RICS Fellow David Wilkes Comments on New Leadership Position at Appraisal Foundation

03/09/2010 18:00

New York – March 6, 2010 – David Wilkes FRICS says he’s not the predictable choice for a leadership position at the Appraisal Foundation – but he’s glad to accept the challenge of being elected to the position of chairman. “At this point in time, there’s a real need for harmonization of appraisal standards, within the United States and globally,” he said. When he first got involved with the Appraisal Foundation he admits he felt he was a bit of an anomaly. “Most people who serve in the Appraisal Foundation are appraisers in their day-to-day work – real property, business value, fine art appraisers – but I’m a user of appraisals. While I have the degree and background in appraisal I’m a consultant and a lawyer in my day-to-day.” The Appraisal Foundation produces the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and is authorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications. Though relatively new to the Foundation he has already served on and chaired several committees, such as the business plan committee, the ethics committee, the oversight committee, and as chairman of the task force on best practices in appraisal, and demonstrated a keen ability toward building consensus and moving the Foundation’s agenda forward. Indeed, the task force he chaired led to the creation of the historic, new Appraisal Practices Board, which is being constituted for the first time under Wilkes’ leadership. “The Foundation, I think, is not well understood, it is something that takes time to learn about and understand. What it is we do. How we work. There are a tremendous number of committees and acronyms, and I find myself always learning more,” he explained. “I was happily surprised to find that I was asked to be in the leadership chain as of last year – but I’ve found this to be a great experience.” Wilkes says he sees the foundation as a beacon to a lot of other countries when it comes to setting standards in the valuation profession. “We need to work toward a harmonization of standards, on a variety of levels of valuation,” he said. “There are great potential synergies between RICS and the foundation. We’re looking into how the Foundation can further develop appraisal standards and better guide valuers in difficult times. The Foundation can provide direction when it comes to the recognized methods and techniques referred to in USPAP, and work to better synchronize standards beyond the borders of the United States. And RICS can be a connection point between the U.S., Europe and the rest of the world. Going forward RICS is very well poised to make that happen. I see that kind of synergy.” Wilkes counts on his RICS membership in all areas of his work, especially on property tax and municipal finance projects overseas. “A fair amount of my work has had an international component to it. Over the last several years my work has increasingly involved consulting for overseas governments on projects that intertwine law, valuation, and public policy,” he said. “And RICS has that global reach. It gives me that immediate recognition overseas, when I’m dealing with folks in the Middle East or Europe. Having the designation is like having a quality seal of approval. It opens up a broad network for me so I’m able to identify people in other regions who can help me on a project.” Wilkes is Managing Director of Standards Research Services International, in Tarrytown, New York, and continues to hold a partnership interest in the law firm he co-founded, Huff Wilkes, LLP. About RICS & RICS Americas RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), with headquarters in London, is the leading organization of its kind in the world for more than 100,000 professionals in property, land, construction and related environmental issues. RICS Americas, based in New York and covering North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, has more than 2,200 members in commercial and residential development, construction and project management, brokerage, planning and finance, valuation and fine arts appraisal. For further information visit www.ricsamericas.org or e-mail ricsamericas@rics.org.