News & Insights

Jeremy Stinemetz has been working in the appraisal industry for more than 20 years and celebrated his 10-year anniversary with Valuation Connect this year. A certified appraiser, Jeremy started his appraisal career as a trainee and worked in the field for several years. He transitioned out of the field to do some retrospective reconciliation work and then started working within the world of AMCs.   

What is your favorite part of your position?
I really enjoy working with and building a team that works together to achieve a common goal.  I like identifying individual strengths and putting those diverse strengths together cohesively so a task doesn’t just get done, but is done as efficiently as possible.  I also love watching my team members and partners take on new challenges and embrace the struggle to push through to success. I’ve been very fortunate to work for and alongside some very talented and knowledgeable individuals in the industry that have been great mentors and colleagues.  

How can appraisers become top performers on the Valuation Connect panel and continue to receive steady work?
Frequent communication on orders, meet due dates, communicate issues immediately, communicate respectfully, submit quality reports that are well supported, read the letter of engagement, and communicate with us on complex assignments.  Did I mention communication??  Being in a service industry with many different parties in the process, it makes everyone’s lives easier when timelines are clear, and issues/complexities are known as soon as possible.  There are always going to be times when something comes up, either in or out of your control. Let us know and let us help if we can.  Communication is also essential in your report writing.  Being able to effectively communicate your reconciliation and explain to your intended user how you came to your conclusions is so important.

What advice do you have for appraisers in today’s market?
Markets are always changing – not just from an economic standpoint but also as an industry. We have seen frequent industry changes in recent years with modernization, appraiser diversity initiatives, greater focus on anti-bias/discrimination, updates to GSE/HUD guidelines, rollout of a redesigned appraisal report form, and many others. Technology has been and will continue to impact the industry. Work to stay informed about changes and use technology to keep you efficient.

Any advice for new appraisers or appraisers in general?
Don’t be an island.  A vast majority of appraisers are a one-man operation or in an office with 2 other appraisers.  This can be a struggle when you don’t often see other approaches or viewpoints. Find a mentor.  Ask questions.  Be willing to take extra classes.  When working on an appraisal for a client that follows Fannie or Freddie, utilize their selling guide resources online.  When completing an FHA appraisal, have the 4000.1 Handbook pulled up for reference.  Refer to the letter of engagement (yes, we know, they are tedious – we are working on them!) and know your lender/clients.  There are so many of your peers out there – connect with them!