Alisa's Blog

IT is time...school is starting !

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:32:48 -0500

It's that time again....our children and grandchildren will be back in school. Two things come to mind:

First, please be careful out there driving in school zones. Remember to stop for school buses, watch for those little ones who might dart out. Be prepared to stop quickly.

Second, how about adopting a class -- even if you have no child in school. Now is a great time to buy school supplies to help out your adopted class. I've been shopping for my grandson's class -- 24 of everything..crayons, erasers, 8 dozen pencils (the cool decorated ones), rulers, glue sticks and individual spiral bound note books. Boxes of tissues, waterless hand cleaner and copier paper are good too.

I know, I know, I'm really a nag about this but you know, many of our school teachers have to buy supplies like this out of their own pocket. Our small school district had to face a budget cut of over $5 million for this coming year...many teachers lost their jobs in spite of the cost cutting measures the schools were taking to try to save jobs.

So if I am nagging, well, I'm okay with that. If I can encourage 10 people to go out and spend just $30 at the dollar store and various discount stores right now for one class room then I'll be so thankful and feel it was worth it. Of course, 20 or 40 or 100 of you would be better!!! How about it??? Who will find a class to support? And if $30 is too much, well, whatever you can is great. I found crayons for $.27 a box, pencils were 12 for $1 at the dollar store, rulers $.27 each at Target.

Turning in your Boxtops for Education found on grocery items helps too!

Soooo, Active Rainers, I'm counting on you all!!! Remember, not only will you be helping a classroom full of children, the future of our country BUT you will feel good too! You never know, this might also become a way of getting your name out there as some schools publish a website with donors names on it.

Here is a resource you may need -- getting rid of or receiving recycled items!

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:11:03 -0500

This is an organization that anyone can join -- no cost -- and it lets you post items you would like to give

away...any thing and everything -- people read the posts and contact you by email to make arrangements to pick up whatever it is you have to donate.

I've seen baby items, clothes, Books, BBQ's, computer items, furniture, software, garden plants, food..well, the list just goes on. You can also post a wanted item too and if someone has it to get rid of they will contact you.

The site is www.freecycle.org and you sign up and choose a chapter nearest your location -- makes sense since you will have people picking up the items you no longer want.

The great thing is that you are helping people who need something and keeping that item out of the land fill. This is especially helpful for getting rid of computers and computer accessories. Some areas charge to accept old computers and monitors...I think it's $30 - $35 here to dispose of a monitor.

Just an idea! whose time has come.

Alisa

Ant spray you make yourself...

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 01:58:32 -0500

Our bath room seems to be plagued with ants in the summer and I really, really hate those commercial ant sprays...well, I took a spray bottle and filled it about 2/3rds full of water. Then I put about 1/4 cup of plain dish soap in it. The kind you use to hand wash dishes not dish washer soap.

I shook it well and sprayed the ants. They died almost on contact and I just turned on the shower and let them spray away. The good thing is that I didn't have that chemical smell and didn't have to worry about the chemicals in the commercial bug spray. I don't mind using it around my kitchen sink either.

I'm no environmentalist so I don't know if this would be safe to spray around the outside of your home or not. It might not good if it sinks into the ground and enters the water system...I don't know. And I don't know if it would hurt your plants so please use with caution. I've only used it on porcelain and vinyl with no negative effects.

I saw this on a listing and wish everyone would do it

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:48:06 -0500

The other day I was searching for comps for a property here in San Jose that I was doing an appraisal on. Now I love that there are so many photos so we can actually see what the upgrades are to homes -- especially the kitchen and bath photos but that isn't what I am writing about. (Please keep putting those in--the more the better)

What I read just made me wish for something like this in every listing that has closed escrow....

The wonderful realtor had put in the following sentence:

Message to appraisers -- we had more than one offer for this property and there were no credits for closings costs or concessions paid by the seller to the buyer.

This was so terrific, you just can't imagine. It makes me wonder, why doesn't everyone put the credits and concessions on the MLS after it closes???

Is it a time thing? Realtors should be receiving phone calls asking for this information...how much time does that take? To answer the calls or return calls? I am guessing if you return calls or answer them then it takes more time than putting a sentence in the MLS.

Does your MLS not let you add information once the property closes escrow? Sorry, I am just trying to understand how it works from your side of the MLS.

Appraisers do need this information to do our job properly -- we are required to put it in our reports but it can be a difficult task and with everyone in a hurry we sometimes don't get the information in time if at all.

So, if any of you see this post and start adding those extra details about concessions and credits then this appraiser salutes you! And she hopes she'll be able to use one of your sales for a comp someday soon.

Thanks in advance!

Alisa

What a great Agent! I have to tell you about Doris Joshnson!

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:54:06 -0500

I received an order to appraise a home for purchase in Lathrop, California. As it turns out it is a foreclosure and vacant. Now I am a member of two MLS's but I do not have a lock box key for either so I was to call the buyer's agent to get access.

So, first thing I do is call Doris Johnson of PMZ in Lathrop. She calls me back promptly and is so nice on the phone. You could tell she was going to be easy to work with. Believe me, this is not true of everyone, including other appraisers or just any one in general as you might already know.

Doris tells me she will get me the combination for the lock box and we hang up. Well, the next time I hear from her I remember to mention that the order is to be paid COD by the buyer and that I am to collect my fee at the door. The loan officer was very adamant about that and to be honest, I prefer it that way myself.

So I mention it to Doris and she was so wonderful. Doris went out of her way to get the borrower to meet her and give her my check which she then proceeded to bring to me. The borrower is from the bay area and Lathrop is in the central valley.

I have to say, this is the type of behaviour that makes people successful in whatever they do. And while the is the first time I have worked with Doris I certainly hope it won't be the last. She is great in my books!

Doris, I don't know if you are on Active Rain and reading this, but, if you are then I say, "Your tops in my book!"

Thanks so much!

Alisa

PS: I'll be sending her an invitation to AR right now!

Two Thank You's -- People do nice things, it's true!

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:26:34 -0600

Joseph Coffaro -- Thank you!

I'd been trying to get placed on the FHA approved appraiser list since September 9 th, 2007 without much luck. My application had been sent in twice -- something like finding a deep well that has no bottom....I could just toss it down the hole with the same results. I called them several times and left a messge -- not even an echo back from the same deep hole. I know they are busy.

So I checked the roster for a local appraiser who had just been added to the list and I found Joseph Coffaro -- also an AR member.

I called Joseph last Friday and explained my plight and asked how long it took him to get on the list. Well, he told me he started in August, 2007.

Next he gave me a phone number and name of someone at HUD who helped him. On Monday I called this person and he promised to see what he could do. I emailed him my application and wow, as of Tuesday I was added to the list. He even took the time to call me on Wednesday and let me know.

So, I'd like to say thank you to Joseph Coffaro and of course the HUD employee. I would mention him by name but he made me swear that I would not tell anyone who he was or share his information. (Imagine that flood gate opening if I did).

I will honor his request and not say his name..but...I am grateful still.

What have you done for your computer today? A gentle reminder.

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:40:14 -0600

Funny, we don't realize how much we need something until we are without it...! I admit it, I love my computer and the internet...I can't imagine doing an appraisal report the "old" way. Pasting in photos, using rub on arrows, eek, typing on a typewriter..oh, and let's not forget printing copies and mailing them!

Thankfully I can say I am not writing this post about how my computer crashed and all on my hard drive is lost!

I have a back up system on my desk that is set to automatically back up whenever I want it to....which is about 4 days a week. If you don't have one...this one was by Maxtor, it was $56 at Fry's Electronics and backs up 160 gigs. So easy to install, just plug it in, run a CD and then a few clicks later you are on your way to automatic back ups.

If you haven't backed up your system lately why not do it today???

And I wish for World Peace!

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:28:53 -0600

I recently watched "Miss Congeniality" the comedy about the FBI agent undercover in the beauty pagent. All of the contestants "wished for world peace" in the interview portion. Sandra Bullock, the agent, sort of made fun of that line until the end.

As I was listening to the news today and heard the story regarding the hostage situation in one of Hillary Clinton's campaign offices it occurred to me that there is more than one type of world peace.

Of course I wish for all wars to end...I am a grandmother of a 7 year old grandson. Even if I weren't, well, I would still wish for all wars to end. World strife, yes, please end it all. Neighborhood wars, gang wars even domestic wars....end those too.

The thought that popped into my mind during the news story was "Why can't we just live our lives in peace? Why can't people just leave other people alone?" Now I don't know the person who is holding those people hostage so I have no way of knowing what is going on in his(?) mind. BUT I am wishing for peace for him so that he can leave people alone to live their lives in peace.

I wish that for each person out there who is a gang member, crook, armed robber, identity thief....you know who I mean, the bad guys (and girls). IF that could be achieved then maybe, just maybe the rest of us could live our lives in peace -- oh, and without fear.

World peace...I wish it for you too!

Calling all cookie lovers! Recipes wanted, please.

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:10:14 -0600

I am blessed with a daughter-in-law who is wonderful and a friend as well. Every year we have what we call our "annual cookie-thon" for the holidays.

Michelle, her friend Cheryl and I take a Sunday and make cookies, fudge and more. Usually we make 4 or 5 different things each and then we split them up for our families. We have a fun time and my grandson and Cheryl's son have fun decorating sugar cookies.

I would love to have your suggestions for some really great cookies or bars...well, anything that is really wonderful for the holidays. Sugar free recipes would be great too IF you've tried them and know they are good. I don't have time for practicing and tweeking...

In the past I have made pizzelles, pecan cups, cherry cheese cakes (minis), nut balls...and much more of course.

Also, does anyone have a recipe for a great nut roll? My Aunt used to make it and it was so wonderful....it had the best nut mixture filling made with ground walnuts.

Thanks so much!

Security Bars - from the appraiser's view point.

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 13:58:28 -0600

It seems each year during the holidays we hear some tragic story about home fires caused by Christmas trees or some other cause. I was saying a small prayer that this year would be different. It started me to think about the number of houses I appraise that have unsafe security bars.

Those are the security bars on bedroom windows that have no quick releases or quick releases that are rusty and do not work properly. Sadly, I see this often and I wish I would not.

If there are no quick releases on bedroom windows I tell the borrower that they must have quick releases as required by law in California. If they have quick releases I make sure they work and are not rusted shut...this i do for my own piece of mind.

As an appraiser, I must report the lack of quick releases and usually do before I even start the appraisal...but before I do that I talk to the borrower about how unsafe this situation is. I especially try to make an impression when I see small children in the home. I don't mind painting a graphic mental picture of what would happen if the fire department could not get to people in those bedrooms because of the window bars. I try very hard to carefully scare them into removing the bars or changing them out to bars with quick releases.

Please understand, I try to handle this gently as it is never my intention to upset a borrower or heaven forbid, loose a deal for someone BUT I also want to make it clear that the safety of someone's family is the most important thing above all else. I also explain that it might affect their ability to refinance their home because I have not heard of any lender that will lend on a property until the situation is corrected and compliant with the law.

On a side note: Loan agents, I ask you, do you ask your prospective borrowers about security bars before sending your appraiser out there? While I do not know if the laws are the same for every state, I have to assume most if not all states must have something similar to California, if so....you should try to handle this issue before sending your appraiser out there.

I would like to welcome Abel Molina, Su Familia Real Estate and Home Loans

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:52:45 -0600

I would like to introduce Abel Molina to this great Active Rain community! Abel is co-owner of Su Familia Real Estate and Homes Loans in Los Banos, CA.

I've been providing appraisal services to Abel's company for some time now and I find him to be a great customer and friend.

Welcome, Abel!!

This is what I will tell your client!

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:34:16 -0600

There is this appraisal area that creates confusion and sometimes hard feelings for your home owner. Please know that I try to keep the peace as much as possible. I do my best to explain and keep the home owner happy. I am speaking about just who I can talk to about the value of the home I am appraising and why I can't just send a copy of the appraisal.

Depending on the scope of work for each assignment I accept I am limited in who I can discuss the value with. IF you are the mortgage broker, banker or agent who has hired me then I am not at liberty to discuss the value with your client or provide a copy of the appraisal unless I have a release from you!

Most homeowners are asked to hand over a check or money order for the appraisal fee before I leave their property.....in their eyes this means they are entitled to ask about value, ask for a copy of the appraisal. Heck, I would feel the same way if I were in their shoes. Heck, I feel the same way and I am not in their shoes. Does this mean I tell them? NO it does not. You are my client, not them...they are your client.

Due to laws I must follow I can not. What I tell them is this.......Mr. or Mrs. Homeowner, I will be in your neighborhood for a while longer looking at sales comparable to yours. After that I will be typing your report and doing the research on values in your area. You report will be sent to your agent, (insert agent's name), and he or she will be calling you in a few days, I am sure. If you need any further paper work for your agent now is the time to finish gathering it as I will have the report done in a day or two. When your agent calls is the best time to ask for a copy of the appraisal report that way they can have it for you at closing or send it by email, however you two agree. By law, your agent must give you a copy as long as you have paid for the appraisal report. The same law says I cannot give you a copy unless your agent says I may.

I usually use those words as I am collecting their check. I try to head them off at the pass, so to speak. I would rather explain it first than have to first say "no". It is so much easier to explain it first than try to make them happy after I've had to deny them something they really feel I owe them.

I wish I had a dollar (inflation, you know) for everytime I've heard: "But, but, I paid you for the appraisal you have to give me a copy!".

If you are the type who tries to educate your client in the processes involved with the loan which includes the appraisal then hearing that they will receive a copy of the appraisal at closing or ??? then possibly you could explain to them first and my comments will be in support of what you have told them.

Marketing -- What about timing?

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:21:52 -0500

The other day I was talking to another real estate appraiser here in San Jose -- well, okay, I was whining about the slow down in business. The fellow appraiser is experiencing the same thing and our conversation turned to ways to market our services.

We touched on mailing flyers, websites and listing services that charge a free to list appraisers. We also talked about free services.....then my friend said something that bothered me.

She said that there was no point in cold calling -- which was my next plan of attack -- because no one had any business and it would be a waste of time. I thought about it a few minutes and kept my mouth shut because in truth, I did not agree with her. She said the timing was off.

Well, I immediately thought two things -- first, I know my services will not be used if I sit home and wait for new business to come to me and second, if it isn't the right time now then maybe, just maybe my information will be in the right hands when the market rounds the bend.

What do you say?? I say turn up the heat -- it's a numbers game and maybe we need to increase our numbers, maybe the ratio of successes compared to people contacted is lower but now is not the time to sit by the phone.

What are you doing? This week I have polished up my information and pricing flyer and worked on my website. Only one section left to do on it. (Just wondering, would anyone mind critiquing my website? And if so, can I post it here?) I have sent emails to my clients asking them to update their information for my address book.

AND last but not least, I have used this slower time to take some CE and upgrade my license to the next level, Certified Residential.

Is there more I can do? Again, I ask, what are you doing? I appreciate any ideas. I am here to learn and to share what I know....and thank you, because I know you are too.

Where Have All the Children Gone?

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:04:18 -0500

Last night was Halloween....supposed to be a fun night for the children and for the parents if you enjoy seeing the little ghosts and goblins and fairys and princesses -- oh, and lets not forget the power rangers, spiderman, wonderwoman and power rangers!

Our light was on, jack-o-lanterns were lit and the candy bowl was full.....we had a giant bowl of candy all set to go. I was ready and so excited.

All together we had 15 trick-or-treaters...that's it -- 15. To add insult to injury only 4 out of the 15 were under the age of 10. We even had one small group with an adult who was not dressed but held a candy bag out just the same. Only about 10% of my candy is gone -- giant bowl of calories left. I live in a nice neighborhood, quiet but nice...no reason not to come on our street. In fact, many, many years ago we used to complain because kids were being dropped off from other neighborhoods to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood. Where are they now?

My grandson, who is 6, was a commando and all dressed up with camoflauge make up and hair color, commando suit and all. He went with his mother to Great Uncle Tom's (a yearly ritual) then on to the Church Halloween festival. They came back to our house and Grandpa took Josh to a few doors on our block. Many had no light on so of course they didn't go there...some with their light on didn't answer.

I think Halloween as my generation knew it is over, gone, dead--and I am sad. It is a sad state of affairs that we are afraid to go door to door due to crazies with drugs and razor blades. If your child were to bring home a candy apple I am sure it would be trashed unless you knew for sure who it came from. We have to inspect each piece of candy for pin holes in the wrapper and heaven forbid there should be an unwrapped piece of candy in the bag.

Gosh, I am ranting! Oh, and it feels so good to say all of this....most of all I wish it weren't true. Next year will I hand out candy? YES! I will and I will hope for more kids...will they come? I don't know...I hope so. I always hope so.

Please don't shoot the messenger -- we are not the enemy!

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:24:05 -0500

As an appraiser I have a job to do! It appears as though many in the mortgage and real estate industries forget that my job is to bring the message whether it is good or bad (translate that into under value or at value or above). With the information that I provide a lending decision is made -- sometimes the answer is NO and rightly so.

Have you ever said: "IF the appraisal doesn't come in at this value then I can't make the deal work." ?

If you are given a value that is below that needed amount you are still using my work product to determine that this deal will not work. It is not my job to "make the deal work" and just because there is a seller and a buyer who agree on a price that does not mean that is the market value of the property. Some buyers are using their heart to make a decision not their common sense or maybe they just aren't that well informed..for instance, a California buyer who just sold a property for $800,000 and is buying a $250,000 property in Tennessee. To him it sounds like a steal but in reality given the local market it may not be worth that much.

Am I the one making the lending decision? NO, of course not....I am the one who is supposed to provide an honest opinion of market value and therefore just the messenger...please don't shoot!

Okay, by now you are probably thinking I must have had a bad day or maybe I received flak over an appraisal that didn't make value or maybe just that my panties are in a bunch...well, I actually just feel like venting...LOL...and hope that someone out there will understand next time the value wasn't there. This has been on my mind for a while now and thanks to ActiveRain I have a place to vent to.

Disclaimer: This is not directed toward any one person or group in particular....and no agents were harmed in the posting of this blog. No offense meant and I hope none was taken.

Alisa

Thanks from an appraiser!

Alisa Ottaviano- Certified Res. Appraiser (Appraisal Pros) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:21:58 -0500

This is not as easy as I thought it would be :) but here goes.

I am a relatively new appraiser, not quite 4 years yet. Prior to that I owned a mail order business supplying

incentives to the direct sales industry -- but that was another life. After twenty years of that I decided it

was time for a change and became an appraiser...no easy task I might add.

Now, as I read posts from the realtors on this site I realize I have a wonderful avenue to say what I have

been wanting to say to realtors for a long time and so much easier since I can reach such a wide audience

with one post.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to those of you who take the time to be descriptive in your MLS listings.

You can't know how much I appreciate it when I am searching for a particular amenity or unusual feature to

match my subject house. Even the small details of such things as granite counters, upgraded baths, the rooom

addition with or without permits, well, you must get the idea. I especially appreciate it when you list that

garage conversion :) Updating after the sale is important to us too!

I hope this does not seem like a minor thing to you because for an appraiser it can make a difference in

whether we use a house as a comparable or not. Sometimes we are searching for some reason NOT to use a

comparable -- searching for a reason a property sells for $20,000 less than other similar properties -- especially

if that property is a model match and next door ...LOL...in my reports I sometimes explain why I didn't use

a lower priced comp.

I might add that adding plenty of description and features to your MLS might save you some phone calls from

appraisers. Special assistance with closing costs by the seller is helpful too.

Well, I could go on but I am sure you get the gist of what I am trying to say..at least I hope so...I'm not an

experienced blogger (except for my blog about life with my 6 year old grandson).

Again, let me thank all of you for going that extra step or two to enter descriptions and information!

Alisa