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Appraisers examine real estate in order to determine what its value is. They may be called upon to appraise real estate whenever it is being developed, sold, taxed, insured, or mortgaged. Generally, they will only appraise one piece of property at a time and will not take on multiple projects. Many of them will specialize in a particular type of real estate such as commercial or residential.
Most of their time is spent writing reports and sifting through data. Appraisers who work in more densely populated areas, however, may be able to take advantage of wireless internet services and do more of their work on-site. The amount of time spent doing office work will also depend on the type of appraiser. For example, paperwork for commercial appraisal requires a great deal more rigor than for residential appraisal.
Appraisers who work for a company or a government institution tend to work a standard 40 hour work week, but self-employed appraisers usually work more.
Appraisers generally need to be licensed and certified in order to do their work, but the amount of education can vary quite dramatically depending on the type of appraisal and the state laws. On average, however, most of them will need to have a bachelor's degree in order to do their work. Some residential appraisers may be able to get by with only an associate's degree.
It is important to have good math skills in order to complete the job. Attention to detail and analytical thinking are a must. Appraisers should be comfortable working by themselves as well as with others. Since they often speak with clients and the public in general, they should have good listening skills and be able to answer questions confidently and politely.
In addition to meeting the minimum education and licensing requirements necessary to do the job, many appraisers also seek membership with an association that will give them a designation. This typically requires between five and ten years of experience on the job as well as training. While not necessary for the job, this improves prospects dramatically.
Income is good for appraisers at roughly $47,000 per year. That said, job growth is expected to be as slow as growth in the real estate sector of the economy.
