Appraisal Management Company Directory 2009.

A performance rating is prepared for all year. If you have been producing good results, then you should have no worries.

The regulators are crazy about not over-estimating the value of properties these days. Most banks, just want to get the loan approved and get someone else to take on the bad debt liability.

I'd think carefully about what your company can do that other companies cannot. Generally, a lower price for your services is not a good strategy, because it immediately undervalues your service. In addition, competition could neutralize this quickly by matching price, but probably doesn't even need to do this against a new company.

You may have higher costs at first, so think about charging a premium of some kind for some value-add that you can provide your clients:

Speedy estimates
More complete estimate analysis
Statistical risk curves median, 90% high, 10% low

You need to get out there and talk to your prospective clients. Avoid the clients that shop on price, because you don't want to be tied up with low-margin business. What is it that your target clients in your area want from your company?

Perhaps a lending institution is willing to spend more for some aspect of their own work that they could pawn off to you. Remember, your costs are probably lower than the bank's costs, so there is some value add there.

Whatever you do, you need a strategy and a plan. Why can you compete more successfully than your established competition? Please don't tell me it is price. You should charge a higher price and provide a superior service that your competition cannot quickly neutralize.

I suggest you look up the marketing term: "prestige pricing"
Sometimes, it is easier to sell something with a higher price tag. You always have the option of marking it down or discounting when forced to do so.

You should keep in mind that you have a very high quality product and it deserves a high-value price. Perceptions are criticial. Low ball pricing is the quickest way to failure. In addition, you might think about just skimming the cream of the business. When a lending institution needs a quick appraisal, your company can be available at a higher price. (This is called emergency pricing) You don't want all of the business at first, just the best and most profitable business. Let the other guy take the low margin stuff.

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Depending on the insurance company, they either receive 3 estimates from qualified shops on the repairs or they have the car brought to one or their inspection centers. Since your insurance is the one paying I don't see why you would challenge what they are paying, but they do have the final say as you cannot negotiate you own settlement.

yes I've seen it happen before. Best advice I can give is do your job the best you can, try to be as friendly and helpful to those that are doing it and don't complain to management or HR unless it gets really bad or they may turn it around.

Sounds like BOA did a drive by and not a true appraisal. On the norm it always took me at least 3 days to get the appraisal. You might as well plan on getting your own appraisal. The lender that approved you should have an appraiser they can contact.

A bank does not have to make any repairs to a home when selling it at foreclosure. If FHA is requiring that the repairs be made in order to secure funding, you have two options: fix it prior to funding approval or back out of the deal. However, I don't know what kind of contingencies you wrote into the offer. So, you may or may not be able to back out of the deal without paying a penalty (loss of good faith deposit and all fees paid to date, at the least).

I certainly hope you have a real estate agent. If so, he/she can answer your questions. If not, that's exactly the kind of legal snag that comes up where it would have been prudent to secure an agent (and the seller pays for the agent, not the buyer, even for a foreclosure).

Yes. If the appraisal is too low the FHA won't grant the loan.