TOPIC: Infrared / Thermal Cameras

I agree, don't want it to pass in any way, shape, or form. But if it does, home inspectors are the ones who should benefit.

Unless they mandate that city inspectors must check em out.  Then were screwed.  lol

I didn't see anything on mandated pricing.  But what I did see was they in effect are forcing appraisals into the hands of larger firms that pay employees less for them.  Either way, I think appraisers are going to have a hard time trying to get in with the lenders.  Good thing I didn't try and get my appraisal license!  lol

"Appraisers feel management companies pay too little—$175 per job," said Kenneth Harney, a syndicated columnist and managing director of the National Real Estate Development Center, an industry training firm. "The turnaround times imposed are unacceptably short. Many of the most experienced appraisers feel this will drive them out of residential work to be replaced by less-experienced appraisers. That's not better from a consumer perspective."

I didn't see anything on mandated pricing.  But what I did see was they in effect are forcing appraisals into the hands of larger firms that pay employees less for them.  Either way, I think appraisers are going to have a hard time trying to get in with the lenders.  Good thing I didn't try and get my appraisal license!  lol

"Appraisers feel management companies pay too little—$175 per job," said Kenneth Harney, a syndicated columnist and managing director of the National Real Estate Development Center, an industry training firm. "The turnaround times imposed are unacceptably short. Many of the most experienced appraisers feel this will drive them out of residential work to be replaced by less-experienced appraisers. That's not better from a consumer perspective."

That's not a mandated fee.  Mandated fee is when the government set the rate.  What I did see, is what you quoted.  Not much good comes from government getting in the middle of free trade.

Hey John;

The government is controling the change.  They mandated that there be separation between lenders and appraisers.  This created the need for the appraisal management companies to be formed.  They have to profit as well, which raises the cost to the consumer and lowers the base fee to the appraiser.

Another example might be "Cap and Trade".  The government isn't going to set the final cost on anything, just establishing the program will cause higher costs to the consumer and lower profits to the provider.

Back to our original point, if the government mandates energy audits, IR scan fees will drop like a rock...

What's next, Home Inspections?  Maybe the government will think they need to provide separation between home inspectors, realtors and lenders.  So they order that a hand full of management companies be set up to handle inspection orders across the country.  They can't double the cost of our inspection fee to the client. Soooo they'll split the difference, up the price slightly and lower the fee they agree to pay us.  This is exactly what the appraisal industry is in an up roar over. The National Appraisal Associations along with NAR are already lobbying congress to stop the changes and go back to the old established appraisal system.

As much as I love this country, I get soooo frustrated how they operate and spend money!  >