Cole Consulting Sponsors Trip to Puerto Rico

**Official Contest Page**

Are you a *woman* appraiser hopeful looking to network, find a mentor or gain entry into the world of appraisal?

 

 

This contest is open to entry-level appraiser’s only, pre-trainee, new trainees and for unlicensed appraiser hopefuls seeking entry into the industry.  Please share with your colleagues and friends.

The Competition

Compete and show your skills.

The Contest Challenge:

1. Write a one to two-page description of the subject property and a short introduction to win.  An intro letter description of the subject is a great fundamental skill to demonstrate appraisal potential.  Use internet resources, county assessor and google to find out how to describe the subject, but do not use A.I.  Any discovered use of A.I. will be immediately disqualified.  
2. Include a cover page to your entry that includes the property title, your contact information (Name, phone number, e-mail) and a short paragraph on what attending the retreat and connect with other appraisers would mean to you.

The subject property is: 

**Buttercup Café, 75 E 16th St, Chicago, IL 60616**

Write your description from scratch, or view the example / template found below.

Contest Rules

 Writing Assignment

Description of the subject must be no more than one to two pages, with professional letter formatting, grammar and casing, *sans* exhibits. 

Here’s an Example / Template:

Selection of Winners & Remedy

1. Selection of winners. Winning papers will be selected by a **blind** committee.  This is to open the contest to all who apply, including those affiliated with sponsors and hosts.   
2. Competition winners will be notified via telephone or e-mail 30 to 60 days prior to announcement of the winners. 
3. The winner must agree to be financially responsible for their own airline transport within 48 hours of notice. 
4. Failure to book or commit to winnings will result in forfeiture of the price to the 2^nd or 3^rd place winner. 
5. Winner must show proof of booked flight within 5 business days of winning to ensure they will attend. 
6. A winner that accepts the place, but does not show at the final event without insurance or adequate reason, will agree to pay damages equal to the value of the trip.     
7. A 2^nd and 3^rdrunner up will be selected in the event of non-availability of the winner. 

Prizes

1. Full lodging, admission and all included meals to the Ascend retreat in Puerto Rico valued at $2,850. 

• Details on the retreat are found here:  https://ascendappraisers.com/retreats
• Winner must provide their own airfare and flight booking.
• In the event that the trip is canceled or not held at no fault of the winner, winner shall receive cash value of the trip up to $2,000. 

• Winner may bring guest at their own cost and facilitate dual lodging with Ascend event planner.  All lodging costs will be covered by Cole Consulting up to $2,850.

Deadline for Submission

1. All papers submitted for the Competition must be received by the Cole Consulting Committee no later than August 31, 2026, by e-mail.  

Email your submission to: prelim@coleconsultingcorp.com

Cover Page Information

1. Each submitted paper shall have a cover page which includes (i) the title of the subject property; (ii) the author’s full name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the submitting applicant.
   1. A short paragraph explaining what attending the retreat in Puerto Rico and connecting with other appraisers around the nation would mean to the applicant.  

Inquiries

1. Any inquiries regarding the Competition should be directed to:  prelim@coleconsultingcorp.com
2. Cole Consulting is the official sponsor of this prize. Only entries taken from instruction on the official contest page will be. considered. Only submissions to prelim@coleconsultingcorp.com will be considered. Beware of alternate sites or potential spammers. There is no entry fee. Cole Consulting collects no application fees. Beware online predators who may attempt to modify or reproduce this contest.

Puerto Rico Trip Sponsored By:

AFFIDAVIT OF DISCLOSURE REGARDING CONTEST JUDGING METHODS

Cole Consulting being duly sworn, hereby state and affirm as follows:

Purpose of Disclosure.

This affidavit is provided to disclose the procedures and methodology used in judging the contest and to affirm that the judging process was conducted in a manner intended to promote fairness, impartiality, consistency, and equal consideration of all eligible entries.

Independent Judging.

The contest was not judged by the contest sponsor, nor were the judging decisions made by the sponsor or by individuals acting at the sponsor’s direction with respect to the merits of individual entries.

Arms-Length Judges.

Entries were reviewed by independent, arms-length judges who were separate from the contest sponsor. The judges were selected and utilized for the purpose of independently evaluating the submitted entries.

Blind Review Process.

To promote impartiality, entries were initially presented to the judges in a manner designed to prevent the judges from identifying the individual applicants or entrants. Entries were shuffled and assigned identifying letters and/or numbers before being provided to the judges for evaluation.

Initial Evaluation Criteria.

During the initial review, judges evaluated the entries based upon substantive and objective qualities of the submitted work, including, but not limited to:

effective communication;

accuracy;

quality of prose;

detail; and

thoroughness.

The purpose of this initial review was to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of each entry on its own merits, without undue influence from the identity or background of the applicant.

Secondary Review.

Following the initial evaluation, the entries were re-reviewed in conjunction with the applicants’ introduction letters and the information provided regarding each applicant’s commitment and ability to follow the contest instructions and requirements.

Commitment to Follow Instructions.

The secondary review permitted the judges to consider whether each applicant demonstrated an understanding of, and commitment to, following the applicable contest instructions. This review was conducted as part of the overall judging process and was considered in conjunction with the substantive qualities of the entry.

Fairness and Consistency.

The judging process was structured to provide each entry with an opportunity to be evaluated under the same general standards and criteria. The use of shuffled, coded entries during the initial review was intended to reduce the possibility of personal identity, relationships, reputation, or other extraneous considerations influencing the initial evaluation.

No Sponsor-Based Selection.

The contest sponsor did not select the winning entry based upon personal preference, relationship with an applicant, or knowledge of an applicant’s identity. The determination of the winning entry was based upon the judging process described above.

Good-Faith Administration.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the contest was administered and judged in good faith, with the objective of maintaining an impartial, fair, and transparent process for all participants.

I make this affidavit voluntarily and affirm that the foregoing statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.