One Third Isn't Good Enough - 06/15/10 10:41 AM
One Third Successful
 
          We're in the middle of a major roof project for our office building, a circa 1900 two story building with commercial downstairs and residential upstairs. We've had three experiences in the course of this project; one awesome and two pretty bad. It got me to thinking about our business-real estate-and wondering if our consumers get one third good and two thirds bad.
          Let me tell you the story in a nutshell. The aging, rubber roof needed to be replaced. Among the bids was one from an energetic young man (I went to high school with … (0 comments)

Geographic Competence--It's Not Just for Appraisers! - 06/03/10 09:09 AM
 
            With the implementation of HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct), we've all been experiencing, or hearing about, the problems with "travelling appraisers". These are real estate appraisers from out of the area, often without access to the local MLS, often also without knowledge of the nuances of the local market, who travel in to do an appraisal. I've been advising students in my classes to talk to lenders before their buyers make a final selection. The questions I urge them to ask: "How has your company/institution implemented HVCC?" In some cases, this will generate an answer like you would … (1 comments)