Thanksgiving is truly a special time of the year for family and friends to gather in appreciation of many gifts received. There is no question the challenges presented to everyone over the past two years by COVID-19, and the subsequent arrival of the delta variant raised everyone to new levels of adaptability.

Many in the appraisal profession looked adversity squarely in the eye and proved with dedication and commitment to continuing the task at hand, despite any obstacles getting in the way, there are plenty reasons to give thanks.

“Thanksgiving is always such a wonderful time to be able to reflect upon the year and so many things we are grateful for,” Dustin Harris, “The Appraiser Coach,” told us. “Though we continue to struggle as a country during some difficult times, there is still a great deal of gratitude I have for the freedoms that we enjoy and the wonderful profession that we have chosen to be a part of.

“Being an appraiser affords me so many options and abilities to make my own life. I have the incredible opportunity to work with some amazing individuals that make my life better,” Harris added. “So, there are many changes on the horizon and the outlook for appraisers is strong. Upward and onward and on to an even better 2022.”

“The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) is always thankful for the sponsors, board and council members, and stakeholders who make our work possible. We could not accomplish the difficult work of building and maintaining public trust in the appraisal profession without the time and efforts of each and every one of these groups,” TAF said. “We deeply appreciate their work this year to make the appraisal profession a more diverse reflection of the United States. We are thankful as well for all of the people who apply to serve on our boards.

“This year it was especially difficult for the Board of Trustees to select new board members because they received so many applications from highly qualified candidates,” the appraisal organization added. “It is a wonderful problem to have, and we hope everyone who applied will stay involved in our work.”

Veteran appraiser William Fall gives thanks for others providing invaluable assistance.

“Obviously, Thanksgiving provides a great time to ponder family past and present,” Fall said. “But as my career has grown, I’ve also come to the reality that so many of the successes of our firm are a direct result of unselfish dedication to daily tasks by others. And these actions collectively contribute to our company strength.

“So, I always take a moment during the Thanksgiving break to remember those good people that I have the pleasure of being associated with,” he added. “Hard to recall everyone but I try to remember as many as I can. The list seems to get longer each year. Very much humbling to me for sure.”

Last year, Clear Capital Chief Appraiser John Brenan mentioned how thankful he was that despite the devastation brought on by COVID-19, he felt blessed because most of his friends and family had largely been spared from its “ravages.”

And like everyone, he had hoped that the pandemic would be a distant memory by this time this year. Unfortunately, as time progressed and everyone was introduced to things like the delta variant, he learned of more people he knew who were affected either directly or indirectly, by this awful virus.

“While things have generally improved, there are still many feeling the lasting physical, emotional, and financial impacts from this pandemic,” Brenan shared with us. “In trying to find a silver lining, spending more time at home did provide an opportunity for renewed closeness between family members we may not have otherwise had. As we get older, we all yearn for the one thing we can't control...more time. Despite the dreadful circumstances, getting more time with loved ones has been a true blessing.

“On a professional level, I remain thankful that we've continued to find a way to carry on and conduct business while so many other professions simply could not. It’s sometimes said that appraisers are among those who are the least willing to accept change,” Brenan added. “Well, I am very proud of how our profession has, as a whole, stepped up and embraced change. For example, about three years ago only 19 percent of appraisers surveyed indicated they would be willing to perform hybrid appraisal assignments. In September, I participated on a panel at a conference where, using a live polling feature, several hundred appraisers in the audience were asked about performing hybrid assignments. I was very pleased to see that 63 percent of the respondents said they would not only accept a hybrid appraisal assignment but would be thankful they didn't have to perform the inspection themselves. Wow, what a difference.”

Brenan is not simply measuring the reaction to hybrid assignments, rather, he sees strong evidence that appraisers are able to adapt to changes in the marketplace.

“This is absolutely crucial to our future success because it is clear from recent events that changes are coming. It is my fervent desire to see appraisers remain relevant, and doing so will require a willingness to adapt,” he said.

Appraisal Institute President Rodman Schley focused on thanks during a time of many changes.

“The events of the last year-and-a-half have significantly altered the way many appraisers conduct business, changing how we gather in the workplace, inspect properties, or manage assignments in the field,” Schley said. “Despite all these changes, I am incredibly proud of the Appraisal Institute’s work, and thankful to our leadership and membership for how well they’ve adapted in these unprecedented times.”

Tony Lenamon, CEO of JLL Valuation Advisory, Americas, touched on both personal and professional reasons one should be giving thanks.

“I’m thankful to have friends and family that know all my faults and still care for me. My life has been shaped by selfless giving of others, both in their actions and in their quiet example, and I’m grateful for it. I’m thankful to work for a firm, JLL, that believes in a common culture where its people can thrive,” Lenamon said. “We spend most of our lives at our job, and I’m lucky to work for a company that cares about me.

“I’m thankful to live in a country that was founded on the will of the people. That is rarer than one might think. Our democracy is messy and loud, but it works, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” he added. “I’m incredibly thankful to wake up each day. Not everyone does. It gives me another chance to laugh, to enjoy a sunset, and to try and make a difference in the lives of others.”

Metro-West Appraisal Co. Chief Operating Officer Brandon Boudreau shared his holiday appreciation.

“The list of things to which I am thankful is endless, though if I am to narrow it down to our industry and the past year, I would have to immediately go to the gratitude I have for my team members and my clients,” he said. “As we know, the appraisal business is not always pretty, if you throw in a pandemic and record volume, it could get downright ugly.

“Through it all, our team and appraisers came through and retained our clients trust and support. I love seeing the partnerships and problems solved through the valuation chain, something that far too often goes unappreciated,” Boudreau added.