Aerial photos may be available from Google Earth or Bing, but if I'm not mistaken they are copywrited images and thus we shouldn't really be using them. That said, I did use one once to illustrate that the backyard of a particular property seemed to be used as a junkyard.

I know I can get them from those sites but so can they.
I ignored the email.

Sale 1 and 2 do not support your value.

Duh, Yes I know, if you bothered to read my comments you will learn why they are inferior to subject.

I've had to prepare two BPOs yesterday and the comps for both properties were horrible. Very little sales in that area or properties are much, much larger or much, much smaller. I tried not to go over five miles (semi-rural area) because I wasn't finding anything close to similar.

How do you all handle that?

Seems like you're doing it right - just keep looking for homes that a buyer would consider to buy in lieu of the Subject. Sometimes it helps to think like a buyer and say "I'm here to buy an 800sqft home located on a busy street next to the freeway in a poor school district."

Since the comps are larger and smaller bracket it with one larger, one smaller, and one that is as close as you can get. I would also not that you did bracket it due to lack of comps. I spoke to an appraiser once who said that is what they do and it flies. Just make sure you comment, comment, comment.

Yeah, I did comment that comps were little to very difficult to find. One property is a quadruplex - two perfect comps just barely came in under six months. I used a comparable townhouse (both of these styles have no basement) as the 3rd comp.

The second one - it was the worst - no basement and most of the other properties had basements and were much larger. I went on that theory of one larger, one smaller, and worked it in between.

My problem is I get too anal about stuff like that - I need to relax more.

I appreciate your comments!

And I have had buyers who were smitten on a property in a bad location, etc. Luckily was able to talk them out of those homes - I tell them I always look at re-sale value and if this seller is having a difficult time selling then you will too.

I understand. I too spend a great deal of time on them which is why I can not do Paid BPOs as a market plan. Just can't do them fast enough to make it pay even minimum wage.

You figure they are asking for your expertise on straight BPOs with no promises of a listing, and, we understand we're not appraisers (although it's just another professional opinion yet labeled official), but, if they went to a lawyer (one who is on their payroll or retainer) and asked a lawyer to give them an opinion of something, they're not going to quibble about paying $250/hr. for something like that. Until people who does straight BPOs start puting their foot down and refusing to do it so cheaply, it'll just continue; plus, we know there will always be someone who will do it regardless.

Got a QC from RRR earlier today want me to consider using comps from a prior BPO. They attached the BPO to email. So I guess they want the same BPO but with my name on it. Problem is only 1 comp was from the same town as subject and I had used that one already. I told them no way that I could use those comps.

They didn't tell you to use them. Your value was probably different than the previous BPO, so they need to send something to the client that explains this. I am guessing there have been times other agents have had to do it with your's. The benefit of looking at another agents comps, is you can make them look bad if they chose poor comps.

Pop up window on CC form.
This customer requires a comment if sold comps are outside 5 years if subject < 15 years old.

OK All homes that sold in the last 6 months were not built within 5 years of subject.

What is it about "it's commercial!" that you don't understand? This is general rant...I have received the same address multiple times...now from multiple companies.

One...a 60-acre horse farm...sent to me three successive months by FARVV. Each time had to upload photos and tax records and prove it to them all over again.

Two...a tavern with an apartment...from FARVV...have now received twice.

Three...a 6-unit on 22 acres in the middle of nowhere...first from FARVV...second from LSI...third from FARVV again.

Four...a marina with campground and RV repair center...twice from FARVV...once from CC.

How come if it has been proven to them to be commercial...and proven multiple times...they keep sending it out again?

Is it because they think they will get some vulnerable newbie that will do it for 50 bucks?

End rant.

Nope, with the new method of assigning orders, Corelogic (FARVV) is looking for a vulnerable newbie to do it for $20.

Terry Iwaniw
609-417-1086

Not my fault if the trees are still green. The photos were taken when I said they were. Grrrrrrrr