After a rapid post-pandemic recovery, the Florida real estate market is booming, attracting thousands of buyers with different backgrounds and purposes. This thriving environment offers fertile soil for professional appraisers.
In this article, you will find out the essentials of Florida appraiser’s license protection.
Florida Appraiser’s License – The Fundamentals
An appraiser is an individual who specializes in professional property evaluation. Essentially, the work of an appraiser is to impartially evaluate a property, identifying the pros and cons with utmost precision.
Within state jurisdiction, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is the division responsible for licensing and regulating more than twenty real estate-related professional categories.
Among the licenses issued by the DBPR, there are different subsets focused on real estate appraisers, which are:
- Registered Trainee Appraiser
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- Certified General Appraiser
- Residential Appraisal Instructor
- General Instructor
- Temporary Practice Permit
- Appraiser CE Course
- Appraisal Management Company
- Federal Appraisal Management Company
Each subcategory has specific requirements that applicants must meet to qualify for a license. Before applying for licensing, prospective real estate appraisers should consult an expert Florida attorney to identify an ideal solution tailored to their circumstances.
How to Protect an Appraiser’s License in Florida – Grounds for Disciplinary Action
Whenever a complaint is filed against a licensed Florida appraiser, the first step is to verify whether the accusations actually have merit.
It is not hard to find unhappy customers who attempt to jeopardize someone’s professional integrity by filing a complaint based on nothing. However, if the accusations have merit and the complaint is based on solid evidence, the guidance of an expert licensing attorney becomes urgent.
Misrepresentation
Misrepresenting information to customers refers to intentional deception through fraud, omission, or dishonesty to substantially benefit or injure someone.
Conflict of Interest
A licensed appraiser must always be in the best interest of customers. Accepting or requesting payment for reporting a certain valuation of a property to favor certain parties results in conflicts of interest.
Negligence
Florida appraisers must observe all the applicable regulations when exercising their profession. Failing to do so results in negligence.
Misleading Advertisement
No appraiser should engage in any misleading or fake advertising, which includes a situation in which an appraiser pretends to be part of a real estate organization in which he or she is not a real member.
Discrimination
Any non-reliable reports issued based on race, religion, sex, national origin, or marital status of customers or individuals affected by the appraisal result in discrimination.
Unprofessional Conduct
The DBPR holds appraisers to a high standard of professionalism. Any licensed appraiser who engages in unethical acts seeking to deceive, defraud, or harm customers fails to meet this requirement.
Also, any behavior that shows the inability or incompetence to practice appraisal professionally offers grounds for a potential license suspension.
Substance Abuse
An appraiser’s excessive use of alcohol or drugs results in the individual’s inability to practice appraisal following the standard established by state regulations.
Illness or Disability
If a physical or mental health issue results in the appraiser’s inability to practice the profession with skill, safety, and reasonability, it may result in the suspension or removal of DBPR’s license.
Waste no Time with Uncertainty – Immediately Seek Expert Legal Guidance
A well-versed legal advisor in Florida licensing law, Attorney Romy B. Jurado willingly wants to help protect your appraiser’s license. Contact us by calling (305) 921-0976 or emailing [email protected] to schedule a consultation.
