AUTHOR: Patrick Egger is a Certified General Appraiser located in Las Vegas, NV. He teaches continuing education classes on the housing market, appraisal issues for real estate agents and appraisers. Click on Outside The Boxes for a collection of Patrick's articles on Appraisal Scoop!
To some, "The Right Start" represented good ideas and to others, well, it was just Patrick on his soapbox again. Both have merit. I do not have all of the answers. Most of the time, "its just me thinking out loud" and you being polite enough to listen.
The Appraisal Scoop and various forums, serve as "quasi-mentors", providing news, commentary and direction to appraisers. With Web 2.0, we found a "missing link", one lost when the profession left the financial institutions to become a cottage industry of sorts.
While the quasi-mentors serve appraisers, there is still a "disconnect" and as a result, we still have "blind men describing the elephant differently". We all have views and opinions. After all we are in the opinion business. The problem (one that generates the "but my other appraisers don’t do that") is that while we have a "uniform appraisal report" we lack a "uniform perspective and application". [Blind Men and an Elephant]
Where do we go from here?
I began with "what if" and it will end with the same thought. "What if" does not represent the questions; it represents the possibilities and the answers. "What if" is an exercise for the mind imagination and spirit, designed to recognize the problem, conceive a solution, while developing enthusiasm to energize thought into action.
I suggested "a la mode, inc." as an ally in our quest to shift direction and control (to some degree) our destiny. Some have written, suggesting that I am drinking "a la mode’s kool aide", far from it. Dave Biggers and a la mode "stepped up and took a swing", when the others we not even on the field.
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I am not proposing "The A la mode Institute of Appraisers", only bringing to light their reach with The Appraisal Press, the fact that they stepped up with the HVCC response and their Mercury AMC Network. Where are the others? I am sure that many think I have a "personal agenda" and I do, but not for reasons that may come to mind, something I want to be clear.
Plausible Deniability
I did not discuss this series with a la mode. It’s called "plausible deniability" and I wanted them to have it. I prompted them to embrace a direction that I think would benefit them and us. I proposed the Housing Market Analysis (HMA) addenda, taught in the "real world educational series" at the regional conventions and introduced instructors that could (and did) teach on topics of importance to appraisers.
They did not "jump when I shouted", however they were receptive and took action to enable the process. From my perspective, they looked for ways to make improvements in what they do for you. We cannot expect them to "leap without looking" and looking takes time. They have a responsibility to take action only when such action does not place their clients or them at risk.
For those that went to Atlanta and Chicago or read the articles in The Appraisal Press, Dave was clear on his motivations for helping us, "it is good business". Dave, through his actions with the HVCC response, has already gotten his feet wet. It is simply a matter of will he dive into this head first, hence the "plausible deniability".
I wanted them to have an "opt out" position because it is one thing to assist your customers and another to be the face of 100,000+/ residential appraisers. While you can become the "caped hero" you can just as quickly become "the villain".
Some Clout
What do I think "a la mode" can do that we cannot? They can help us with many things, including organization and communication. They (and the others) can get the word out and with it; we can build "some clout".
- Standards - Defining variables removes debate and creates "one reference place for all".
- Originality - Developing "creative solutions", to recognize the needs of the market while adapting to protect it.
- Mentorship - "Standards and certification" to measure and provide uniform mentorship.
- Effective - From fragmented to focused, "under one umbrella" it is easier to give and to get feedback.
- Communication - The Appraisal Press reaches residential appraisers nationwide.
- Leadership - a la mode provided this and demonstrated the ability to get us focused and to respond to key issues.
- Organization - Technology provides all we need and they have it on a large scale.
- Understanding - That which is clear to us must be clear to clients and report readers.
- Training - The "real world series", "webinars", etc., are only part of "what could be" used to get "all up to speed". The professional associations have the formal courses. We need to develop "special programs" and make them accessible.
Is all of this possible? I think so. The questions are, "do you think so" and if you do, "will you support it"? It is not important for you to tell me, but it is critical that you tell them and "the others" that it is important to you.
I have enjoyed being on my soapbox and because of it, one of several possibilities could take place.
- First, 100,000+/ appraisers will read this, think about the "what if’s" and thank me by sending a small contribution for my time and effort. I will make "a cool million", teach appraisal classes nationwide and write full time for The Appraisal Scoop.
- Since that is "highly unlikely", my fall-back is that a la mode, inc. will call, offer me the position of "VP-Ideas and Thoughts" (aka "VP-What if", it comes with a nice salary expense account and bonus package).
Barring either of those (long odds), with your emails to both a la mode, inc. and "the other guys", they may all see "the wisdom of what if" and if they do, my possibilities (and yours) are not so limited. "What if"?
"There is always a better way and it should be found".
Joseph M. Juran (pioneer in the field of quality control)
AUTHOR: Patrick Egger is a Certified General Appraiser located in Las Vegas, NV. He teaches continuing education classes on the housing market, appraisal issues for real estate agents and appraisers. He can be reached at lvreqa@cox.net Look for the new Outside The Boxes category for a collection of Patrick's articles on Appraisal Scoop!
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