The Ugly (and Filthy) Truth About Wearing Shoes in the HouseExcerpts: “Shoes off, please.” A reasonable request? Or are those fightin’ words?
Arguably, no other three monosyllabic words have ever led to more irritated house guests, resentful homeowners and thriving sales of shoe racks, slippers, and sing-songy, passive-aggressive signs. (“Since little fingers touch our floor, please remove your shoes at our door!”)… “So many germs and bacteria can be brought in from your shoes, including toxins and E. coli,” Mitzner explains…
“So, if one removes their shoes,” he asks, “what about all the potential bacteria on their socks?” Plus, even if you abide by a strict rule of “no shoes,” you can’t escape the fact that the interior of your home is still covered in germs, Adalja says. How reassuring.
While there are scientific arguments both for and against pulling off footwear the moment you enter the front door, experts do seem to agree on one thing: To minimize the risk of getting sick, go out of your way to keep a clean home.
My comment: I hate taking off my shoes in a house!! I have to put them, or disposable booties, back on when going in and out of the house. But, since reading this article, I am so glad I have hardwood floors with no carpets and no small children ;> Of course, the bottom line: it is their house and they can decide. 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!! |
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A Map of every building in AmericaExcerpts: Classic maps answer questions like: How do I get from Point A to Point B? These data images, instead, evoke questions – sometimes, simply: What’s that? City and building maps for appraisers
We found fascinating patterns in the arrangements of buildings. Traditional road maps highlight streets and highways; here they show up as a linear absence.
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In the August 8 2018 issue of this email newsletter, I published the link
Visualizing the Hidden ‘Logic’ of CitiesExcerpt: Some cities’ roads follow regimented grids. Others twist and turn. See it all on one chart.
Excerpt: In Chicago or Beijing, any given street is likely to take you north, south, east, or west. But good luck following the compass in Rome or Boston, where streets grew up organically and seemingly twist and turn at random.
Fascinating!! Check it out at:
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Buy This Book!! Valuation by Comparison, Second Edition by Mark Ratterman, MAI, SRA
I reviewed it in the July, 2018 issue of the paid Appraisal Today.
One of the best books I have ever read for residential appraisers. (There are only a few that I recommend.)
More info and how to purchase at:
Appraisal Adjustments Yes, No, Maybe(Opens in a new browser tab)
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Do Tandem Bedrooms and Garages Impact Value?
Excerpt: There is less privacy in the one bedroom because it must be walked through to get to the other bedroom. This is considered to be functional obsolescence.
This type of situation is most often found in older homes. I have seen this type of situation many times on the second floors of many bungalow or cape cod style dwellings I have appraised. Although, it can exist in any style home.
My comment: I see tandem rooms a lot and sometimes tandem garages. I think I have finally convinced the local agents not to call them bedrooms. Of course, some insist on using Assessor data, which has not been updated since 1979, when Prop 13 passed and re-assessments stopped unless there was a sale or new construction.
ADD LINKS FOR HUMOR AND BIZ TIPS
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A Spoon Full of Sugar (when dealing with annoying borrowers, AMCs, neighbors, etc.)Excerpt: Remember when you were a kid? No, not a goat. You know, a young human. Remember your parents giving you that thick, pink, nasty tasting medicine, called an antibiotic? While we hated the taste, we needed the medicine. And, after a few days, we began to feel better.
When it comes to appraisals, the information they provide can help to protect us from making a bad financial decision. However, there are times when the results of an appraisal may leave a bad taste in the mouths of those reading the report.
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 10-4-18 blog post with many topics, click Read More Below!!
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Do You Have Two Appraiser Brains?
By George Dell
Excerpt: One appraiser brain says you must be “independent, impartial, and objective.” (USPAP) It wants to be good. It wants integrity and to sleep peacefully at night.
But there’s another brain. It’s primal and wants to survive. It has other responsibilities: meet the bills, feed the family, pay the mortgage, and pay government taxes/fees. And recorded in this brain is that part of the standards which say: Do what your clients expect; do what everyone else does. As paraphrased, the sole guides to an acceptable scope of work.
Worth reading. Short. Plus the comments.
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The broker who extorted “The Jills” exposed an industry secret: MLS manipulation is widespread
Excerpt: When One Sotheby’s agent Kevin Tomlinson was charged with extorting Coldwell Banker star brokers “the Jills” over manipulating the Multiple Listing Service, it exposed what many agents claim is a common practice in the industry. This one, however, was particularly egregious, market pros said.
My comment: nothing new for appraisers. When I googled “MLS manipulation” lots of links came up.
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To read more of this long 9-28-18 blog post with many topics, click Read More Below!!
Working Together in an Appraisal Business – Is it for you?
Excerpt: We are a husband and wife appraisal team. We are both real estate appraisers and have been working together now for 12 years. My husband has had his business for 30 years but I was formerly a school teacher. I joined him in 2006. I will admit that I wasn’t sure at first if it would work but we have been going strong ever since. I have reached out to other appraisers who also are married and work together. They have shared some of their stories with me as well as tips and advice for working together. If you are considering working together as appraisers or other forms of business here are a few tips:
1. Keep work life and home life as separate as possible…
Click here for more advice:
My comment: my husband Zeke worked part time in my appraisal business for many years. He was not an appraiser but was great at collections. Once a mortgage broker owed us money. Zeke was a very big guy. He put on his black suit with a black shirt and tie and said he was here to collect what we were owed. He came back with all the cash…
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Schizophrenic Adjustments
By Dave Towne
Excerpt: Appraisers, I’ve written in the past about what I believe are strange ways to report adjustments in appraisals, and suggested ’rounding’ is a perfectly acceptable way to report them. This is largely due to buyers and listing agents thinking and listing in $100 increments – not down to exact dollar amounts.
During the past couple of weeks, I ‘came in contact with’ two separate appraisals done by different appraisers on totally different properties, in different market areas.
What struck me was the incredibly precise adjustments made for only certain items in these reports, while the rest of adjustments were ’rounded’ to even dollars. Here are the examples:
Click here to read more:
My comment: I love the image at the top of this post….. sorta creepy but very appropriate ;> Who do you think it represents?
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