Our industry like many others, has a lot of gray hair. There is a shortage of qualified appraisers in most rural areas, and with each passing year, that shortage is increasing which creates opportunity for the right person. Should you be interested in exploring a career as an appraiser, go to our professional appraiser association website: www.cnarea.ca and click on the "Become an Appraiser" tab. This site will give you the basic requirements to join CNAREA and provide a lot of info on the courses required. Appraisers in Alberta also need a license to operate, as we are regulated by RECA - Real Estate Council of Alberta. www.reca.ca. There is a licensing course that everyone must take and pass to become a licensed appraiser. Go to RECA's website for more details.
A good appraiser has the following well developed skills: observation ability using every sense that one is given, good reasoning ability & able to arrive at a logical conclusion, accurate & detailed record keeping ability, follows a documented process on every appraisal assignment, has good research skills, is technically competent (or the ability to become competent) with a variety of software platforms & internet sites, has good communication skills both written and verbal, understands and is comfortable with statistics, is able to take market data that points to multiple directions on value and using common sense - begins to sort out why those differences exist, has a genuine desire to remain constantly curious, and not assume what has happened for the past few quarters or months remains the same today, has a passion for accuracy in every part of the site viewing, every part of the report entry, and every part of the comparable adjustment process, to arrive at credible and supportable market value, every time, has a genuine desire to continue learning via on the job practical experience and ongoing course education.
Our firm works mostly in small town Alberta and acreage / rural properties. To do this job with our firm, one has to be comfortable travelling / driving, and being outside (including temperature extreme days - weeks). This industry has a peak season like many others, which is typically from early April to the end of September. To make it through the slower winter months financially, one has to be prepared to work long hours ie: 12-15 hour days, in the peak season. If you're an avid summer time person that needs lots of time away from work during the warm months, this is probably not the job for you, if you also want to do well financially in this line of work on a full time basis.
This line of work requires the ability to work alone a lot and be very self motivated. While one is in front of property owners every second day, the report writing days, one is often working alone. If you need to be continually stimulated by being around people all day long, everyday, this is probably not the job for you. This is a self employed position on a contract basis. One has to have the desire & ability to manage their time and expenses, and keep proper records for accounting and tax purposes.
Most current appraisers did not start out in this industry, after finishing school - although that is changing. Appraisers that are CNAREA members come from all walks of life, but the common thread is the possession of the skill set documented above. A university degree helps develop many of the required skills, but good old fashioned life experience can also allow one to acquire the same skills. I happen to be from the home / auto / business insurance industry. The skills that assist a good insurance professional happen to also be the same ones that make a good appraiser.
Above all else, the inherent qualities of honesty & integrity & a desire / ability to be 100% professional, are a given expectation and a must to do this job. The provincial regulator requires a criminal code background check before anyone in the real estate industry in Alberta is given a license to conduct business.
If your current job & previous work experience required the skills documented above, there's a reasonable possibility that you could do well as an appraiser as well. Send your resume & cover letter to: Don George. email: appraisals.dgeorge@gmail.com and let's have a conversation.