BATHROOMS Archives

Remove all bathtubs from home?

By Ann O'Rourke on March 8, 2024 / adjustments, appraisal business, BATHROOMS, Economic analysis, forecast, modernization, real estate market / Leave a comment

Tags: adjustments, appraisal business, BATHROOMS, desktop appraisals, Economic analysis, forecast

Is it a problem to remove all bathtubs in a house?

By Ryan Lundquist

Excerpts: I’ve been asked this question twice this week. Is it a problem to remove the tubs from each bathroom? People planning a remodel asked if it was a big deal or not to only have a walk-in shower in each bathroom. Here are my thoughts, and I really want to hear from you too. Anything to add?

It’s not a black and white answer: There’s not one black-and-white answer that applies to every house, price range, location, or market. Bottom line. But backing up, part of the fun of working in real estate is figuring out how to answer questions like this in a way that is balanced and hopefully reflective of the sentiment in the marketplace.

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Crazy Appraiser Stories

By Ann O'Rourke on January 1, 2021 / appraisal how to, BATHROOMS, COVID, fauci, FUN, humor, Mortgage applications, Strange homes / Leave a comment

Tags: appraisal how to, humor, mortgage loan volume, va

Crazy Appraiser Stories

You’ve all got them… The crazy car chases, the surprising living conditions, the exotic assignments, and the unique collectors….

What we all need… Here is one brief humorous escape!!

The photo above is the Crazee Appraiser writing up his appraisal!

Here is one story:

This was a beautiful 3,200 sq ft home with all the extras. After measuring, I was standing by the fireplace, taking an interior photo, being careful not to step on the expensive rug next to the hearth. The lady of the house looked a little alarmed, so I had to ask, “Is everything okay?” “Oh yes, it’s just that the camera will have a click.” I’ve heard weirder things, so after assuring her it was a very quiet click, the button went down, the picture was taken, and the excitement started.

Something hit the back of my head, a soft, but very strong hit. The equivalent of a 10 mile an hour wind passed over my left shoulder, and a shadow landed on the other side of the sofa, which was 14’ in front of me. It seems that the fluffy 6’ rug was a once wild, African Savannah cat, stretching 6’ long as it napped on its belly. It looked like a leopard rug! With teeth longer than some fork tines, I was happy to let it hide in the bedroom, but she coaxed it out of hiding to demonstrate that it could easily jump 10’ high for a kitty treat.

– Carolyn S. Richards

For more stories, click here

My comment: We all need some appraiser fun to start the New Year!!

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To keep up on what is happening in appraisal businesses, mortgage lending, USPAP, etc., Plus humor and strange homes, sign up for my FREE weekly appraisal email newsletter, sent since June 1994. Go to Home on the left side of the menu at the top of this page or go to www.appraisaltoday.com
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$99 per year or $169 for 2 years (credit card only) $8.25 per month, $24.75 per quarter, or $89 per year.
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Humor for appraisers

FREE appraisal business articles

Covid-19 Residential Appraisers Tips on Staying Safe

For Covid Updates, go to my Covid Science blog at covidscienceblog.com

Click here to subscribe to our FREE weekly appraiser email newsletter and get the latest appraisal news!!

To read more of this long blog post with many topics, click Read More Below!

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AMC Appraiser Dress Requirements?

By Ann O'Rourke on December 11, 2020 / appraisal business, BATHROOMS, lender appraisals, mortgage loan volume, USPAP, weird homes / Leave a comment

Tags: AMC dress codes

AMC Appraiser Dress Codes?

Excerpt: I recently saw a Facebook post where an appraiser was quite upset and offended that an AMC asked him to dress professionally for an appraisal walkthrough. Now, this

was a request that was made upfront as one of the conditions for accepting the order. Reading the post, it sounded like this appraiser was upset for two reasons. One, he was offended that the AMC was implying that he does not take his job seriously enough or dress professionally enough. Two, he felt like the AMC did not have a right to tell him how to do his job (i.e., how to dress).

First, let me say that I personally do not think it was the AMC’s intention to imply that this appraiser is not professional in any way. I simply think that they were taking extra precautions to make sure the borrower was extremely impressed by the service they, and the appraiser whom they hired, provided. Now, on to the real question. Can an AMC tell an appraiser how to dress? And the answer is yes.

To read more, plus appraiser comments, click here.

My comment: This has always been a controversial topic for fee appraisers. Dustin is correct. An appraiser client can have many requirements, such as requiring a newer car, no flip-flops, etc. It is your decision whether to work for them. Primary Rule: There is always another client!

Appraisal Business Tips

Humor for Appraisers

Covid-19 Residential Appraisers Tips on Staying Safe

For Covid Updates, go to my Covid Science blog at covidscienceblog.com

Click here to subscribe to our FREE weekly appraiser email newsletter and get the latest appraisal news!!

To read more of this long blog post with many topics, click Read More Below!!

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Very unusual bathrooms for appraisers

By Ann O'Rourke on September 29, 2020 / BATHROOMS / Leave a comment

Tags: strange bathrooms

Have you ever had the experience of visiting a place and discovering that its restroom is actually an incredibly designed curiosity in and of itself?

Maybe it had a really cool entrance hidden behind a false bookcase, maybe it’s a bathroom that’s become a historic landmark 15, or maybe the layout and design of the entire space were simply unforgettable.. See these very unusual bathrooms for appraisers from all over the world!

Scenic views, very odd interiors, etc. Lots more great fotos plus some interesting comments.

The top floor of The Shilla Hotel in Seoul has a bathroom with a view.

Men’s bathroom at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California. Home of very, very uniquely decorated rooms!!

Appraising Weird Stuff is Challenging!(Opens in a new browser tab)

To keep up on what is happening in appraisal businesses, mortgage lending, USPAP, etc. , Plus humor and strange homes, sign up for my FREE weekly appraisal email newsletter, sent since June 1994. Go to Home on the left side of the menu at the top of this page or go to www.appraisaltoday.com
Sign up in the Big Yellow Boxes

I regularly write about hot topics in appraising and appraisal business management issues
in my paid Appraisal Today monthly newsletter.
$99 per year or (credit card only) $8.25 per month, $24.75 per quarter, or $89 per year.
For more info, go to https://www.appraisaltoday.com/products

80 ft. long train car is part of home: appraisal?

By Ann O'Rourke on September 18, 2020 / appraisal, BATHROOMS, Coronavirus, COVID, fauci, humor, Mortgage applications, Strange homes / Leave a comment

Tags: appraisal, appraisal how to, humor, mortgage loan volume, strange house

80-Foot-Long Train Car Is Part of Washington Home: appraisal?

Excerpts: The former passenger-train car is about 80 feet long, 12 feet wide, and has been incorporated into the rest of the residence.

“[The first owners] connected it to the house, so you walk from the kitchen out into this train,” Anderson explains.

“You walk past the kitchen island and into a hallway where there is stained glass—and you walk into the train.”

To read more and see lots of interesting photos click here:

My comment: Sorry, I would Just Say No on this appraisal. Too busy now is my excuse. But really the appraisal would drive me crazy!!

Appraisal Process Challenges(Opens in a new browser tab)

Appraising Weird Stuff is Challenging!(Opens in a new browser tab)

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Infectious Disease Defined the American Bathroom: Appraisals

By Ann O'Rourke on May 8, 2020 / Appraisal fees, BATHROOMS, Freddie, humor, USPAP / Leave a comment

Tags: appraisal fees, BATHROOMS, Coronavirus, Fannie, humor, mortgage loan volume, USPAP

Cholera and tuberculosis outbreaks transformed the design and technology of the home bathroom. Will Covid-19 inspire a new wave of hygiene innovation?

Excerpt: Alter predicted that disease-avoidance would rise to the fore of bathroom design a few years ago, when he observed the traumatizing effects of the 2003 SARS outbreak on Toronto, which killed 44 people. But home design in general — and bathroom design in particular — has long been influenced by infectious disease. This isn’t a linear narrative with clear causation, but rather a convergence of advancements in science, infrastructure, plumbing, sanitation and design trends.

The modern bathroom developed alongside outbreaks of tuberculosis, cholera and influenza; its standard fixtures, wallcoverings, floorings, and finishes were implemented, in part, to promote health and hygiene in the home at a time of widespread public health concerns.

To read more, click here

Very unusual bathrooms for appraisers(Opens in a new browser tab)

Appraisal Humor

Appraisal business tips

To read about lots more appraisal topics, continue reading below!

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