James Ebert

james@eas2.com

818.991.9322

Architectural/Historical Appraiser

finds new use for his Valuation Experience

James Ebert always enjoyed a good challenge and relished opportunities while growing up. As the family moved, following the job market, he was constantly challenged to build new friendships and quickly develop methods and contacts for success. As an adult, James has built a unique appraisal company, assisting folks with their mortgage valuations, but also accepting the challenges of doing valuations for those “one-of-a-kind” homes, where the agents and the owners say, “There are no comps”.

But that doesn’t stop him. That’s why he gets these calls, and he rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. The end result is over 200 valuations of unique historical and architectural homes, as well as lending his considerable skills to clients as far away as Chicago, Denver, Texas, and even Puerto Rico.

These days he is teaching realtors how to re-apply their skills to the current marketplace, for their very survival. For the past month, Mr. Ebert brings his expertise and quick creative skills to the weekly agents’ office meetings, and shares his “tools” for them to use. The plan is reciprocal, if he can assist the agents trying to help families purchase a new home, then this will create more comparables that can then be used by all appraisers, while valuing the next property.

“Watching the banking industry in transition is like driving over a road under construction. Eventually there will be a smooth strong pavement. But for now, we have to drive around those potholes, and watch out for gravel that is getting thrown in the process. The gravel and rough driving is injuring a lot of travelers, and causing a lot of peripheral damage.”

“My simplified system of five main steps for realtors and agents helps them to take a pro-active approach to this market. They are used to working hard at the front end, marketing the home. They are not used to having to carefully shepherd the mortgage process as well. Now, if they want to close the sale, they need to add these tools to their toolbelt. These days, they are often saddled with having to use an out-of-area appraiser carelessly send by the appraisal management company.

“These appraisers should be refusing to accept these orders, based on the appraisal USPAP concept of “Geographic Competence”. But they are too desperate, only making 50% of their normal fees from a year ago. Some agents sometimes refuse to allow these appraisers access to the property, but often you cannot tell ahead of time. My system provides a form of insurance. Its not 100% effective, but I can assure you it will result in over 50% more closings in these difficult times.”

To download a copy of these five steps, go to the Ebert Appraisal Service website at www.eas2.org.

Feel free to copy them and discuss them at your next office meeting. And Mr Ebert is available to join you at your meeting, to expand on each of these steps. Don’t let another week go by, watching as more sales get sabotaged by the limited appraisal skills of the random appraiser process.

Ebert Appraisals expanded services includes Architectural, Historical and custom home consultations. 

As part of their broad range of products and services to the legal and real estate community, James Ebert now offers personal private consultations and review of unique homes and properties. This gives the home buyer or builder a solid plan, based on the current 2008 market conditions,  to implement financing and/or purchases.

In addition, our office is pleased to be currently working with several top regional architects. Brian Linder, of The Value Of Architecture ( www.tvoa.net ), & Deasy, Penner & Assoc. ( www.deasypenner.com ), is working with us on his latest of many quality homes. Lee + Mundwiler Architects ( www.lm-arch.com ) have two clients with new homes just developed, now working with us at Ebert Appraisals. Mr. Steven Kent, AIA, ( stevenkentarchitect.com ) is working with us on two of his custom Malibu homes. 

Ongoing,  we have four different attorney firms working with us on construction defects, family law, divorce, and other matters. We are assisting three CPA's with their adjusted cost basis for estate tax planning.