FIRST ADVANTAGE APPRAISAL INC

Emailed the office and discussed my situation. An appointment was set up and the appraiser was 20 minutes late. Immediately rude and unprofessional. There was a miscommunication regarding gaining entry to the property. This was followed by a barrage of unprofessional emails after I decided to not use their service. Email trail below:

ME:
Hello, I received your name from a real estate broker who stated that you are a reputable appraisal company (Jill/Wade). I unfortunately just went through the process of a deed in lieu on a previous property of mine in Baltimore City.
The house had previously been appraised for $200's and 300's thousand ( do have a copy of the appraisal). But when the bank appraised the house, it came in for almost a million dollars ($955K). Not sure how that came in so high, as the house has many issues (leaking roof, water main damage with no active running water, old fire damage in the basement and 1st floor, damaged windows, etc.).
The house is in fact under contract now for $199,900. Because of the ridiculous $955K appraisal that the bank received, my CPA (and
I) am going nuts with the tax consequences of the deed in lieu.
I was told that I now need to hire an independent appraiser to get an appraisal on the house in order for her to challenge the property's assessed value and appraisal. We may also need an expert witness testimony on Maryland property value.
So my question is 1. Do you provide that service. 2. Do you service Baltimore city 3. How much does this cost. 4. How soon can this be done?
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Them:
Good Morning S,

My name is Jill and I have received your email regarding appraisal services.
Wade is out of town for the week, but hopefully I can help.

We do offer coverage in Baltimore City.  We would be available to schedule as soon as one morning next week.

Would you please provide the property address?  I would need to know what we're seeing in order to provide a fee quote.

Also, Wade does do expert testimony.  He does have a separate hourly fee for that.  I will find out his hourly fee to do this and I can let you know.

I hope this has helped.

Thank you,
JP
First Advantage Appraisal Service
558 Lanny Court
Millersville, MD 21108
(410) 729-3415

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ME: 
Xxxx xxxxx xxxStreet, Baltimore, MD

Thank you!
SK
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THEM:
Hi

Thanks for getting me the information.  The fee for this would be $400.  We do require all private orders to be paid COD.  We accept cash, check, money-order & credit cards.

I have left a message for Wade so I can get his hourly rate for expert testimony.  As I mentioned he is out of town, so I will get you that info ASAP.

Let me know if you'd like to proceed in scheduling the inspection for one morning next week.

Thank you,
JP
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ME:
Thurs morning would be best for me, but Thurs, Fri, Sat or Sun morning is ok. I work 8a - 8p on Mon, Tue, Wed (and won't be able to meet with you) and 6p - 6a Thurs, Fri, Sat.
ME:
I can do Thurs 9- 10 am. Now I don't own the house anymore, do you make arrangements with the real estate people? I think it's Long & Foster.

Let me know.

Thanks,
SK
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THEM:
Hi S

We can make arrangements with the Realtor, but we do need someone to meet with the COD, or you can call it in on credit card. Should I put this on the books for Thursday morning, or should I be in touch with you realtor?

Also, we do offer expert testimony.  I have not been in touch with Wade for a fee quote because he is on vacation this week.  I will provide his hourly fee for expert testimony once he's back in town.

Please advise how to proceed.

Thank you,
JP
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ME:
No I will meet you there for the appraisal and payment. It's not my Realtor though, I guess the bank hired them to sell the house. . . Since I did the deed in lieu, so I have no relationship with them.

But Thursday at 9am is fine with me.

SK
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THEM:
Good Morning S

I have been in touch with Wade.  He told me there was some confusion this morning at xxx xxxxx xxx Street, and he was unable to gain access.

Please re-read the emails below. My email on 7/5 @ 10 AM - I stated we could make arrangements with the realtor, but someone does need to meet with the COD. I asked if I should put the inspection on the books for Thursday, or should I be in touch with your realtor.  You responded No, I will meet you there for the appraisal and payment.

I believe this is where the confusion occurred, because I asked if I needed to contact the Realtor and you said No.

At this point I have called the Realtor, Jim Mikula.  He said that this property is owned by Fannie Mae and he is not willing to grant you access.

Wade can do a drive-by appraisal for this.  He would be able to write the report based on information from the listing, public records and any information you may be able to provide.  The fee for this is $350, COD.

Wade is in the area tomorrow morning, so he could do it then.

You can reply to this message or you can call me at the office to advise how you'd like us to proceed.

Thank you
JP
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ME:
JP,

I'm sorry you misunderstood me. You asked several questions and my NO response was in regard to calling the payment in on my credit card, not to the realtor. I then went on to explain to you i had no relationship with the realtor Long and Foster, as they were hired by the bank. Your 1st statement on July 5th was  that "WE COULD"  make arrangements with the realtor, but need someone to meet at the house for PAYMENT. So I assumed that "YOU" were making arrangements with the realtor.


MY RESPONSE:
No I will meet you there for the appraisal and payment. It's not my Realtor though, I guess the bank hired them to sell the house. . .Since I did the deed in lieu, so I have no relationship with them.


AT ANY RATE, I WILL DECLINE THE DRIVE BY SERVICE BY YOUR COMPANY. IT IS NOT OPTIMAL AND WILL LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS AT THIS POINT.

Thanks for your time

SK
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THEM:
S,

Jill asked you specifically if you wanted us to make arrangements with the realtor and you said no.

How did you expect us to go into the property?

Wade
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ME:
Wade,

It's done a done deal. She asked if I wanted to pay calling my credit card in. And I said NO and that i will meet you there for the appraisal and PAYMENT. Her 1st statement in that email was that she "could make arrangements" with the realtor, but someone needed to be there for COD payment. I told her again and again that I had no relationship with Long and Foster and I no longer owned the home.
There was a miscommunication on her part. Re-read the entire trail if emails. SHE MESSED UP. So to answer your question: I expected YOU to have access, as she specifically said the "WE COULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS".

SK
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THEM:
You cannot read.   She asked you if you wanted us to call the realtor and you said no.

Jill said she could, not would.  Done deal or not you wasted three hours of my time because according to th