Careers
>Government & Public Administration
>Revenue and Taxation
>Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
Overview
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
Appraise real estate, exclusively, and estimate its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.
Demand
Core Tasks
Compute final estimation of property values, taking into account such factors as depreciation, replacement costs, value comparisons of similar properties, and income potential.
Prepare written reports that estimate property values, outline methods by which the estimations were made, and meet appraisal standards.
Inspect new construction and major improvements to existing structures to determine values.
Collect and analyze relevant data to identify real estate market trends.
Explain assessed values to property owners and defend appealed assessments at public hearings.
Prepare and maintain current data on each parcel assessed, including maps of boundaries, inventories of land and structures, property characteristics, and any applicable exemptions.
Approve applications for property tax exemptions or deductions.
Calculate tax bills for properties by multiplying assessed values by jurisdiction tax rates.
Identify the ownership of each piece of taxable property.
Inspect properties, considering factors such as market value, location, and building or replacement costs to determine appraisal value.
Complete and maintain assessment rolls that show the assessed values and status of all property in a municipality.
Review information about transfers of property to ensure its accuracy, checking basic information on buyers, sellers, and sales prices and making corrections as necessary.
Conduct regular reviews of property within jurisdictions to determine changes in property due to construction or demolition.
Explain real and personal property taxes to property owners.
Establish uniform and equitable systems for assessing all classes and kinds of property.
Examine income records and operating costs of income properties.
Analyze trends in sales prices, construction costs, and rents, to assess property values or determine the accuracy of assessments.
Evaluate land and neighborhoods where properties are situated, considering locations and trends or impending changes that could influence future values.
Maintain familiarity with aspects of local real estate markets.
Search public records for transactions such as sales, leases, and assessments.
Check building codes and zoning bylaws to determine any effects on the properties being appraised.
Verify legal descriptions of properties by comparing them to county records.
Interview persons familiar with properties and immediate surroundings, such as contractors, home owners, and realtors, to obtain pertinent information.
Photograph interiors and exteriors of properties to assist in estimating property value, substantiate findings, and complete appraisal reports.
Obtain county land values and sales information about nearby properties to aid in establishment of property values.
Examine the type and location of nearby services, such as shopping centers, schools, parks, and other neighborhood features, to evaluate their impact on property values.
Estimate building replacement costs, using building valuation manuals and professional cost estimators.
Draw land diagrams to be used in appraisal reports to support findings.
Testify in court as to the value of a piece of real estate property.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
English Language
79%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics
75%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service
75%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics
75%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Law and Government
70%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Clerical
68%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Building and Construction
67%
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Administration and Management
65%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Economics and Accounting
61%
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Geography
59%
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
79%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
79%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking
78%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
75%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making
70%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing
69%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
68%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Mathematics
64%
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness
64%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management
63%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
78%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
78%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning
75%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision
75%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Expression
75%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
73%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written Expression
70%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Category Flexibility
69%
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Speech Clarity
69%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Information Ordering
68%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Top 10 Work Activities
Getting Information
92%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing Data or Information
88%
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Interacting With Computers
85%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing Information
85%
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
84%
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
84%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Documenting/Recording Information
78%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
78%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
77%
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
77%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Detailed Work Activities
Appraise property values.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Analyze market conditions or trends.
Maintain data in information systems or databases.
Interpret financial information for others.
Examine financial records.
Prepare financial documents.
Verify accuracy of records.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Explain financial information to customers.
Advise real estate clients.
Evaluate condition of properties.
Develop business or financial information systems.
Update professional knowledge.
Gather financial records.
Create images of data, locations, or products.
Estimate costs of goods or services.
Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Calculate data to inform organizational operations.
Verify application data to determine program eligibility.
Interests
Conventional
81%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising
81%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic
48%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
41%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
27%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
15%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
91%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Attention to Detail
89%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
81%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
81%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Analytical Thinking
80%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Stress Tolerance
77%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Initiative
76%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Cooperation
75%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Persistence
74%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self Control
74%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Work Values
Independence
69%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Support
65%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions
59%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Relationships
50%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.