I am thrilled to be able to lead with some great news – because of enhanced staffing, improved training, real-time flexibility in response management, and more precise phone system programming we’ve employed, in recent weeks the average hold times for calls received by the agency’s contact center are under five minutes! Also, the average for all of April was about five and a half minutes, so we are still improving. Our goal is to keep doing so methodically and sustainably.

Clients and intended users of appraisal services are paying greater attention to whether appraisers employ and document the use of recognized methods and techniques (sometimes referred to as generally accepted appraisal methods). While this has long been a requirement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), clients and other users of appraisal services have increasingly looked to the appraiser to support the analyses used when developing an opinion of value.

After careful consideration, we have decided to discontinue the ACH payment option for our online services. Effective April 1, 2019, all payments submitted through our online services will require a debit or credit card. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Board Amends Rule 159.155 Regarding Periodic Review of Appraisals by AMCs

The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB or Board) recently amended Rule 159.155(a)(2) to reduce from 5% to 2% the number of appraisal reports that need to be randomly reviewed each year by an AMC licensed to operate in Texas.