Appraiser, and also an assessor?

[SammySammerson]

Is anybody on here an appraiser and an assessor? I am thinking about becoming, or trying to become an assessor to earn a little extra $$$ and was wondering what your opinions are on the benefits Vs. drawbacks are... It would be minimal time in a small community. Thanks

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

You can not complete fee assignments in the same area you are an assessor. I got my start 41 years ago in the assessment field and stayed there for 14 years. I joined the International Association of Assessing Officers (a member of the Appraisal Foundation) and received my first professtional designation from them after years of hard work and much effort on my part. Depending on the assessment postion that could provide a lot of training, education and experience that can be applied in the fee appraisal field in the future.

 

[hglenbetts]

My former supervisor is a full time assessor in a semi rural municipality. Two or three times a year, she would become so busy with getting out tax assessments, answering appeals and reviews, that she would not be seen in the office for days at a time. Tough way to run an appraisal business.

It does seem like a good way to become more knowledgeable in our profession though.

Good Luck.

 

[Baxter]

I interviewed a few months ago for an "appraiser" position advertised by my county's assessor's office. The interview was extensive, the job description included lots of field work, mainly measuring and describing new construction, 8 to 10 months of the year, and defending the county's assessed values during protest season. They required public speaking experience, dependable transportation for which a monthly stipend of $200.00 was included, a digital camera and a pulse. They were impressed with my residential certification, and were pleased to offer me a salary of $18,000.00 per year. The hours required varied from 40 to 55 per week depending on the time of year. When the issue of my fee appraisal business came up, they showed me copies of 2 of my appraisals that were presented by taxpayers the previous week during their protest hearings. Even though the taxpayers were not my clients and the intended use of those appraisals was clearly not for tax protest, the conflict of interest was clear enough for me. Imagine defending your boss's assessment of value on a property and being presented with your own work as rebuttal! The bottom line was I could work for the county as the dreaded "TAX MAN" only on the conditions that I accept an entry level Whataburger salary, work overtime without pay, face down my neighbors every year and do my best to see that the government gets every penny it's entitled to, and burn the tires off my truck. Oh yeah, also stop doing any fee appraisal work. The upside, as they repeatedly pointed out at the interview, was that county workers enjoy job security and good benefits. I decided after deliberations to decline their offer.... Was that wrong??

 

[RSW]

It's not wrong if you enjoy working for $9/hour and are required to work overtime with no pay. What is your priority?

 

[Walter Kirk]

I have worked as both an assessor ( job title assstant assessor os opposed to deputy assessor) and appraiser in my hometown. I did not accept appraisal assignments in town but I made good contacts and my appraisal volume in neighboring towns increased. I did this for over five years and made valuable contacts, earned valuable experience and $250. per month!

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

to offer me a salary of $18,000.00 per year

the pitiful salaries offered by most assessors is an embaressment to the profession.

 

[Michigan CG]

the pitiful salaries offered by most assessors is an embaressment to the profession.

So are the education requirements in some states.

 

[Charles Amos]

county/fee appraisal

Hey there,

I worked for a local County assessor office for almost one year. You could not do any independent fee appraisal in the County you worked in. The starting pay was around $15.00 an hour plus fairly plush benefits. After fairly extensive training for one year you move up to Appraiser 2. You move up if you are a good little soldier and do everything exactly like they want it and do not display any personality. And surely one must not have any opinions regarding how things are done. The only good days I had were when I was not in the office. I am sure others have had more positive experiences.

 

[Charley Horse]

As reflected in the posts from different parts of the county, it’s apparent assessor qualifications/compensation varies greatly from state to state… IN MICHIGAN, you’re basically limited to two options (besides working for the SAB)… you can pick up townships and do them as a subcontractor and/or you can work for the County Equalization Departments as a Field Appraiser or Equalization Director. Other opportunities exist working for larger corporations who staff personnel w/SAB certification to do “personal property” audits (ie: Consumers Energy).

In my market, as a subcontractor, typically you can land a township contract for $10 - $12+/unit (it appears more townships are outsourcing their assessing as the supervisor’s position is becoming more a political and many of them don’t want to do the assessing); as a County/Municipal employee, the compensation varies depending on the size of the municipality and one’s certification level. I know some subcontractors doing multiple townships grossing >6 digits while it’s not too hard to digest teamster wages/bennies working for the county as an employee.

I don’t know of any rules in Michigan whereby you can’t appraise (as a fee appraiser) in the same jurisdiction as where you assess; if you are a County appraiser, I know you can’t assess a township in the same jurisdiction as where you work; but you can assess (as a subcontractor) outside the jurisdiction you work.

In terms of competence, I know some assessors that can put many appraisers to shame and visa versa… just depends on the individual.

Good information sources:

http://www.maa-usa.org/

http://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-1751_2220---,00.html

Good luck!