ELLIOTT® & Company Appraisers has offered national coverage in all 50 states for some time now, and the response has been very positive. We regularly provide our client base of 4,300 clients with appraisals across the United States through our network of 11 offices and over 1,000 appraisers.

To improve service, we have developed an Internet-based order system. It is accessible by both our clients and appraisers providing instant feedback capability. With just the click of a mouse on a map, the client is positioned to order an appraisal anywhere in the United States. The system provides each client the availability to review all orders whether in progress, cancelled, on hold or shipped.

Clients can register, log on, enter and edit their personal data at our company Web site. Once registered, the client can add the necessary information to place an order with just a few keystrokes. Upon receipt, the order is assigned to one of our appraisers throughout the nation and is confirmed including a projected shipping date. This process usually does not take very long, and we promise 24-hour confirmation under most circumstances.

Instructions for each order are immediately transmitted to the appraiser when assigned. The system permits the client to view orders in process and to retrieve any status update information available.

Upon completion, the appraisal is transmitted from the appraiser to the office where it is thoroughly reviewed by our management staff for quality and accuracy. Upon approval, it is immediately shipped to the client. Shipping methods vary with the needs of the client; however, the preferred method is electronic, via PDF file. This is the fastest and most economical method, eliminating overnight shipping cost and deliverable in minutes.

Existing clients of ELLIOTT® and Company Appraisers have been assigned a temporary password and ID. Those unaware of their passwords and IDs may call the central office at 800-854-5889 to gain system access. Once into the system, the client may change all passwords and IDs.

Yes, we still accept offline orders via fax. If you have been ordering by fax, you may want to give our new system a try. We are on the Web at:

Ruppe, who can be reached at (phone) 910-484-3513, (fax) 910-484-7179 or (e-mail) ruppes@earthlink.net, will be performing residential appraisals in Cumberland and Hoke counties.

Max, a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser, has been in the business since 1996. Previously, he has worked for two Fayetteville real estate appraisal firms as well as the Cumberland County Tax Assessor’s office.

"I grew up in Fayetteville, and I’ve been appraising in Cumberland and Hoke County for six years," Ruppe said. "I feel my experience and familiarity with the area, plus the advantages to an appraiser who is in the ELLIOTT® system, enables me to perform residential appraisals in these counties as well as anyone."

Max holds a B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina in political science. Before attending college in Chapel Hill he graduated from Fayetteville’s Terry Sanford High School.

How does one become an appraiser? At first blush it would appear that there is not much to becoming an appraiser. They just look at the property and go back to the office and fill out a form; it couldn’t be that hard to learn. Such a prospective may warrant further consideration.

In all states there are typically a minimum of two levels of qualification, State Certified Residential and State Certified General. Most states also have Trainee or Apprentice categories for appraisers in training. These appraisers may perform appraisals only under the supervision of a certified appraiser prior to completion of their certification.

The requirements for becoming a certified appraiser in most states include 120 hours of successful classroom training for residential certification while general certification usually requires 180 or more classroom hours. There is typically a two-year minimum experience requirement for certification. In addition to the time requirement, a certified appraiser may be required to complete as many as 300 appraisals prior to certification.

All states require that certified appraisers take, and pass, a state board examination or test prior to becoming certified.

Most, if not all, states require that the appraiser attend 14 hours of state approved continuing education courses annually after certification is accomplished.

While it is not a legal requirement, many appraisers in addition to becoming state certified also choose to earn appraisal designations. Examples of such designations are the SRA and MAI designations, which are offered by the Appraisal Institute.

Biggest Lender Lies

3. All dogs like me. I never think twice about entering a yard.

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