_Commercial Grade is a weekly post by John Cicero, MAI who provides commentary on issues affecting real estate appraisers, with specific focus on commercial valuation. Today John talks about the misuse of the word “expert”._

_Disclosure: John is a partner of mine in our commercial real estate valuation concern [Miller Cicero, LLC](http://www.millercicero.com) and he is, on Thursdays, one of the smartest guys I know._ …Jonathan Miller

I remember going on a job interview many years ago, where the interviewer, the owner of a small fee shop, chewed me out for calling myself “an appraiser” with only two years experience. He snarled that an appraiser is one who gives an “expert opinion” on property value. He scared meI didn’t want to work for him!

Some 20 years later I still vividly recall this interview though, because it recently dawned on me that he was absolutely correct. This business (profession?) is full of state licensed young bucks that appraise a shopping center in one state on Monday, then head hundred of miles away on a Thursday to appraise an office building in a totally different market. Getting paid on a “fee split” basis (time is money!) they race through the market snapping photos of comps that they may have begged off of a local appraiser, then run to town hall to look up the assessments and zoning data.

Experts? Hardly. They are going through the motions of “the appraisal process”, but the majority of these appraisers have neither the experience or market knowledge to render a truly “expert” opinion. I know..I used to be one of themand I can tell you at the end of every assignment I would pray that I didn’t miss anything critical in my market blitz.

The internet has put market data in easy reach of all appraisers..even if they are thousands of miles away. However, there is no substitute for being a real local expert, having the years of experience and intimate knowledge of the local market.