Sara Goodwin's Blog

Sometimes, I take a stroll around AR to find appraisal posts that didn't hit the main groups, but I thought today I would take a little fishing trip and snag some of these links, and put them all in a nice little barrel for an easier ‘catch' ... Todd Hurst writes about appraisal trainees and comp...

Ever since the new URAR forms came out, I have been debating the active and sold comparable listings field with my fellow appraisers and so I'm hoping to turn that debate into a larger circle of professionals to attempt to get an answer that everyone might agree upon. My co-workers are very speci...

What was supposed to me a 15 minute project has turned into a couple of hours of reading over old posts, finding blogs that I had missed and all around reflecting over this group.  I just thought I would take a moment Saturday to thank you all for your contributions and readership as well as obse...

Sound depressing?  That's the number one excuse I hear from people that have never been to one.  I've been to a share of animal shelters and rescue groups, and I will admit, some are sad and dank and have an utterly hopeless feeling about them.  Others however are inspiring and educational.  Thes...

As things get to beyond ‘winter slow' appraisal-wise around these parts, I start looking at my options for a bit of financial comfort.  The easy way to go... an appraisal management company... I wince. I admit, I'm not a fan of appraisal management companies, but perhaps that's simply because I a...

Below are 20 images of houses from the city of Spokane, Washington.  Can you guess their styles? The option of historic architectural styles are listed below the pictures.  The answers are listed below that. 5 points for each correct answer.  10 point bonus if you do not look at the options of st...

This article reminded me of my experience with the permit process was for a gas fireplace that we had installed last year. After installation, a very nice elderly gentleman came to our door. This man, the inspector should have retired many moons ago. He was more interested in our ‘nice kitchen' a...

As an appraiser, I glean off as many public internet sites that I possibly can while not leaving the comfort of my desk.  I appreciate all the relevant information the cities and counties provide for us, but sometimes I think they may cross the line.  Our city/county site, portlandmaps.com enters...

Jennifer B asked me to do a book MeMe.  Jennifer knows me, but apparently not well enough to know that I sit down to read a full book under two of the rarest circumstances: On long car or plane ridesOn vacation when the weather is intolerableI haven't done either since last year when we hit the t...

OK, fellow appraiser hot shots... I've got a question - I've been asked to appraise a building that was designated commercial storefront with apartments above (by the city), but the storefront has been used for storage for years.  The units are still rented to residential tenants.  Due to it's lo...