A big corporation contacted me for an appraisal work. They asked for my credentials and if I’m a bank accredited appraiser. Previously, they hired a research group to do the valuation, but not satisfied with the result.

I commended their effort to look for a licensed and experienced appraiser, and gave them my credentials. I explained to them the difference between an experienced bank appraiser and non-bank appraiser.

It pays to be able to discern between the two.

What are the difference?

Non-bank appraisal is a market niche, often best suited for appraisers who think outside the box. These assignments include appraisal reports performed for situations such as pre-listing, financial reporting, divorce settlement, other litigation related cases, and government agencies appraisal needs. Intended users need to find the most qualified and experienced appraisers. Well-vetted experts are most applicable when testimony is a possibility or when looking at unique properties.

Take lawyers, for example; They need someone who can report not only well enough to be reliable but also defensible in court and a communicator. It takes a good professional to write a report, but an even better one to be effective to withstand in court trials and argumentation with fellow commissioners and lawyers. An appraiser should know how to convince the commissioners in court of his valuation, and come up with a recommendation, thereby hastening the trial process.He must also be able to communicate complex valuation theory to assessors, lawyers and judge who may have no deeper understanding of valuation processes, approaches and adjustments. In other words, the appraiser must become an effective teacher in addition to being a good report writer.

Meanwhile, many appraisers who work primarily with banks are confine within company scope of work. Banks often require appraisers to utilize comparable sales within a “price range” of an area, and not to exceed company guidelines when adjusting comparable sales and in using valuation approaches.

Clients and user of appraisal work should tread very carefully when selecting appraisers. Choosing an appraiser with limited experience could result in less than optimal results.

After the discussion with their top management, they decided to get my service. Another big corporation in my client list.