There are certain characteristics that are needed in every job to really flourish, and being an appraiser is not an exception. There are certain things that you need that will put you above and beyond your competition. It is a mixture of brains, personality and the ability to want to know more all the time. Lets take a deeper dive into them!
Curiosity - yes it killed the cat but it will absolutely be useful as an appraiser. It will help you be ready to investigate, dig and find every bit of information possible for the appraisals you do. Lets be honest, it’s not always the easiest to find all the data you want or need and being able to dig deep will be what keeps you going on the hardest investigations for as much information as possible.
Unbiased - It’s the baseline of all the work you do. In order to have integrity and uphold a trustworthy business you must remain unbiased for each and every appraisal you conduct and write.
Organized - Your ability to organize runs through the entirety of your business and office, from time management to delegating to keeping all of your work in an order that allows you to complete your work in a timely manner. If you aren’t organized the amount of time you will spend trying to remain organized will eat up your time for inspections and writing reports and handling employees.
Tech-Savvy - It is no surprise that being good with computers, phones, tablets, apps and all of the other new fangled technology out there will keep you on track, give you the best information right in the palm of your hand and will help you stay organized. It’s not the strongest requirement but as the years roll on you will see more and more of it so when possible take time to learn something new.
Flexible - Things are ever changing in this field. You will have to be diligent in keeping up with the latest information. Not to be outdone by your flexibility in schedule. We have busy times and we have slow times. Being flexible with your schedule, especially during the high highs is increasingly important to keep up with your local needs as well as AMC’s.
Patient - When it gets down to writing up the report you need to be able to be thorough and precise. There is no rushing in this career, especially when it comes to making sure you are researching everything at your disposal as well as when you are transferring that information over.
Self Motivated - Most appraisers start off on their own and if you are not able or willing to push yourself to look for work, keep up with the calls, emails and odds and ends, do the deep dive for information and keep up with the work schedule you place you will not succeed in the world of appraisals.
Analytical - Every appraisal you do will be different. You will have to search through tons of information, especially in the early days of learning, and critical thinking will be an absolute need for everything you review and place in the reports.
Appraising is fun and it has a lot of benefits but, as with any job, you really need to think about who you are and if you fit into what is needed to become an appraiser. If you think you embody these characteristics or others like them maybe appraising is where you need to be.