The controversy begins...
I have just started advertising on a forum...www.appraiserforum.com. If you haven't gotten on there I suggest you do. It is a great resource for appraisers.
Now...if some of you have read my post back in June (on 'Results') about how I attempted to get on a forum and have conversations about my programs to promote them then let me just make 1 thing clear.
That was a business strategy that did not work and I shared the story with you all to demonstrate how to adapt in the face of adversity.
In the case of http://www.appraiserforum.com/, I pay for my advertising and follow the rules because I've learned from my mistakes. Remember in business...you can Break Rules but many times you have to pay the consequences.
And NO...Appraiser Watch-Dogs...I'm not talking about being an unethical appraiser. One should NEVER knowingly violate USPAP or make up values. I'm talking about an entirely different context so please...don't jump to conclusions.
My intention in the past was to get people to visit my site...plain and simple. So they actually have a shot at this industry. I know I have great products and more useable tools available that can help trainees for real and I'm not going to apologize for that. I'll leave the 'snake oil' to some of 'required' stuff.
The problem is that now I'm labelled as a 'Scam Artist' by some of the uninformed members of the site.
Before I go into a rant...www.appraiserforum.com is very professional and as such I intend to be professional while on it. I hope all of you will too. Read the rules and follow them. The owner is very professional and fair and actually came to my defense. It is the best forum available and is an invaluable tool for appraisers.
Now...let's get into the controversy. A trainee posted on there that she thought AREA48 was a scam and she was 'Targeted' because when she got her license she received a letter from me. My letter is designed to get a response and some people are just so skeptical that when they see my prices they presume it to be a scam. I mean how could anyone provide that much value?
I don't know...ask a University why they charge $35,000 a year. I'm only providing my past 12 years of appraisal/sales knowledge.
So some of the member 'experts' (see previous post) recommended that I be 'checked out' by 'knowledgeable' appraisers...I can't wait.
Anyway...one of our students responded to the post saying he didn't think it was a scam and they all jumped down his throat.
In defense he responded...so they then came to this blog and read my posts to 'check me out'. Let's just say they weren't to pleased at being called 'Old Experts'.
They then read my post from last year on 'Results' and assumed that these trainees were plants.
Well...first of all, give me some credit. If I were going to use that technique the title in the subject line wouldn't be "Is AREA48 a Scam?". That's a negative suggestion to say the least and certainly doesn't help my business.
The point is that without even checking out the rest of my information. The MOST IMPORTANT information...my training products and classes. I've just been labelled and that's it.
First off...let me offer you few who seem to know-it-all...some advice.
When you do an appraisal. You shouldn't derive a conclusion of value without looking at all the available information. Ummmm....That's Appraising 101. If you presume that I am unethical as an appraiser based upon a 'Blog Comment'...ummmm maybe you should repeat your basic education requirements. Assuming can only lead to one thing cause I ain't one...
I tell you what...come to my Wednesday Webinar class and join in. I'm sure with your wealth of knowledge you could enlighten us all!
Unfortuantely...I can't say too many things about such people since it's really a waste of time. The glass is always half-empty with them.
The ironic thing is that I'm labelled as a 'scam artist'. The truth is that the system is the 'scam artist'. I'm not the one portraying that all you have to do is get your Trainee's License and then you can just start working with a Supervisor. I get call after call each day from frustrated Trainees from around the COUNTRY who are fed up. They feel they've been mislead.
They have...and not by me.
If I'm guilty of anything then I'm guilty of calling it like it is. If the 'system' doesn't work...I'll say it. I am guilty of trying to provide a solution by offering REAL training and Supervision so that a new generation of KNOWLEDGEABLE appraisers can be successful too. The public is only protected when appraisers have REAL knowledge.
I really feel bad for the Trainee who thinks I am a scam. She doesn't know yet that more than likely...she wasted her money on her license. She hasn't figured out that there is more to this business then just getting your trainee's license.
All I can say is Good Luck.
And for any appraisers who really have a problem with me. Truly...I invite you to come to my Wednesday night online webinar and share your viewpoints. Call me personally and I'll give you the codes (323-257-3357).
But of course...we expect you to act professional!
I've never claimed to be the most knowledgeable appraiser. I only claim to be the most open!
Ed
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Old 'Experts' vs. New 'Everyday Joe'
Okay...
Let's talk about the subject of these so-called 'Expert' Appraisers with all the designations and Financial Degrees up the yin-yang. As many of you know I am a lifelong martial artist with over 30 years experience in the martial arts. Now...as far as my knowledge of the 'fighting arts' is concerned, you could say I have a PhD. But what does that really mean and how does it relate to appraising? We'll cover that at the end...
I know most of you probably don't follow martial arts that much...but for me it's a passion. Back in the day there was a misconception that if you had a black belt, that meant you were deadly. Well, about 10 years or so ago there was this thing called the Ultimate Fighting Championship where they decided to put the top black belts in their respective styles to the test to find out which style was the best and which black belts were the 'deadliest'. They would put the men (and women later on) in a cage and with limited rules...let them fight. Not pretty...but it was an effective experiment.
To make a long story short...what they found out was that most of what these 'black belts' had learned was ineffective and USELESS. In fact...after a short time we saw that people with 30 years of experience would often get beat by someone with as little as 6 months of training. What the 'f was going on here? Shouldn't a lifelong martial arts 'killer' beat an 'Everyday Joe'? People were baffled...
Actually...what was happening was quite elementary. You see...with the implementation of actual fighting, the people who began training after the fighting was implemented...began training using what worked in the cage instead of what black belts were 'told' what worked. They saw what was effective in the cage and only trained with that while the 'Old Killers' kept training in their old ways...ie, kicking and punching in the air making 'killer' sounds and acrobatic moves but never really bridging the gap of exercise versus reality.
Eventually, the pragmatic pugilists...the 'Everyday Joe's' approach took over. Now the sport is filled with a new breed of extreme athlete scholars who have left the 'Old Killers' in the dust licking their wounds. This new breed had built their training on a foundation of 'Realism' versus 'Conjecture' and has since elevated the sport to a new level.
So...how does this relate to Appraising? What you are going to find out there are quite a few 'know-it-all' AGs and ARs who don't want to give you the time of day because you don't have the qualifications or experience that they do. They are too important...and arrogant to show you what they know. They believe they've worked too long and hard to get their degrees and designations to take time out of their busy schedule to help you...and since you don't have a degree, you couldn't possibly understand what they know anyway so why should they bother.
The truth that they don't share with you is that they had to learn the appraisal business world from scratch...and that ain't taught in school. It's taught in the 'Cage' of the real working world. And the truth is that one doesn't need a financial degree to do appraisals...one just needs to do good work/appraisals. And yes...you do need knowledge but it has to be functional knowledge.
Sure it helps to have extra schooling...but building your foundation from concepts that aren't used in the 'real-world' of appraising is the long road to success. You should concentrate on building your business with 'What Works' and not with what you need to gain another notch in the 'Inner Appraiser Social Ladder'.
The point of all this is that there 'IS' a difference between what 'WORKS' in reality and what's there for ego. 6 Months of Realistic Experience and Training can be worth 30 Years of 'Supposed Mastery' and designations. Build your foundation on 'What Is' versus what the consensus 'Says' what is. You don't need a PhD or Financial Degree to be an appraiser. You need Good, Functional, Realistic Training...period.
See you all in the 'Cage' Soon!
Ed
Let's talk about the subject of these so-called 'Expert' Appraisers with all the designations and Financial Degrees up the yin-yang. As many of you know I am a lifelong martial artist with over 30 years experience in the martial arts. Now...as far as my knowledge of the 'fighting arts' is concerned, you could say I have a PhD. But what does that really mean and how does it relate to appraising? We'll cover that at the end...
I know most of you probably don't follow martial arts that much...but for me it's a passion. Back in the day there was a misconception that if you had a black belt, that meant you were deadly. Well, about 10 years or so ago there was this thing called the Ultimate Fighting Championship where they decided to put the top black belts in their respective styles to the test to find out which style was the best and which black belts were the 'deadliest'. They would put the men (and women later on) in a cage and with limited rules...let them fight. Not pretty...but it was an effective experiment.
To make a long story short...what they found out was that most of what these 'black belts' had learned was ineffective and USELESS. In fact...after a short time we saw that people with 30 years of experience would often get beat by someone with as little as 6 months of training. What the 'f was going on here? Shouldn't a lifelong martial arts 'killer' beat an 'Everyday Joe'? People were baffled...
Actually...what was happening was quite elementary. You see...with the implementation of actual fighting, the people who began training after the fighting was implemented...began training using what worked in the cage instead of what black belts were 'told' what worked. They saw what was effective in the cage and only trained with that while the 'Old Killers' kept training in their old ways...ie, kicking and punching in the air making 'killer' sounds and acrobatic moves but never really bridging the gap of exercise versus reality.
Eventually, the pragmatic pugilists...the 'Everyday Joe's' approach took over. Now the sport is filled with a new breed of extreme athlete scholars who have left the 'Old Killers' in the dust licking their wounds. This new breed had built their training on a foundation of 'Realism' versus 'Conjecture' and has since elevated the sport to a new level.
So...how does this relate to Appraising? What you are going to find out there are quite a few 'know-it-all' AGs and ARs who don't want to give you the time of day because you don't have the qualifications or experience that they do. They are too important...and arrogant to show you what they know. They believe they've worked too long and hard to get their degrees and designations to take time out of their busy schedule to help you...and since you don't have a degree, you couldn't possibly understand what they know anyway so why should they bother.
The truth that they don't share with you is that they had to learn the appraisal business world from scratch...and that ain't taught in school. It's taught in the 'Cage' of the real working world. And the truth is that one doesn't need a financial degree to do appraisals...one just needs to do good work/appraisals. And yes...you do need knowledge but it has to be functional knowledge.
Sure it helps to have extra schooling...but building your foundation from concepts that aren't used in the 'real-world' of appraising is the long road to success. You should concentrate on building your business with 'What Works' and not with what you need to gain another notch in the 'Inner Appraiser Social Ladder'.
The point of all this is that there 'IS' a difference between what 'WORKS' in reality and what's there for ego. 6 Months of Realistic Experience and Training can be worth 30 Years of 'Supposed Mastery' and designations. Build your foundation on 'What Is' versus what the consensus 'Says' what is. You don't need a PhD or Financial Degree to be an appraiser. You need Good, Functional, Realistic Training...period.
See you all in the 'Cage' Soon!
Ed
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