PSA: Appraisal Data Collectors

VERY IMPORTANT!!

Homeowners and Agents,

If you are having an appraisal done, when they call to schedule the property visit or inspection, I IMPLORE YOU, ask the person coming if they are a licensed appraiser and the appraiser that will be completing the appraisal report. I cannot stress this enough.

FNMA and the lenders have recently approved, (and are actually pushing for) third parties to complete these property visits then send their pictures and sketch to an appraiser who can be anywhere as long as they are licensed in your state. The 3rd party companies are literally advertising that it is a great way for Uber or pizza delivery drivers to make extra money. They could send anyone to your home. The biggest problem with this is they are not licensed and have not had a background check. They could be rapists, child molesters, or casing your home for breaking in at a later time, you have no way to know. That doesn't even get to the obvious, they are not trained to know what to look for or how to properly measure a home, what is and what is not GLA; what condition deficiencies to look for, what has been updated, or the difference between a complete remodel with upgraded materials or simple cosmetics. In addition, the appraiser who actually does the appraisal may have no clue about your particular market and what does and does not affect the value.

Purchasing, selling, or refinancing a home is for most people, the largest financial decisions of their lives. Do you really want this left up to someone making $25 extra cash? Protect yourself, your family, your belongings, and your finances, and make sure the person you let into your home is a licensed appraisal professional.