So, you’re interested in becoming a real estate appraiser. But how do you know if you’re a good fit for the appraisal profession? What are the qualities of a good appraiser? What traits do you need to achieve success? To help answer these questions, we’ve outlined eight characteristics of a successful real estate appraiser. If you possess all or most of these personality traits, chances are, you’d make an excellent appraiser.
Ready to launch your appraisal career? We’ve got the high-quality courses you need to become an appraisal trainee and beyond. Shop courses.
Qualities of a good appraiser
1. Unbiased
The ability to form an unbiased, objective opinion of value is absolutely essential in this line of work. According to this survey, many appraisers agree that this is the single-most-important trait you need to have as a real estate appraiser. To provide trustworthy results and uphold the integrity of the appraisal profession, you must be unbiased. Otherwise, you risk losing your professional reputation.
2. Organized
Organization is also key to being a successful real estate appraiser. According to this survey, real-life appraisers agree that organization and time management are among the most essential skills for building a successful appraisal career. Time is money, after all. The more efficient you are, the more assignments you can complete per month and per year. Research shows that appraisers who excel at time management earn more.
3. Self-Motivated
Many appraisers are self-employed or own their own business. Therefore you’ll likely be your own boss. If you are driven to get your work done accurately and efficiently, seek out new clients, and continually grow and maintain your business, you’ll likely succeed. On the other hand, if you have trouble staying motivated, you’ll likely struggle with these aspects of the business.
4. Analytical
It’s important for appraisers to be analytical, as each appraisal assignment will require thorough analysis and critical thinking. You’ll need to approach every order that comes across your desk using analytical thought and techniques.
5. Patient
Patience is another essential quality of a good appraiser. As a property appraiser, you’ll need to be patient every day on the job in order to:
Complete your work without rushing
Gather all the information you need and analyze it accurately
Stay on top of calls, emails, and status update requests
6. Flexible
Appraisers must have the ability to embrace and adapt to rapid changes in the industry. This requires being flexible and open to learning new things. The ability—and willingness—to continually learn new skills and technology tools will undoubtedly make your appraisal business more successful.
7. Tech-Savvy
Those who embrace technology and work to stay up-to-date on the latest tech advances within the industry will have a better chance of success. You should leverage new technology tools to keep up with the competition, manage your appraisal business, streamline your process, and ultimately earn more income by completing more assignments per month.
8. Curious
Are you a naturally curious person? That sense of curiosity will come in handy in your work as a property appraiser. It will help you ask questions, dig up information, and discover all you need to form a reliable opinion of value.
Launch your appraisal career
Do you have the qualities of a good appraiser? Get the education you need to launch your real estate appraisal career right here at McKissock Learning. We have all the courses you need to become a trainee and beyond. With McKissock, you get flexible learning options, expert instructors, and personalized support every step of the way.
Ready to get started? Find high-quality appraisal trainee courses in your state.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on December 8, 2020 and updated in December 2023.
