A Different (Ahem) Better Way of Thinking for Appraisers

We just wrapped our first, Go Create Some Value, Two-day Workshop in Salt Lake City. Fourteen hours of positive instruction, plenty of appraiser interaction, and a whole lot of fun! But, what was most surprising to me was the difference in the attitude and caliber of appraisers in attendance. I have been to a fair number of appraisal classes, conferences, and other events over the last few years, but I have never been to anything like this before! And that was the exact feedback from many of the attendees . . . this was truly a unique experience.

First of all, these individuals had come to learn… not to fulfill CE credit requirements. From the beginning, it was clear that the goals and efforts put forth by the participants were not what you would find at most appraiser get-togethers. When I speak around the country on the topic of Mobile Appraising for example, I often ask for a raise of hands on who possesses and uses a tablet and a laser measuring device in the field. On average, I get between 2% and 50% who do. At the Go Create Some Value workshop last week, more than 85% raised their hands. What does this mean to me? I was in a room full of forward-thinking appraisers who are actively investing in themselves and their appraisal businesses.

During each and every break, the appraisers were either networking with other appraisers or they were lined up to ask questions of myself or my staff on why our office is so different from most. In other words, they were there to learn and get as many ideas as possible to take home to their own businesses. After the workshop ended, I was encouraged by the number and quality of positive testimonials which came in. Indeed, this was not your ordinary appraisal conference. In an industry full of gloom and despair, it was uplifting to be surrounded by so many enthusiastic and inventive appraisers all in one place.

As I have had a few days to decompress and reflect on the event, I am once again reminded that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Have we as appraisers been kicked in the teeth with HVCC, Dodd-Frank and the like? You bet! Is it harder to make a living now than it was in 2007? Sure. Does it get a little old dealing with some of the junk the AMC’s direct at us? Yeppers! There is no doubt that our lives have changed dramatically in the past several years. However, while many appraisers are complaining, dropping out of the workforce, or counting the days to retirement, a handful of us still love what we do and are looking for new ways to do it better. That is a better way of thinking!

Looking forward to seeing many of you at our next event in Vegas!

Now, Go Create Some Value!

Dustin Harris is a multi-business owner, but he has found most of his success as a self-employed, residential real estate appraiser. He has been appraising for nearly two decades. He is the owner and President of Appraisal Precision and Consulting Group, Inc., and is a popular author, speaker and consultant. He owns and operates The Appraiser Coach where he personally advises and mentors other appraisers helping them to also run successful appraisal companies and increase their net worth.  His two-day workshop will be held on Nov 11-12, 2013 in Las Vegas. His principles and methodologies are also taught in an online, Mastermind group. He and his wife reside in Idaho with their four children.

14 thoughts on “A Different (Ahem) Better Way of Thinking for Appraisers”

    1. Thank you for the suggestion. We are fairly new to this workshop thing and are just feeling our way around. We are not sure what our future plans will be but I will certainly keep Texas in mind. Frankly whether or not we do another workshop depends on how fast or if the current one fills up.

  1. Mr. Harris,

    Thanks for the positive note!

    Everytime I drive by a field where workers are bent over performing tasks related to agriculture, I am grateful to be an appraiser…even in the current climate. The presence of AMC’s and how they treat appraisers may be a sort of social entropy (a law of thermodynamics relating to the inevitable decay of the universe). That’s a sort of weird comment about our profession and how things are going these days, but I doubt it is far off base.

    I have been amazed to see the manner in which SOME (many) AMC employees communicate with appraisers. Even the automated messages that come from such AMC’s as TSI (Title Source Inc) seemed to be designed to herd an appraiser much like a Shepard moves sheep. Unfortunately, many appraisers are motivated by $$ and as a result have a weak backbone which usually ends up doing whatever the AMC says. That sort of capitulation only emboldens the AMC’s to continue business as usual. Instead, the appraiser needs to say “Screw You” (in a nice way of course) and just do the right thing. If we focus on doing what is right instead of allowing ourselves to be prostituted, we will not only enjoy our work more, but will have much less anxiety to boot!

  2. I noticed the comments and requests about having a seminar in Texas. San Antonio is the convention center of Texas, so come here as soon as possible. There are approximately 2,600 appraisers in Texas, and 1,600 reportedly serve the San Antonio area. Please come to SA and only invite myself and my trainee. Our secret will be just that!

  3. So let me get this straight. You really want to grow your business and make more money, and there is a workshop out there that can potentially increase your business significantly, and you think that from all your research, it would be a good thing to attend, especially at a cost of $395.00. But because it’s not located in or near the town that you live in, you can’t make it work. Really!!!. From pretty much any where in the county, you could catch a relatively cheap flight to Vegas, stay at LVH for $50.00 a night (right next to the convention center), no need to rent a car and there are plenty of inexpensive places to eat, and the opportunity that looks so appealing to you is all of the sudden not worth the time, effort, cost and/or convenience because it’s not being hosted near Dallas, San Antonio, Florida or where ever you happen to be. Opportunity does not knock at your door that often, and sometimes the opportunity asks you to put a little skin in the game for a greater reward in return. The number one reason that dreams or goals are not realized is lack of action.

    Thanks

    Colorado

    1. Dan, Thanks for the post. Couldn’t have asked for a better testimonial if I had solicited it. Interestingly, I got an email from my most skeptical attendee in Salt Lake yesterday. He informed me that he has now completely reorganized his business and is now implementing everything we talked about at the workshop. I must smile at that one.

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