Appraising Demystified

• A FEW WORDS •

In San Francisco, there was a homeless person with long black hair that was badly matted. He wore layers of clothing that were teeming with grime and included holes, which both ventilated and exposed everything everyone wished not to see.

He was there every morning commanding the center of the sidewalk. Unlike many of his fellow homeless comrades, he was not begging, boozing, or passed out on the concrete. Instead, he would talk to himself with an unrestrained voice, not unlike a stage actor practicing his lines in an empty theater.

crowd commuting

As people scurried to work, to stores or to appointments, they would pass by this homeless man with fixed, downcast stares giving him a wide berth. When the passersby finally felt secure, they would give a subtle, amazed glance finding the homeless man returning a paranoid side-ways glance. Throughout all this chaos the homeless man never ceased his loud chatter.

The homeless man could not stop his socially unacceptable behavior since it was a neurosis that propelled him to perform even though he understood that his actions were inappropriate.
One day he was in his usual haunt, except that he appeared more normal. People were still hurrying past him, but without giving backward glances or abnormal breaths of passage. The homeless man had found, probably in some refuse container, a plastic cordless telephone. He was now talking to himself on a telephone rather than shouting aimlessly into the air!

Talking on a telephone is socially acceptable, as it is not uncommon to see someone talking on a telephone. Everyone seemed to feel that perhaps he was doing business or socializing with someone. Even though a person on the receiving end of a telephone call cannot be seen, the subconscious knows that someone exists. In fact, since listening to a private conversation is considered rude, the homeless man inadvertently created a sense of privacy for himself. It does not matter that the telephone had no batteries, that the homeless do not have telephones, and that the telephone being used was not a cellular phone but rather an in-home cordless. People now seemed to accept the homeless man ignoring his dubious status.

Appraisers are not vastly different. Some appraisers project a learned image even though they have not participated in formal appraisal education. Often appraisers' credentials are not based upon education, testing and peer review. In fact, many appraisers simply dispense with the inconvenience of becoming professionals. Like the homeless person with his useless telephone, appraisers without formal education may appear credible to the public but, in essence, there is no real substance to their credentials.

This research tutorial provides personal property appraisers the opportunity to become genuine professionals.

It has been said that the profession of personal property appraising is still evolving. However, the profession of personal property appraising is not a profession in development, but rather a profession that currently exists.

Although a vast body of information already exists within professional appraisal courses, there is an enormous amount of data that has never been presented. This home study curriculum encompasses both well-established appraisal methodology and new appraisal methodology that has never before been offered. This research tutorial is the most advanced personal property tutorial available.

In order to best grasp and apply the material included in these lessons, a series of exercises have been included.

This will not be an easy task. Those who succeed can be proud that they have accomplished no small feat.

A SIDESTEP

Keep in mind that the legal arena is a moving target and changes occur constantly. Thus, information learned years ago may not be valid today. Information valid today could be quite different in the future. Courses that merely regurgitate theory from previous courses run the risk that methodologies being taught may have become been outdated, changed, etc. Therefore, it is recommended that the enrollees of this research tutorial revisit from time to time. This research tutorial will be updated as time permits to reflect whenever new information is discovered.

Law Books and Gavel

But let us take a side trip for a moment. If you are an appraiser that does not practice in the United States, this research tutorial is not for you. Yes, you can take the research tutorial, but it is based solely on the U.S. arena. Thus, you must seek a course of study that is specific for your country or translate this research tutorial into your country's legal mandates. Beware of courses that claim to be international as each country's laws are different and to be truly international, each included country's laws must be researched and presented. There is no one-size-fits-all valuation course in the world. Additionally, within the U.S.A. each jurisdiction will likely have different requirements, definitions, and theory.
This research tutorial does not teach any product knowledge. Most appraisal books, courses, and the like spend most of their effort teaching product knowledge and how to describe property. If, for example, you are a gemologist-appraiser, this research tutorial will not teach you how to describe jewelry, gemstones, paperweights, stamps, flatware, plates, etc. It will not teach you to identify or grade property. This is an appraisal methodology research tutorial.

Additionally, this research tutorial does not provide legal advice. Laws are provided merely to show the origin for specific points of valuation methodology. Seek the advice of an attorney authorized to provide legal advice in the concerned jurisdiction.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

The "Advanced Personal Property Appraisal (APPA)" research tutorial is a comprehensive "how to appraise" course and reference tool for personal property appraisers. Each lesson details various standards, ethical considerations, practical methodologies, and techniques used by successful appraisers.

Whether you are employed or an independent appraiser, this research tutorial will make your task easier, completer and more professional. You will be provided with techniques that can be used immediately.

Although this research tutorial is presented as a core level of instruction, it is not shackled by that notion. It would be unfair for you to reach the highest title available and then realize that you cannot render a proper appraisal for even common tasks. This research tutorial presents a level never before reached in any previous core level program. You will be able to render proper reports for common appraisal assignments, as well as selected advanced tasks.

As a professionally trained professional appraiser, you can seek assignments involving insurance, tax settlements, government agency needs, criminal and civil disputes, economic settlements and estate planning. This research tutorial will teach you how to perform these functions in the most efficient manner possible.

Witney jr.

"It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared."

Whitney Young, Jr.

In this research tutorial, a convention is used that alerts you to the most important points to remember. These are punctuated by use of a bold highlighting or underlining, for example:

It is unethical to charge a fee that is contingent on a predetermined outcome.

It is hoped that these highlighted points will unlock appraisal knowledge for you, the student.

Enjoy and profit from your new knowledge and always act in a professional and responsible manner.

Before we begin, I would like to dedicate this opus to my twin uncles, Jerry Ronald Cain and Larry Donald Cain, who always believed in me.

Respectfully submitted,
Bill Hoefer
William D. Hoefer, Jr.