As an appraiser, the tools we carry can significantly impact our workflow and efficiency. One of the most commonly debated tools is the ladder. For years, many appraisers, including myself, carried a ladder in their vehicles to inspect attics and other hard-to-reach areas. However, times and regulat...

CubiCasa, a destination island or a helpful tool you can use on your next appraisal? As you may have guessed, it’s the latter. CubiCasa is an application that provides anyone, especially appraisers, with the sketch of a house by videoing it. You won’t need your laser measure this time but you will n...

Recently, I've delved into a topic on many minds – the market's shifts, whether a recession, slowdown, or a mere change in dynamics. This phenomenon is widespread, affecting appraisers nationwide. Yet, intriguingly, while some face hardships, others thrive. The question echoes: Why the disparity?

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Different types of appraisals call for different needs. As an appraiser, you are the most qualified to make choices regarding an appraisal. There are a lot of things you have to juggle, and clients and lenders have their own ideas of how it should be. What about in regards to comp photos? With the a...

I had a man reach out to me with a question about a property he had been asked to appraise. It was being listed as a single-family home, but was clearly meant for some other use, probably as a foster type home (he mentioned in his email to me that it had 3 kitchens – one on each floor). His question...

I’ve recently been looking into real estate as an investor, and I found a rental property relatively close to my home that looked pretty promising. It was advertised as a 4-plex, with 2 duplexes on the same property. The price was fairly steep, but not unreasonable considering the income the propert...