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Business Real Estate Appraiser
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$96 7,100+

What Does a Real Estate Appraiser Do?

If you're analytical and enjoy looking at houses in detail, here’s a way to get paid to do what you love. 

Real estate appraisers, also called real estate property appraisers or real property appraisers, provide an unbiased estimate of the value of a piece of land and the buildings on that land. This typically happens when the property is about to change hands. 

Appraisers prepare a financial estimate of a property, and they research issues that could influence its value, including size, age and architectural style. They also look at lot characteristics, such as utility connections and driveways.

They compare their research against similar properties. They provide their findings to real estate owners and managers, as well as those who sell, invest in or lend money for real estate. 

Appraisers typically evaluate one property at a time, and they often specialize in a certain type of real estate, such as residential or commercial properties.

A related job is real estate assessor, who looks at whole neighborhoods to assess value to determine tax values. An assessor is typically an elected official.

Just like the real estate market, a real estate appraiser’s job prospects follow the local market. As the population grows in a particular area, so does the need for appraisers. 

A real estate appraiser completes a form that notes the condition of a house
Real estate appraisers spend a large part of their day conducting property visits. (Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock)

Responsibilities

  • Visit individual properties, noting overall condition
  • Go through the property room-by-room and walk around the outside as well
  • Check the legal description in the public record and make sure it matches reality
  • Maintain thorough knowledge of real estate law and local market conditions
  • Take photographs of a property, including exterior and interior images
  • Compare property to others in the surrounding area
  • Prepare reports that explain assessment results and methods used

How To Become a Real Estate Appraiser: FAQs

The bottom line:

Objective home evaluation is a key part of a healthy real estate market. This is a skill that will always be needed, and that’s especially true in busy markets. If you enjoy keeping up with real estate trends and think you have the right skills for this career, check out SkillPointe’s training options near you.

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