Appraisers - how can I find the name and phone number of an appraiser?

• Go to the Appraisal Subcommittee Web site, which has the National Registry of licensed and certified appraisers, or contact the state licensing agency (information on the ASC site). Sometimes it is hard to find a name, so try the "custom search" option, and try all appraisers in a city. If you spell the name wrong, you can't find them. The data is case sensitive. Not all appraisers are licensed or certified. 
• You can also try appraisal association Web sites, if the appraiser is a member. 
• Also try phone book directories. For a list, go to the Internet Tips page and scroll down to the bottom of the page. 

Books - where can I get appraisal and business management books?
For books we recommend, go to Computer, appraisal, and business books for appraisers.

Collecting past due billings This is one of fee appraisers' favorite topics. 

• To get some tips, go to the page on Collections - the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
• For our favorite books, go to Business management books

Comps - where can I get them? Closed sales for free are hard to get, as they are sold for a profit by vendors. 

• For commercial appraisers, the Comps.com site works well. Listings are easier to find. 
• Some commercial listings of sales and leases are online, and most residential listings are online. Try www.loopnet.com and www.comspace.com for commercial listings. 
• Go to the Commercial appraisal links for more information. 
• Several appraiser email mailing lists are excellent ways to get comps and assistance on unusual properties. Go to the Appraiser communication page.

Digital photos - One of appraisers' favorite computer topics. 

• For more information, go to the Digital Photo page.
• For our favorite digital camera books, go to the Computer Book page. 

Fannie Mae Guidelines - Go to the Fannie Mae News page for the latest information and download the Fannie Mae guidelines. 

Flood maps - where can I get them?  

• The FEMA web site has has a list of the most current maps but no maps are available. 
• Geocoded flood maps are only available commercially from one national company and a few local companies (type in an address, and the software program finds the location on the flood map).
• Lenders use flood certification companies instead of appraisers to verify flood zones. If you are a commercial appraiser and only do a few appraisals a month, you could use a flood cert service online. Use a search engine to search for "flood certification service."
• Scanned flood maps are available on microfiche and CD-ROM for some areas. 
• Go to the Appraisal Vendors' page for more info. 

Forms software - what's the best? Every appraiser has a different opinion on this hot topic. 

• Go to the forms software page for some resources. 
• For a list of vendor web sites, go to Appraisal Vendors' page.

Help with an appraisal problem or unusual property The Web is a great way to get help. You won't get comps, but you can get very useful information. For example, you're appraising a marina. 

• You search at www.google.com, a search engine, for marinas. You find the International Marina Association site with lots of info. 
• Or, you find a book or article on the problem. The Appraisal Institute publishes many books and has an excellent library. 
• Many of their books are reviewed on the Appraisal Books page on this web site.
• For articles, the Appraisal Institute's Lum Library is an excellent source of information. 
• You can also post a question on several email mailing lists and chat boards for appraisers. Go to the Appraiser communications page.

Independent contractors   

• For information, go to the Using Independent Contractors - be careful! page
• For our favorite books, go to Business management books.

USPAP - Where can I get a copy?  

• Go to the Appraisal Foundation Web site to read or order the latest version of USPAP, any proposed or approved changes, and their monthly Q&As. 
• Yes, you can download it section by section, but its cheaper and easier to purchase the paper document for $25. The online version is handy for searching. 

Web site - How do I set one up for my business?  

• Go to the How to get your appraisal firm on the Internet page. 
• To see other appraisers' web sites, go to the Appraiser links page.