OK, I'll stop now and go to sleep. Heading out for Atlanta workshop tomorrow.
Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 10:17
Subject: Great career for Scanners
I have found a Great Good Enough Job for me, that I would like to share with all the Scanners out there who are, like I was, frantically searching for that \"thing\" they can do, which will not suck the very life-juice out of them.
I stumbled upon this job quite by accident, when I was refinancing my house, back in September of 2005. I watched the appraiser do his thing around the house, and just when he was ready to leave, something made me ask him: \"How do you like your job?\" He started raving.
\"How do you become an appraiser and what kind of money can you make?\" I asked. He spent about 15 minutes telling me where to find the courses, how much they cost, how long it takes, what the business is like etc etc etc.
By the time he left, I knew this was the thing I'd been looking for!
Here in Florida, all you need is an 8 day course for about $600, and then you have to be a trainee under a state certified appraiser for 2000 hours/2 years before you go in for your own state certification. But, as a trainee you still make about $125-150 per job, which take anywhere from 4-6 hours. Heck, I didn't even make $20 per hour when I worked as a Human Resources Director slaving away 10-12 hours a day!
Once you're state certified you can go into business for yourself and keep the whole fee--about $350 or so.
Each state certified appraiser is allowed to have 4 trainees.
I just finished my \"in-office\" training, so as of now I am happily Working From Home. I receive the order via fax (that goes straight into my email), run out for about 1.5 - 2 hours for the inspection, and then sit at my kitchen table and fill in the report for another 2 - 3 hours. Then...I'm done for the day! And, I'm already home!
This job satisfies my need for:
1) Solitude (lots of it, please! I love, love, love to just sit and read and ponder.)
2) Some social interaction and getting out of the house. Chatting with a complete stranger for twenty minutes or so does it for me...
3) Work Less--Make More!
4) Work from home. Adios depressing cubicle and whiny water cooler huggers!
5) It's very detail oriented--which is one of the \"thangs\" I do really well.
6) Although the report is the same, each home--and therefore the approach to the content--is different every time, so you have to use the gray matter between your ears in order to do this job well.
7) Having time left over each day for: all those things I've been trying to squeeze in, but never had the time to do!
Sincerely,
Ami
Appraiser/Writer/Photographer/Virtual Assistant/Voice-over Talent/Proofreader/Makeup Artist/Former Business Manager/Jack-of-all-trades/General Figure-out-er'er and Handy-woman.
Thinker
Experienced Poster
Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Posts: 96
Location: Australia
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:48 Post subject: Jobs for Scanners
I have put this elsewhere -
I thought a fine job for a performer type of Scanner might be as a wedding celebrant.
I imagine that each wedding would be a performance where the celebrant would be an important part of the process.
The job would not be boring since the people will change, the venue will change, the type of wedding would change with different vows etc., the opportunity to dress up and have a good time.....
Sound good ?
Thinker
BarbaraSher
Mega Poster
Joined: 22 Jul 1999
Posts: 4830
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:18 Post subject:
Sounds intriguing but mysterious. What is a 'celebrant'? That is, exactly what do they do?
Thinker
Experienced Poster
Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Posts: 96
Location: Australia
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:47 Post subject:
Interesting that we have a cultural difference here

)) I have been asked this question again elsewhere I posted this.
In Australia marriage celebrants are licenced to conduct marriages. They are a civilian person who is authorised (by training) to stand up in place of religious officials when a marriage takes place outside a church.
We have weddings here on the beaches, in parks, on planes, helicopters, mountains etc. and I am sure you do too. What do you call such a person in US ?
Many wedding planners in Aust. are also marriage celebrants, they plan the wedding, do the ceremony and book honeymoons as well. It's a thriving business.
But I know many just do the ceremony. They discuss with the bride and groom beforehand what vows they would like included, how they would like things to proceed, the order of the ceremony etc. Afterwards the celebrant gets to enjoy the food just as the minister would.
Does that explain things ?
Thinker
Chris the Hokie
New User
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:11 Post subject:
Hi,
In the States, he or she is called a Justice of the Peace.
Thinker
Experienced Poster
Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Posts: 96
Location: Australia
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:14 Post subject:
We have Justices of the Peace here in Australia too, but they don't do weddings, they just do legal documents etc.
Maybe someone might want to investigate starting up a marriage celebrant situation in US - here's more information.
http://www.celebrancy.edu.au/default.asp
Thinker
Tituba
Mega Poster
Joined: 29 Jul 2003
Posts: 4769
Location: Boston
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:11 Post subject:
Quote:
Maybe someone might want to investigate starting up a marriage celebrant situation in US - here's more information.
We have those - we call them wedding planners.
Colliefeathers
Experienced Poster
Joined: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 207
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:33 Post subject: An appraiser.
A home appraiser.
Hmmm. Going to look up schools right NOW!
This may be just what I'm looking for.... and would tie into some other career ideas having to do with real estate and building homes.
Sounds like I could start making money fairly SOON, too.
Much needed!!! Thank you Barbara!
Colliefeathers
Experienced Poster
Joined: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 207
Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:12 Post subject: Duooo.
I've researched a little bit!
Appraisal school is about 8 weeks - and costs anywhere from $650-$1200 depending on school.
I don't have that money though and can't get a loan. I asked my mother for the money and she said for me to not \"bounce around\" so much.
I'm in one school NOW. lol. One school that will take another 2-3 years to finish. I Do love the program though. Just need a 'good enough job' right NOW to live on and thought the appraiser job would be quick and good for me.
Thought this was funny anyway.
sighhh.
SusanH
New Poster
Joined: 17 Jun 2006
Posts: 23
Location: near Seattle
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:15 Post subject:
Upon chasing something else down on the web, I found this link to Celebrant training in the United States and remembered the discussion here.
http://www.celebrantusa.com
It seems a Celebrant is more than just a wedding planner. It is someone who officiates at not only weddings, but other types of ceremonies as well. This site is full of all sorts of good information. It could be a good Scanner job for someone who does not mind public speaking, enjoys working with people, and, of course, enjoys variety. They do have a distance training course.
Enjoy,
Susan
Tricia56
Veteran Poster
Joined: 27 Mar 2004
Posts: 897
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:42 Post subject:
1800 bucks! Plus in my state it is difficult to get licensed as a minister.
Tricia56
Veteran Poster
Joined: 27 Mar 2004
Posts: 897
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:57 Post subject:
Ok Appraiser school is a first step here in Indiana - what they don't tell you is that in order to get that 2000 hours of training on the job from a licensed appraiser - you have to find someone willing to train you - (remember you are potential competition) and you have to pay them a huge amount of money each month for the training - I have a friend who looked into it - she would have had to pay the appraiser - 3 thousand a month for the training! This was typical throughout my state! Divide 2000 hours by 40 hour week - but keep in mind that often you won't get that many houses to inspect to add up to 40 hours a week.
Thinker
Experienced Poster
Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Posts: 96
Location: Australia
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:55
That's it Susan !
..and a good job for performers who like to be out front. Lots of women take on the job here in Aust.
Thinker
Thinker
Experienced Poster
Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Posts: 96
Location: Australia
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:27 Post subject:
I have added some under 'A Scanner's Job' Peter. They should have been here I know.
Thinker