Alisa McKeel Willson- Certified Res. Appraiser

I'm so happy to welcome Anna DeMoss to Active Rain. Anna has all those wonderful qualities necessary for a good appraiser. She cares deeply about doing an honest, accurate, thorough appraisal in a timely manner. Anna is someone I go to to discuss the ins and outs of the appraisal business here in Huntsville, Texas where I work as an appraser.

I know Anna will be a welcome addition to the Active Rain community and I'm sure we'll see some great blogs and information from her.

Welcome, Anna!! It's a great day in the Rain!!

As an appraiser in the Huntsville Texas and surrounding areas I am all over on a weekly basis. Often times I see properties with castoff furniture, appliances and miscellaneous items on the curb or yard waiting for the trash company to come and pick them up.

I always wonder if the people know there is an organization called freecycle? www.freecycle.orq It is a great organization and they perform such a terrific service to our communities all over the country. Not all areas have a local group so you join the one closest to you..well, you do that any way. I belong to the Huntsville TX freecycle but it serves the local areas too, like Trinity, New Waverly, and more...

Freecycle is a place online where you can post items you would like to give away. You can also find items you might need or you can post a small ad requesting whatever that item is. For instance, I was able to inherit two two drawer filing cabinets for my office. When I was getting ready for my move to Texas I was able to "freecycle" many things that I knew I couldn't bring. I was able to get lots of boxes and packaging materials for my move and then I promptly freecycled them when I was all moved in...

How can anyone lose with freecycle? It's good for our landfills because things are getting reused instead of dumped. People who could use that old couch, rug, desk or chairs..well, you name it and it could be on freecycle... It is good for people who can really use something for free and of course good for you if you want to dispose of something.

There are rules for freecycling so besure to read those...you can't post anything illegal, of course...do read the rules. And there is a certain ettiquete you must follow...like honoring your appointment when you are picking up...bring your own truck and helpers when picking up heavy items because most people won't help lift or deliver...

Anyway....check it out...it's an idea whose time has come...good for you and me and good for the earth! www.freecycle.org

The other day I received a phone call from an individual looking for an appraisal on a property here in Huntsville, TX. The client was getting ready to place an offer on a house. I was excited to get the call as these types of assignments are better than the one you typically receive from a management company.. For one, you get to keep the entire fee and secondly you don't have to wait four to eight weeks to be paid. But that's not what this is about...

I accepted the order, the client accepted the fee bid and gave me an address. I started working on it as it was a rush. About 15 minutes later I received a phone call from the cient..it went like this:

Client: Alyssa? (no one ever pronounces my name correctly)...

Me: Yes?

Client: I have to cancel my appraisal order.

Me: Oh, okay. May I ask why?

Client: Well, I have a friend who does appraisals and he/she told me that I didn' t need an appraisal that they knew the property well, it is a sound building and that I should jump on it

Me: Ah..okay, may I ask who it was?

Client: appraiser name divulged.

Now, this appraiser happens to be experienced in our area and probably did know the building BUT..was that ethical? AND was USPAP followed with a signed certification in the file? Because sure enough that appraiser gave a verbal appraisal report. I have to wonder about that...

You're probably thinking I am just upset that an assignment was taken away from me..and well, honestly, that is true...but if the tables were turned I would NOT have told anyone they didn't need an appraisal. It is just not fair to the person you are advising when you do that.

How could that person know what the property was like AT THIS TIME....things change so easily and if you've not been in a house in a few months (or longer) how can you know what's been done to it? Or not done to it? How would you know that the roof has been leaking and there is now a big brown spot over the dining room? Or worse? You wouldn't... No, we are not home inspectors but we do have to be aware of things that affect the value.

In short..or maybe in the long run...I would not give that kind of advise without some research and well, frankly, a full appraisal....I would not advise someone to cancel an appraisal ..what if my off the cuff assessment led them to making a costly error in the purchas price? AND last...I would not want to take away someone's assignment....

I suppose if I am to look at it from that appraiser's side they were probably just trying to be helpful..but..were they really helpful? I say, if you are a consumer...be careful in situations like this because you are making a decision that will cost you a lot of money...don't let it cost you more than it should.

My understanding is that FHA requires appraisers be paid fair and customary fees...and that this does not include fees paid by AMC's.

Okay, I thought, we are making progress...ha...just when does this start? When I inspect a house that is for FHA the inspection time is doubled for me. My inspection includes but is not limited to photos of the attic and crawl space (if there is one), testing all of the appliances, the furnace and A/C, the garage door, windows in each room. I also check the water pressure, take pictures of each room, not any problem areas...well, you get the picture so I won't bore you with more of that...

Today I received a call from an AMC for a home needing an FHA certified appraiser...which I am...for Conroe. The fee was $300...now normal fees for a conventional appraisal in this area is about $350 for a typical single family residence..sometimes more or a little less...$400 for FHA.

So, how does $300 become customary let alone fair for an FHA appraisal that takes longer to do? I just don't get it...what good are regulations if no one abides by them? Thanks, Active Rain, for allowing me to rant

I am a transplanted real estate appraiser from San Jose, CA and I know I'm home! I moved here in October of 2009. As I blogged about before the people here are wonderful and so friendly. I immediately felt at home..a litle lonely sometimes for my family who are all in California but still at home here.

It's now permanent because we've bought a home and start moving this week! I introduced a realtor here on Active Rain who was so helpful to me in establishing my appraisal business here in Huntsville, TX when I first arrived -- Barbara Bunyard -- well, I said I'd be happy to have her as my realtor any time..and I am..she helped us find our house and we close escrow tomorrow...It's been a painless process and again, it's because the people here are so nice and of course Barbara did a great job.

Another Active Rainer, Mike Bradley, did an excellent job as our home inspector! I'd recommend him any time for home inspections. He was kind, courteous and professional...knows his business too!

The sellers were wonderful too! I've been so lucky to meet so many nice people here. I'm glad I'm here to stay!