  We have seen a lot of “monkey see monkey do” in negative ways with banks and AMC’s in the past, but this is one trend that I would love to see catch on.

I don’t pretend to know where the appraisal profession will be in 5 years with UAD concerns, appraiser shortages, AVM’s, reasonable and customary fees, etc.  There are many more battles that will need to be fought.  But again, a year later, with more public voices out there speaking on behalf of the real estate appraiser, I still think there is still reason for optimism.

Update On My Journey

Like many appraisers right now with rates near all time lows, I have never been busier.   My average fees have never been higher.  I have been able to increase my standard fee over 20% and was even contacted by one client to let me know they were increasing the standard fee without me asking.  I have also been able to leverage my website into more and more non lender work.  This allows my business to be more diversified and not have to worry about interest rates spiking or a major change in order volume from my best clients.  People will never stop getting divorced and never stop dying (divorce and estate appraisals).  Both are a major source of non-lender appraisal work. Working with clients for “pre-listing” or “pre-purchase appraisals” is one of my favorite types of assignments as it allows me to interact more with the client and really explain the appraisal process and how my opinion of value was determined.

I am continuing to reach out to other appraisers in my area and the Appraiser Insider group to discuss strategies and industry topics.  I just finished the second part of a 4-day “Green and Sustainable Buildings” appraisal course from the Appraisal Institute in Palm Desert, CA (the class is actually free as it is being sponsored by Build it Green²).  While currently there isn’t a big demand for valuing solar and other green residential homes in Chicago, I feel there may be in the near future and want to make sure I at least have a basic understanding.

If you have any thoughts or anecdotal evidence of where you may think the industry may be headed, please feel free to post a comment below to continue the discussion.

¹ Mike Turner, Michael Coyle, Jonathon Montgomery, Jeff Hamric

² These FREE classes will be offered again in Laguna in September.  Appraisers who complete the courses will have them name listed on the Appraisal Institutes Green Registry.

³ I was just forwarded an email from Pierce Blitch, III, IFAS from Georgia indicating that they too have completed a Fee Survey for Reasonable and Customary.  It appears their bill has passed both houses and was signed by the Governor.  More evidence that change is on its way!