We went shopping for websites for this edition of the
e-Newsletter. Our Agent XSites for real estate agents and brand new Mortgage XSites have gotten some buzz lately but what about Appraiser XSites, the granddaddy of them all?

You can get an Appraiser XSite for $449, with a 100-day money back guarantee (like with everything we sell), set it up in about 15 minutes, and have one of the coolest looking, most content rich and most functional websites on the Internet (like this one, or this one).

But there are other alternatives. We found one by searching Google for "web site design" and clicked along the paid listings to the right till we found one that actually published its prices (it was the second one we tried).

There were four main plans offered. We figured as a small business we would want the "Sunshine" plan, which the company said is its "best seller."

We get 15 web pages, with four graphics per page, for $949 one-time with a six business day turnaround.

Ok, but we want it hosted, too — the coolest site in the world is useless if it's not actually on the Internet, where people can see it. This company had two options: The design cost dropped to $599 one-time and we could get hosting for $9.95 a month, or we could pay $95 per month for design plus hosting. Our mom didn't raise no dummies, so we want the $9.95, we thought. That's $119.40 per year on top of just $599.

Except that doesn't include "maintenance" — when you want to change something on your site. Your coverage area, rates, news, just want to twiddle with the color scheme and layout, etc. Fortunately, this company offered a $34.95/month maintenance plan, offering up to 10 text changes per month, or three text plus picture changes, and adding up to five new pages (as long as we stay 15 or under). The plan does not include "structural changes," so we're stuck with the layout, but maybe if we put everything together we can live with that. Ok, we're at $599 plus $44.90 per month, or another $538.80 in a year.

Well, hold on, that's about the same as $95 per month ($1,137 vs. $1,140). So let's go with $95 per month. You get 24/7 support with that! Except it's a $95 one-time "setup fee," and the maintenance program isn't as good (only three text changes per month, can only add one page per month)... ok, maybe we'll stick with a la carte and only call the support lines during business hours.

Now, we don't have time to write these 15 pages, but we'd like some material that visitors to an appraiser's site might be interested in. We can get that for $90 an hour, minimum 10 hours, with $750 due at signup.

Also, we want a Flash intro. Not available with this plan? Geez.

So we're going to pay $1,349 one time and $44.90 per month, for a total of $1,887.80. The good news is that if we never want to substantially change our site, can spread the inevitable little changes out over a number of months so as to not exceed our quota, never want customer support in off hours and can live with the text forever, only the $44.90 per month or $538.80 per year will carry over to next year.

Oh, wait — I want online appraisal ordering, assignment management and automatic statusing, too...

Every last feature we wanted is included in an Appraiser XSite, for one annual price. Unlimited changes with an easy, intuitive wizard means no six business day turnaround, and you can change whatever you want. Free domain registration, virus-free e-mail, fully customizable pre-written content pages of interest to appraisal website visitors, assignment management, online ordering... we'll stick with XSites, if it's all the same to everybody.

Check back in a future edition, when we try to learn the value of our house for free online!

The Appraisal Foundation said it is beginning its annual search for qualified candidates to serve on one of its three Boards. Completed applications for vacancies on the Board of Trustees, the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) must be received by July 15, 2004.

There are three At-Large Board of Trustees seats available this year, with one incumbent eligible for re-election. The Board of Trustees is charged with funding the work of and appointing members to the AQB and ASB, as well as providing oversight of these two Boards. Trustees serve three-year terms.

There are two vacancies on the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB), with one incumbent eligible for re-appointment. The ASB is charged with developing, interpreting and amending USPAP. Familiarity with USPAP is a prerequisite of service on the ASB, and a minimum of ten years of appraisal experience is required. ASB members serve a term of up to three years.

Finally, there are two vacancies on the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB), with both incumbents eligible for re-appointment. The AQB is responsible for setting minimum qualification criteria for state licensure and certification of real estate appraisers and has established voluntary qualification criteria for personal property appraisers. Familiarity with appraiser qualifications is a pre-requisite of service on the AQB, and a minimum of ten years of appraisal experience is required. AQB positions serve a term of up to three years.