Home and Auto I'm going to club a guy over the head with a jug of antifreeze. - Page 2

**Rain Man** · 01-09-2009, 06:53 PM

Given the low interest rates in these days of financial turmoil, I decided it was a good time to refinance my house. So we did. Easy.

As part of the process, we had to get an appraisal of the house, and the lender had it done. It came back and we were like, "What the -?".

I know that home prices are low right now, but this was ridiculous. So we started looking at the details. It turns out that the guy used a square footage that was 700 square feet smaller than our house, and somewhere along the line he also lopped off a bedroom and a bathroom.

Our house is three stories, and it was obvious that he had excluded the third floor from the square footage. I don't know what happened with the bedrooms since that hasn't changed for 100 years. We added a third bathroom twelve years ago.

So I sent the guy an exceedingly polite e-mail and said, "Hey, I think there's an error. You can go to the county assessor's web site and confirm the correct statistics on the house. Would you fix it, please?"

That was two weeks ago, and I got a call today from some low-level dweeb who said, "You're not right. We used public records to get our stats." I argued with said dweeb for a few minutes and finally said, "Give me your boss."

The appraiser got on the line and I asked what public records he used. He said he'd used MLS listings. He was quite defensive, and I said, "Dude. Seriously. Go to the assessor's web site. Look at the numbers. Your square footage isn't even right."

He said, "The lender is my client, so go through them if you want me to redo it. But I'll need to do a much more thorough interior appraisal."

Aha. So you undervalue my home and now you want me to go demand a bigger contract for you to fix it. I understand your game.

I said, "I can go to your client and embarrass the hell out of you, or you can fix it now. What do you want to do?" He said to go to his client.

I don't think his client is going to get the letter that he's hoping for. I'm turning that SOB in, and he's going to come out of it wishing that he had died in a fire.

Are assessors licensed? Maybe I'll write a letter to the state, too.

What has happened to this world? Does this guy think he's not going to get toasted over this? It's open and shut. It's not even like there's room for argument.

**Rain Man** · 01-09-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

This.

And, Assessors are elected Appraisers, so if there's a "one hand washes the other"-thing going on, well...you know.

Really? I didn't know that.

I may also find out where he lives and do a market study that recommends putting a Long John Silver's next to his house.

**DaneMcCloud** · 01-09-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Why? Is he a free agent then or something?

I've got it on good authority (the Wall Street folks who told me about Wachovia, Lehman, etc. going under months in advance - the thread is in DC) that interest rates this summer will be at a record all-time low.

**Rain Man** · 01-09-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've got it on good authority (the Wall Street folks who told me about Wachovia, Lehman, etc. going under months in advance - the thread is in DC) that interest rates this summer will be at a record all-time low.

You should've told me earlier. I'm going to write a letter to your boss now.

**DaneMcCloud** · 01-09-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

You should've told me earlier. I'm going to write a letter to your boss now.

Considering I'm my boss, please send to attention: Dane McCloud

**Rain Man** · 01-09-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Considering I'm my boss, please send to attention: Dane McCloud

Oh. Another one daring me. You're going to get it now. And don't think I'm going to overlook the fact that you borrow heavily from Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 01-09-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Really? I didn't know that.

I may also find out where he lives and do a market study that recommends putting a Long John Silver's next to his house.

Go for broke: Sewage Settling Basin!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Considering I'm my boss, please send to attention: Dane McCloud

Nice.

**Iowanian** · 01-09-2009, 07:40 PM

Maybe its different in other places, but Assessors and Appraisers are not the same thing here. There are appraisers that work with assessors, but they serve different functions.

If they're govt assessors/appraisers, there will be a conference board whose job is to keep them on the up and up...they answer to that board.

if its an indepent appraiser, who values properties as a mercenary for banks....I'd look into his certifications and the organizations that hired him.

He had his chance to make it right. Any honest business man would have corrected the problem asap, given a heartfelt appology for your inconvenience...free of charge for the correction.....to the point the guy brings over 2 large boulders for bRainman's back yard.

Its common business sense.

I guarantee any work I do, and if a customer ever complains about an error or wasn't happy, if its even remotely my fault...I'll fix it, make it right and make them happy.

A small business cannot survive having very many bRainman, INC's rubbing their reputation with a dirty toilet brush for shoddy work.

We should add this to the other 2 companies previously guilty of wrongdoing to the threadstarter and punish them via google for all time.

Infidel Goat · 01-09-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I may also find out where he lives and do a market study that recommends putting a Long John Silver's next to his house.

Mmmm. Hush puppies....

teedubya · 01-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I totally read this as "I'm going to a gay club to get head".

And I'm not even drinking.

WTF.

That made me belly laugh HARD. effin' hilarious

Sweet Daddy Hate · 01-09-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Really? I didn't know that.

I may also find out where he lives and do a market study that recommends putting a Long John Silver's next to his house.

Okay, quick revision here:

Assessors are elected officials who MUST be licensed as Appraisers with the State Dept. of Revenue.
County Assessors have County Appraisers who work under them, and it is those Appraisers who set the $$$$ value on the acreage and dwelling, as it relates to your yearly tax bill.

Private Appraisers for lending companies are total garbage. One of my friends out here built a monster house; he used the best materials money can buy, and it's a total 'Hefner Pimp Ski Lodge'. The private appraiser worked solely on square footage alone.
Which, it seems, you're not even getting the luxury of.

Try your State Dept. of Revenue, and see what they say.

teedubya · 01-09-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've got it on good authority (the Wall Street folks who told me about Wachovia, Lehman, etc. going under months in advance - the thread is in DC) that interest rates this summer will be at a record all-time low.

Okay gang, as many of you know I still have friends at the highest level on Wall Street and have this info to share with full confidence: That interest rates this summer will be at a record all-time low. The announcement will come Thursday or Friday at the latest. The Wall Street folks who told me about Wachovia, Lehman, etc. are working out the finer points of his contract tonight (money & control), but the deal is sealed.

Mike Shanahan has contacted Wall St, but I don't know any info beyond that.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 01-09-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Okay gang, as many of you know I still have friends at the highest level on Wall Street and have this info to share with full confidence: That interest rates this summer will be at a record all-time low. The announcement will come Thursday or Friday at the latest. The Wall Street folks who told me about Wachovia, Lehman, etc. are working out the finer points of his contract tonight (money & control), but the deal is sealed.

Mike Shanahan has contacted Wall St, but I don't know any info beyond that.

I used to love football...

**DaneMcCloud** · 01-09-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Okay gang, as many of you know I still have friends at the highest level on Wall Street and have this info to share with full confidence: That interest rates this summer will be at a record all-time low. The announcement will come Thursday or Friday at the latest. The Wall Street folks who told me about Wachovia, Lehman, etc. are working out the finer points of his contract tonight (money & control), but the deal is sealed.

Mike Shanahan has contacted Wall St, but I don't know any info beyond that.

Luke · 01-09-2009, 10:19 PM

We had a very similar experience 2 years ago. We were looking to refinance, had just had new furnace and roof installed. Also added central air. The asshat kid the company sent out actually appraised the house for less money than we paid for it.

I called the owner of the company to see if there was some kind of mistake and was told that all appraiseals are "opinions". After some research I found out that the jerk didn't even compare our house to similar properties.

Found the address of the company and told the boss to schedule an appointment to "discuss" why the opinion was so much lower than it should have been.

Long story short, asshat kid was terminated, our house was appraised for it's worth, and I told the finance company, WaMu for what it is worth to stick it. Sold the property and moved to present local.

I feel your pain.

sparkky · 01-09-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I may also find out where he lives and do a market study that recommends putting a Long John Silver's next to his house.

Chucke E. Cheese. it won't matter what way the wind blows then.

01-09-2009, 06:53 PM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-682449 VARSITY	I'm going to club a guy over the head with a jug of antifreeze. Given the low interest rates in these days of financial turmoil, I decided it was a good time to refinance my house. So we did. Easy. As part of the process, we had to get an appraisal of the house, and the lender had it done. It came back and we were like, "What the -?". I know that home prices are low right now, but this was ridiculous. So we started looking at the details. It turns out that the guy used a square footage that was 700 square feet smaller than our house, and somewhere along the line he also lopped off a bedroom and a bathroom. Our house is three stories, and it was obvious that he had excluded the third floor from the square footage. I don't know what happened with the bedrooms since that hasn't changed for 100 years. We added a third bathroom twelve years ago. So I sent the guy an exceedingly polite e-mail and said, "Hey, I think there's an error. You can go to the county assessor's web site and confirm the correct statistics on the house. Would you fix it, please?" That was two weeks ago, and I got a call today from some low-level dweeb who said, "You're not right. We used public records to get our stats." I argued with said dweeb for a few minutes and finally said, "Give me your boss." The appraiser got on the line and I asked what public records he used. He said he'd used MLS listings. He was quite defensive, and I said, "Dude. Seriously. Go to the assessor's web site. Look at the numbers. Your square footage isn't even right." He said, "The lender is my client, so go through them if you want me to redo it. But I'll need to do a much more thorough interior appraisal." Aha. So you undervalue my home and now you want me to go demand a bigger contract for you to fix it. I understand your game. I said, "I can go to your client and embarrass the hell out of you, or you can fix it now. What do you want to do?" He said to go to his client. I don't think his client is going to get the letter that he's hoping for. I'm turning that SOB in, and he's going to come out of it wishing that he had died in a fire. Are assessors licensed? Maybe I'll write a letter to the state, too. What has happened to this world? Does this guy think he's not going to get toasted over this? It's open and shut. It's not even like there's room for argument.
Posts: 145,514

01-09-2009, 07:40 PM	#22
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $1668454	Maybe its different in other places, but Assessors and Appraisers are not the same thing here. There are appraisers that work with assessors, but they serve different functions. If they're govt assessors/appraisers, there will be a conference board whose job is to keep them on the up and up...they answer to that board. if its an indepent appraiser, who values properties as a mercenary for banks....I'd look into his certifications and the organizations that hired him. He had his chance to make it right. Any honest business man would have corrected the problem asap, given a heartfelt appology for your inconvenience...free of charge for the correction.....to the point the guy brings over 2 large boulders for bRainman's back yard. Its common business sense. I guarantee any work I do, and if a customer ever complains about an error or wasn't happy, if its even remotely my fault...I'll fix it, make it right and make them happy. A small business cannot survive having very many bRainman, INC's rubbing their reputation with a dirty toilet brush for shoddy work. We should add this to the other 2 companies previously guilty of wrongdoing to the threadstarter and punish them via google for all time.
Posts: 62,945

01-09-2009, 10:19 PM	#29
Luke Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Earth Casino cash: $10004900	Company in Columbia? We had a very similar experience 2 years ago. We were looking to refinance, had just had new furnace and roof installed. Also added central air. The asshat kid the company sent out actually appraised the house for less money than we paid for it. I called the owner of the company to see if there was some kind of mistake and was told that all appraiseals are "opinions". After some research I found out that the jerk didn't even compare our house to similar properties. Found the address of the company and told the boss to schedule an appointment to "discuss" why the opinion was so much lower than it should have been. Long story short, asshat kid was terminated, our house was appraised for it's worth, and I told the finance company, WaMu for what it is worth to stick it. Sold the property and moved to present local. I feel your pain.
Posts: 345