Appraiser Income

There are currently 22 responses to “A little bit about me – Bryan Knowlton”

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1. 1 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, Jim Gonzalez said:

   Hi Bryan,

   You situation sounds a lot like my situation and I am gussing a lot like most other appraisers since the implementation of the brainchild of the new Governor of New York.

   It is heartening to know that you have found a way to climb out of the Coumo created mess and are now prospering pre HVCC. Thanks for sharing your story and I look forward to more information on how we can do the same.

   Sincerely,

   Jim Gonzalez

2. 2 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, bob raiford said:

   Could use some help.

3. 3 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, Kelly Leche said:

   Hello: I like your story. I am a certified residential real esate appraiser in Virginia. I liked your story and yes I would like in on your story. I love my job however it is feast or famine. I would like to have steady work all of the time.

4. 4 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, Sophia Athanasis said:

   So what you are saying is you hooked up with appraisal management companies and started getting orders. But,it was not possible to survive without the management companies

5. 5 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, George Myers said:

   Bryan,

   Thanks for sharing your story, it has inspired me to continue my quest. I am new to the appraisal profession and only just recently acquired my Appraisal Trainee License. I am experiencing some difficulty in finding a mentor and really don’t know where to turn. I have emailed other appraisers and forums requesting guidance in my journey to becoming a true appraisal professional, but have experienced some push back. Seems some appraisers feel that they don’t want to train their competition and possibly loose future business. However, thou that maybe a valid concern, the reality is that people will continue to pursue the profession, it would behoove the profession to embrace new comers, so to ensure the proper train for new comers and to build confidence and integrity into the profession and to eliminate the stigmas that have been associated with the profession. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

   George Myers

6. 6 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

   George,
   Keep working at becoming an appraiser! It has always been difficult to find a good mentor willing to train trainees. The main problem is that mentors don’t make any money training trainees, and now the problem has gotten even bigger since you can not use trainees for about 90% of AMC work. Some states and AMCs are making it easier, but we will have to see what happens in that area.

   The appraisal industry does need to constantly add appraisers or there will be a huge shortage of appraisers in the future.

   Really, the best advice I can give you is to either start as an office assistant in a busy appraisal company and you will be able to find work that will count towards your hours. If you are willing and able, I would even work for free. That might be the only way for you to get those hours. It will pay off in future earnings.

   Good luck in your quest!

   Bryan

7. 7 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

   That was definitely the case. I could not have survived without working with the appraisal management companies.

   I couldn’t survive today without the appraisal management companies.

   Bryan

8. 8 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

   I know the feeling. Make sure you sign up to my email newsletter/appraiser alerts if you have not already.

   Also, if you have not submitted applications to the appraisal management companies lately, first check with all the AMCs that have sent you work in the past and find out why you are not getting more orders. Second, get a good list of AMCs and apply to all of them. This will give you to cherry pick appraisal requests.

   Good luck and let me know if you have nay more questions. I would love to help!

   Bryan

9. 9 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

   Bob,
   How many appraisal management companies send you work?
   How many have you applied to in the past 12 months?
   Do you have a website?
   What is the website address?
   Where are you located?
   What is the primary city you cover?

   Thanks!

   Bryan

   Bryan

10. 10 /*On January 7th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

    Jim,
    I hope I can help you out along with anyone else that was in the same boat. Most of my appraiser friends went out of business and found other supplemental income when everything went down. First we were hit with the banks not lending money, then the HVCC stepped in. That was a double whammy that took most appraisers out of business.

    Make sure you sign up to the newsletter/appraiser alert system. I am going to email all my marketing tips and advice to interested appraisers.

    Thanks for commenting, I really appreciate it!

    Bryan

11. 11 /*On January 12th, 2011*/, Kerry said:

    My name is Kerry, I am an appraiser out here in Ventura, and Los Angeles when the HVCC when into affect I sign up with a lot of Management Company, they want the work done in 24&48 hour’s, when you done. They all stated that you will get paid in 30 day’s from the day when your appraisal is accepted by the AMC. Only one paid me on time out of 25 of them, for me to get paid I became a bill collector and one AMC I had to filed a small claim. Just recently I did two appraisal in Oct, and just got paid Jan 4 2011 that over 60 day’s and calling every 2 day after 30 day was up. Some of these AMC are calling me to do drive by and they are only going to pay $200 for this service. These AMC are out to control the Appraising industry and to establish the price limit’s for work or they will not send you any business. The only reason they want to do drive-by is because they have an appraiser on staff to do all the work.

    There was group appraiser’s out here that was over 200 appraiser’s, that went to Denny once a month to talk about the business, we even had BoB Clark came to our group right after he was given the post with OREA, and also the program director for the FHA, now the group has disband
    the majority of the appraiser quite the business because they could not afford to do work with the AMC. With the expenses that an appraiser half to pay per month for data, phone, education to keep your license updated, who can afford to work with the AMC anymore.

    I created a lot business with Bankruptcy, trust, divorce attorney through my marking campaign last year, that keep me in this business, I can not understand why the appraising industry does not come together to fight these Law’s I ask senator Dianne Feinstein when she was out her for Barbara Boxer in November, about this HVCC law and how this law is breaking the appraisal business she look me right in the eye and said she would look in to this when get back to her office, I have learn late that her husband owns a AMC company. The appraisal industry half to combing together to remove this law not to fight the AMC. You can not make a living working or afford to work with the AMC company.

12. 12 /*On January 12th, 2011*/, Hope In Miami said:

    Hi Bryan,

    Thanks for your personal story! I now feel hope in my financial situation. I just started working in my own appraisal business on January 1st. I am hoping to apply to as many AMC’s as possible over the next few months. I don’t have ANY clients right now. I just started using your list yesterday, wednesday.

    If have any inside tips on AMC working the South Florida Market…please let me know! I guess I will be testing out your AMC list I purchased from you. Thanks for the tips & all the great info! I will keep you posted.

13. 13 /*On January 13th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

    Hope in Miami,
    Go through the list and hopefully you will pick up a bunch of clients. I have an appraiser website customer in Florida that is doing well. Get a good website and you should be good!

    Bryan

14. 14 /*On January 13th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

    Kerry,
    I totally agree, there are a lot of bad AMCs out there. But there are also a lot of good ones. It is a paid to dig through all the bad to get to the good, but if you are successful you can do well.

    The past 2 years have been the best for me and my appraisal business. It is a pain dealing with the bad companies and I have only had a couple problems with payment.

    Please post info on the company that you had problems with if you feel comfortable. I am trying to put together a list of deadbeats as well and make sure they are not on my list.

    I know some people were having problems with appraisersloft, but others are not having problems with them. Any appraiser feedback on the BAD amc’s would be great!

    Thanks again!

    Bryan

15. 15 /*On January 19th, 2011*/, Donald J. Martin, SCRP, RAA, GAA, CDEI said:

    Very, very few good AMC’s. Most not so good, most don’t know or care to understand about USPAP or law. Try to teach them how to conduct business properly and you are gone. Hopefully most of them will be put out of business, not much use for them. Their percentage of the market is far lower than they pretend to have and is now shrinking, as lenders find out they do not need them, never did and can create their own vendor panels and always could.

16. 16 /*On February 7th, 2011*/, roxanne meleirne said:

    National Nreo is a good amc we are looking of qualified
    bpo and appraisal providers in all parts of the country

    We need appraisers that are compliant with the new Interagency Evalaution Appraiser Guidelines.

    Thanks
    Roxanne

17. 17 /*On February 10th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

    Roxanne,
    Where do you have an immediate need for appraisers?

    Thanks!

    Bryan

18. 18 /*On March 30th, 2011*/, Marilyn said:

    JVI is good to work with

19. 19 /*On March 31st, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

    Marilyn,
    Thank you for the input. I don’t think I ever signed up to them, so I am giving them a try. Thanks again!

    Bryan

20. 20 /*On April 11th, 2011*/, Mark Watcher said:

    Bryan,

    I like your proactive approach to getting business.What i want you to do next is start a union, California first. I think you could do this for 100,000 or so.Make yourself one of the union leaders, pay yourself well and dont do anyore appraisals. Let me know when i can pay my union dues

21. 21 /*On April 12th, 2011*/, sandiegohelp said:

    Mark,
    I think there are a lot of issues regarding forming a Union. But appraisers have been talking about forming them for years now. I wish I could remember why it conflicts with USPAP or something like that, but I just can’t remember. Let me know if you get anywhere on this. Thanks!

    Bryan

22. 22 /*On May 3rd, 2011*/, Ray Lima said:

    Bryan,
    Great story. Many of us are in similar situations. I lost the mortgages brokers I have been working with for years due to the HVCC. In an effort to regain lost work load, I joined a BNI (business networking international) group in a nearby city. Thanks to this group, I have been acepted to 3 local banks that I could not previously get on their list and several law firms in the area. Thanks to the leagal work, this winter was not as bad as others in the past 3 years. Joining groups like BNI, Rotary and Chamber of Commerce can open doors you wouldn’t have thought of even trying.

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