Cool Tools: What You REALLY Need to Know and ADU's
Instructor: JoAnn Apostol
Location: TBD
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
8:00am-8:30am - Welcome/Registration
8:30am-11:30am - Cool Tools: What You REALLY Need to Know (CE 3hrs)
11:30pm-12:00pm - Lunch (included in full day registration)
12:00pm-4:00pm - ADU's (CE 4hrs)
Cool Tools: What You REALLY Need to Know
Course Hours: 3 hours
AZ Course Approval Number: 347
Course Description: With the increase in technological tools for appraisers, it is imperative that they understand how to use these competently. This course will take a look at some of the available tools and how they have been misused in existing reports. Through these examples, students will develop an understanding of how the tools work, how to determine if their data is appropriate for the tool, how to interpret the output from tools, and how to comply with Advisory Opinion 37 in using the tools.
The course will cover:
- The Cool Tools available for appraisal
- The appraiser’s responsibilities in using the tools
- Case studies on the tools and what went wrong
ADU's
Course Hours: 4 hours
AZ Course Approval Number: Pending
Course Description: Coming
About JoAnn: JoAnn Apostol has been a Certified Residential Appraiser in Colorado since 2002. She specializes in mountain properties west of Denver and complex residential properties throughout the six county Denver Metropolitan Area. JoAnn taught for a national appraisal education program for 17 years which included teaching qualifying education, continuing education, USPAP and was the national appraisal instructor. She is an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor, a Certified Distance Educator with IDECC, and holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with an education emphasis and a minor in special education.
Appraising is a second career in which she was able to combine her first career of teaching with appraising. Before becoming an appraiser, she taught middle school mathematics for 15 years. Life events forced her to change career paths in 1999 when she discovered appraising and began training in 2000. She has five children and seven grandchildren which she enjoys spending time visiting and she plays golf weekly.
JoAnn consults with individual appraisers for USPAP compliance and board investigations. She currently volunteers with the National Association of Appraisers as the Communications Committee Chair and publishes a quarterly newsletter. She tutors students to pass the National Appraiser Exam. As a mentor for appraisers under disciplinary action, she does USPAP consulting and assists appraisers through the process. She has been featured on an Appraisal Buzzcast episode, The Appraiser Coach Videocast and The Appraisal Update Podcast with Bryan Reynolds. She is the proud recipient of the NAA 2025 Appraiser of the Year Award.
