Believe it or not, this career doesn't require you to regularly attend worship services. To be an appraiser (not a praiser), you need to know a lot about real estate values and how to help people determine the fair market value of their property. This will involve having a good understanding of exciting things like easements, encumbrances, and covenants (don't worry, they'll teach you about that stuff in college). You'll also need excellent research skills as well as expert knowledge of the local real estate market.

 

Despite what you may think, farmlands aren't usually considered "high-growth" areas. (Source)

The market where you work will have a great deal to do with how much you make as an appraiser—it's "location, location, location," as they say. While the median salary is in the mid $50,000 range, some appraisers make closer to $100,000 annually (source). If you live in a high-growth area, you'll make more than if you live and work in an area with little growth potential.

Being an appraiser is a great career choice if you want to start small and grow your salary along with your skills. Since appraisers are needed everywhere, you could easily start out in a small area, then move to larger areas as you become more adept at analyzing markets. There's no outsourcing to worry about, either. Some things just can't be done remotely.

Appraisers typically have an office—either at a bank, a real estate company, or in their homes—to do the required paperwork for their jobs. But don't expect to spend too much on a super-plush desk chair, because you won't be sitting behind a desk much. Appraisers spend a lot of time on-site, checking out the homes and businesses they're counted on to valuate. They're scribbling notes, taking pictures, and evaluating the surrounding properties in order to give a complete and fair estimate of a property's value.

Beginning in January 2015, appraisers must have a bachelor's degree in order to get an appraiser's license (source). However, the degree could be in any of several disciplines including business, finance, or property law.

 

On-site valuations? How convenient. (Source)

It's important that a fair appraisal be made, not only to the client, but to other property owners in the area as well. Valuations are dependent on surrounding properties. For instance, no one would build or buy a gorgeous new home sitting in the middle of a bunch of run-down homes with junky, overgrown yards.

Appraisers need sharp people skills to do their jobs well. A client may not understand the difference between actual value and sentimental value, which is very specific to the person. While a client may think the house they grew up in is priceless, the appraiser has to evaluate the property without emotion. Why? Because that's how a lender will view it, and it's the only way that's fair to everyone.

The lender doesn't care that Spot woke the client up in that room by licking her face and inexplicably presented her with eggs and toast for breakfast. It may have been magical, but it doesn't add value to the house. Just the dog.

By the way, it's not called "real" estate for nothing. Property valuations may become the source of legal wrangling, meaning the appraiser will go to court and testify about how the appraisal was done. Things can get real, real-ly fast, when dealing with property and money. Your job is to keep it real and fair. Then let everyone else sort out the drama that may come along.

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