Career & application guide

Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

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What do appraisers and assessors of real estate do?

Appraise real estate, exclusively, and estimate its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Appraiser
  • Assessor
  • Certified Real Estate Appraiser
  • Certified Residential Appraiser
  • Commercial Appraiser
  • County Assessor
  • Field Appraiser
  • Real Estate Appraiser

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • 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.
  • Photograph interiors and exteriors of properties to assist in estimating property value, substantiate findings, and complete appraisal reports.
  • Search public records for transactions such as sales, leases, and assessments.
  • Obtain county land values and sales information about nearby properties to aid in establishment of property values.
  • Maintain familiarity with aspects of local real estate markets.
  • Inspect properties, considering factors such as market value, location, and building or replacement costs to determine appraisal value.
  • Collect and analyze relevant data to identify real estate market trends.
  • Review information about transfers of property to ensure its accuracy, checking basic information on buyers, sellers, and sales prices and making corrections as necessary.
  • Analyze trends in sales prices, construction costs, and rents, to assess property values or determine the accuracy of assessments.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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