Forensic Scrapbook

Tony Sevelka earns AI-GRS Designation

As of January 2019, Tony Sevelka is only one of two appraisers in Canada who has earned the Appraisal Institute’s AI-GRS (General Review Specialist) designation. The AI-GRS designation is held by professionals who provide reviews of appraisals of a wide range of...

read more

A Forensic Appraiser’s Perspective

Appraisals are prepared for a host of reasons, but, in every instance, an appraisal is intended to support a decision-making process that involves the appraised property. A party commissioning an appraisal will either rely on the appraisal or attempt to induce another party (e.g., an expropriating or condemning authority, investor, etc.) to rely on the appraisal.

read more

Are You Ashamed of Your Appraisal Report?

When an appraisal is prepared on behalf of a public agency, the work product is always subject to disclosure, and usually there is no expectation of privacy, unless the report carries settlement privilege. An appraiser should always assume that their appraisal report...

read more

The AACI Puppet Appraiser – Highest and Best Use

Thank God I don't get paid to think! Another appraiser representing the same party as in the preceding expropriation did what he was told to do by his legal counsel. Of course, the appraiser made full disclosure in his appraisal report of his accommodating, obedient,...

read more

Bait and Switch – Highest and Best Use

What's that stuff called that baffles brains? An appraiser valuing an undevelopable 28-acre narrow strip taking of 5,200 feet along the western boundary of a 346-acre unserviced parcel as part of a future highway went to great lengths in discussing highest and best...

read more