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How to communicate with other
appraisers online using email lists and chat boards
Most appraisers are in one-appraiser firms, or
have only a few appraisers. Communicating with other appraisers can be very
valuable.
Note on email discussion groups - most of
the services have been purchased by Yahoo and the links below will take you to
the Yahoo groups site. Registration is required.
What would you want to discuss? Here are just a
few of the topics discussed on appraiser mailing lists and chat boards.
- How to appraise a cemetery.
- Whether a prospective client pays promptly.
- The future of appraising.
- Regulatory issues.
- What's the best software?
- What's the best digital camera?
- How to get started in appraising.
- How to get more business.
If you're new to email mailing lists and chat
boards be sure to read our Netiqette page to be sure
you don't make an online boo-boo your first few times!
Commercial appraiser tips:
- Most participants in the email lists and chat
boards below are residential appraisers, as the vast majority of appraisers
are residential.
- The best list for getting advice/info on a
difficult assignment or comps is the Appraisal Institute mailing list.
However, it generates about 100 emails a day, mostly residential or chit
chat. Another option is to set up an email group in your local area, or for
your specialty. Go to www.e-groups.com
to set one up.
- For info on computer topics, all the lists are
fairly good. Just post a message and someone will be able to help you.
Appraiser
discussion mailing
lists
- The most active list is the AI Forum discussion list,
started in January, 1996. To join, go to the Appraisal
Institute's Web site. Look for the link to the AI forum on the home page. Warning: it
generates 50 to 100 messages a day! The list is unmoderated, part of the reason for the
many messages. Most of the messages are general chit-chat, but appraisal, business, and
computer topics of interest to appraisers are also discussed, making it worthwhile to wade
through all the e-mail messages but be sure to set up filtering or have it sent to a Web
email service such as www.hotmail.com so it doesn't
fill up your inbox.
- An appraisers' marketing discussion list,
started in October, 1998, is fairly active with about 8 messages a day. The list
manager is Dennis Tompkins, SRA. This chat group is designed for the marketing of real
estate appraisal only. Per Dennis, "Any appraiser can join this chat group to discuss
the marketing of real estate appraisals. This is the only topic allowed on this chat
group."
You can join the appraisal marketing list by going to the following Web
page: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/appraisalmarketing
- Total 2000/Pocket Total (started 8/99) Per an
Internet posting by Brian Davis, SRA, "This list is NOT
sponsored by alamode, Inc., and in no way represents alamode's views,
opinions, or technical support of its WinTotal or Pocket Total products.
"It IS a an online community of real estate appraisers sharing
information, tips, tricks, and solutions that we can all use in our daily
appraisal businesses. To join, click on the URL: www.onelist.com/subscribe/Total2000UsersGroup
and follow the instructions." Go to www.home-appraiser.com/Total2000Users.html
for more information on the group.
- ACI Independent Users Group started by
Todd Cheffler - onelist.com/community/ACI-UsersGroup
- SFREP/Wilson Users Group started by Ken
Rossman - www.egroups.com/group/SFREP-UserGroup
Appraisers chat/discussion boards
Some of these discussion boards will email you the most recent postings. All
(except for HUD) regularly discuss topics of interest to appraisers such as forms
software, digital cameras, and other computer and Internet topics.
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