Valerie’s path to becoming an appraiser began when she answered an ad for a secretarial position in 1978.
“The job was to type reports, call and make appointments for appraisers, pull comparable data and physically deliver reports.”
Eventually Valerie embarked on the path to become an appraiser.
“I started taking appraisal courses in the evening while working during the day. I received my CRA designation in 1984.”
There are multiple reasons why Valerie likes being an appraiser.
“I truly enjoy meeting people and discussing their most valuable asset as well as setting my own hours.”
Valerie is always prepared to go above and beyond for her clients, including adjusting her schedule if necessary.
“Once I had an appraisal request come in for a country property. When I called the homeowner, he informed me that he was only home on Sundays as he was a long-haul trucker. I made the appointment to inspect on a Sunday afternoon, as he had to be back on the road early Monday morning. He was quite appreciative, as was the lender.”
As a professional, Valerie has grown to trust her instincts.
“I have learned over my years that you can read someone’s body language and their eyes to determine if a client is nervous, has a down-to-earth personality or is all-business. I draw from that to put people at ease, which tends to open up the conversation and allow for me to receive more information.”
In the London, Ontario region, Valerie has witnessed a slight increase in the median home price.
“The average home price in September 2024 was $641,583, which reflected a 1.7% increase from September 2023. Home sales were up 6.0% as well with a total of 562 homes sold, while active listings for September 2024 increased by 19.8% to 3,049 over last year at this time.”