Pros
They are a great group of people to work with. The management team has solid and diverse skill sets – each with their own strengths. Management is accessible and open to new ideas and suggestions. They actually welcome suggestions and encourage employees to submit their ideas by placing them in an Employee Suggestion Box that is located in the training/break room. I really enjoy the dynamic and fast paced environment where everyone is challenged to do their very best in order to meet the clients expectations and the company’s goals and objectives. It is stressful at times, but also fun and rewarding. I love learning new things and this is the perfect environment in which to learn about the residential and commercial appraisal industry and about the clients we serve which are banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers. They recognize that there has to be a good blend and balance of technology and personal interaction when dealing with appraisers and clients. I am a people person so not using email to communicate 100% of the time is important to me. I really like the fact that the company is large enough to compete on a national level yet they are not so large that as an employee you feel like you are just a number. The same holds true for our clients – they get to know us and we get to know them which can be personally rewarding. They have a very nice employee incentive program, and a company meeting every two weeks where employees are recognized for their efforts. As with most companies, they support a couple of non-profits. The main one is JDRP and they raise funds throughout the year by having themed potluck lunches which are fun way to raise money and a nice way to spend time getting to know your co-workers. Once a year, employees are encouraged to participate in the fundraising JDRF Walk for the Cure and the company matches a portion of the funds that are raised. The employee benefits are good and the matching 401K program is a real plus. I’ve enjoyed my time with the company and believe I can continue to grow and advance.
Cons
Cons Not so much a con about the company, but more the reality of the type of business it is. As in most customer service industries, some clients occasionally have unrealistic expectations. Additionally, the client determines the fee paid to appraisers, and sometimes it is difficult to find appraisers to work for the set fee. We can get 100 orders right, but if one order doesn’t go just perfectly, sometimes it seems that it’s the one order that receives the most attention. Occasionally, it can leave you feeling a little unappreciated at the end of the day when that does happen.