Jeffrey Luzier has a lot of reasons for loving his profession. He appreciates it because it offers flexibility of time, it allows him to work independently, it affords him the opportunity to meet new people, and it lets him spend quality time with his family. Those are all great reasons to enjoy being an appraiser, but while all those reasons are true, the real reason lies hidden deep within Jeff’s psyche.

He likes the toys.

You see, Jeff is a closet computer geek. Like many appraisers, Jeff enjoys his work because it gives him a good reason to stay on the leading edge of the technology curve. A WinTOTAL user since 1998, Jeff joined the beta group in 2000 so he could become more involved with the technology side of the business. “I really enjoy getting to have some involvement in the development of the software and playing with the new toys first,” he told us with a grin. “This way, I can be a computer geek without seeming like one!”

Jeff first became interested in real estate by watching his mother – a certified appraiser and real estate broker – do her work. A real people person, she tended to lean more toward the sales side of the business, while Jeff saw more personal potential on the appraisal side of the business. “I’m more analytical,” Jeff related. “I enjoy the numbers and more steady income from appraisals.”

In July 1996, Jeff opened Luzier Quality Services in his home town, Clearfield, Pennsylvania where he specializes in single-family residential appraisals, with a good portion of his business comprising new construction of manufactured homes. Though his wife, Tina, helps with the clerical duties, for the most part Luzier Quality Services is a one-man shop, with Jeff serving Clearfield, Jefferson and Centre counties in Pennsylvania and some of the border towns.

Like many appraisers, Jeff sees technology as the driving force for change within the industry. “With the rapid progress of technology, coupled with the increase of AMCs (Appraisal Management Companies), clients are demanding faster turnaround times,” Jeff told us. “Plus, I am seeing a greater percentage of my orders of the more complex variety. Since I live and work in a largely rural area, very few of them are easy! So, instead of truly making my job easier, technology is just allowing me to keep pace with demand,” he added.

In addition to these technology driven changes, Jeff also sees an increased reliance on Automated Valuation Models for the major players in the residential mortgage market. “Even though I believe this will have less impact on rural areas like mine, I am still trying to develop leads into other markets, such as estate and divorce settlement and FSBO marketing."

A WinTOTAL user since 1998, Jeff appreciates the software because it provides what he refers to as “a total solution” for appraisers. “With WinTOTAL, I can fill in all the forms I need, store and access my comparable database, use digital photos, use digital maps, scan in the legal description, survey or anything else, and print it all out!” Jeff said. “In addition, the Appraisal Desktop tracks my orders, tracks my invoices, maintains my contacts, and now gives me current industry news! The only other program I ‘need’ to complete and deliver an appraisal report is Adobe Acrobat; and that is only because so many of my clients want to get the appraisal in PDF format now – at my request!” he added with a smile.

Jeff takes obvious pride in the reports he generates for his clients and believes the most important lessen he’s learned as an appraiser is to hold on to his integrity. “At the end of the day, that is all you have to sell,” he told us. “I always complete every appraisal as though it will ‘see the light of day.’ You never know who might end up with a copy of your work, so it is important to not only have a highly polished and professional-looking report, but also to make sure your research and analysis lead to solid results. In my opinion, my work product is my best form of advertising and the best source of future business.”

When he’s not working, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, Tina, and their four children, Chris, 15; Brooke, 6; Gavin, 4; and Sierra, 3. “They keep us busy, but we have a lot of fun, too!” Jeff said of the kids. He also likes to read, watch the X-Files, play racquetball and water ski.

As much as he enjoys having fun in the traditional sense, though, Jeff will be the first to tell you that he considers his work as an appraiser fun, too. Not only does he get to work in a profession which allows him to play with the latest new “toys” but he gets paid to do it! Not bad for a computer geek. Not bad at all.