Well, we are coming up on the end of another summer of record high temperatures here in Austin, TX - I think a total of 44 days over 100? I just don't know how appraisers in Phoenix do it (besides very early and very late in the day!) September will probably add another 2-3 days of 100+ as well. Of course, I love Texas and would take the heat over the cold and snow any day. Snow is great to see when you're on vacation, not when you have three houses to measure...
I also got a call today from a homeowner doing a refinance who wanted to see if I would do an appraisal cheaper than what was being charged by his mortgage persons appraiser. I appreciate the fact that he was bargain shopping and trying to negotiate a better deal, but what cracked me up about it was the fact that his mortgage broker is going to make about $2,500 off of him for probably 5-8 hours of work, while the appraiser is going to put in the same amount of time for $375.00. I think he needs to try cutting costs on the people who can afford it, and the ones sitting in a nice air conditioned office all day!
A safe and happy Labor Day weekend to all of us hard-working real estate professionals...