Work vent

[wowhead]

I've referred to myself as the grim reaper 2 days in a row now. I met with a property owner yesterday who was on the verge of tears when I showed him the roadway plans and just talked to another one who is disappointed that her entire property isn't being taken. I love the research, analysis and writing part of my job but man, it's hard to always be the bad guy.  

[mrsukyankee]

What do you do? It certainly doesn't sound like fun.

[wowhead]

I'm an eminent domain appraiser.

[lime]

That has to be hard, on both sides.

I've always been mildly curious on how eminent domain works, since the university I went to was dealing with this while I was a student. Is there a reference you could point me toward, just as background reading? (Thanks, I realize this is an odd request.)

[wowhead]

Sept 25, 2013 16:14:07 GMT -5 lime said:

That has to be hard, on both sides.

I've always been mildly curious on how eminent domain works, since the university I went to was dealing with this while I was a student. Is there a reference you could point me toward, just as background reading? (Thanks, I realize this is an odd request.)

www.hwltd.net/complex.pdf

This looks like it sums it up pretty well without being incredibly long.

[wowhead]

Sept 25, 2013 16:21:23 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Fuuuuck, that's a tough gig. I once worked in the eminent domain office of the SAG, and it was sometimes incredibly sad. Like, "Hi, we're taking your 120-year-old farmhouse, which has been in your family for generations, because we're building a highway exit. And we're going to pay you $50,000. Have a nice day!"

Yep.  It's good times.  A couple of summers ago I got to go meet with homeowners of 30 houses that were slated for demolition.  Most of them wound up in a better situation because of relocation benefits but going through that shit is hard!  I feel so bad for so many of these people.