Conservation Easements

[H.B. Userman]

I've always kinda wondered about the world of appraising conservation easements, and now there is a class I've been thinking about taking: It's a 33-hr class from the AI that is developed with the ASFMRA and ASA. I beleive it's a certificate program so I'm sure I will learn a lot there, but I'm anxious to hear a little before-hand.

From the appraisers experienced with this, would you please comment about the issues involved with this sort of valuation, the pros, cons, fees, clients, etc? I know NOTHING about it yet, but I'm looking forward to learning about it. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[Stone]

I think your best bet is to take the class, ask questions there and then ask more here or from other people you know. The class is good, but it won't make it instantly easy. I'd still recommend working with someone you know who has completed them before just going out and doing some. Otherwise, you might end up in a very long process going through reviews, etc.

A large part of the class is spent identifying the differences between easements done for yellow book users, IRS, or other users. Pay a lot of attention to these differences. In particular, larger parcel and CFOP issues (which will be readily pointed out). Pay a lot of attention to the HBU discussions for the properties after encumbrance.

The class is a good starting point. If you are taking it without having done much, or any of this type of work, I recommend clearing your calendar as much as possible so that you aren't trying to do other work in the evenings. There is a small amount of homework each night which is easy to do, but for someone new to it, I think it is important.

Good luck.

 

[Stone]

BTW - feel free to PM me and I will gladly give you my contact info after you are through.

 

[PLCG]

I have assisted on a few of these. I don't know about the business end, but do know about the work involved. The appraisal process is similar to before and after taking work for the DOT - highest and best use, and value, before and after the easement. The easements vary greatly in what is allowed after conservation. The land in my area would usually have a HBU of residential development. You have to figure frontage and the portion of land that can be developed, etc.

Good luck with the class!

Pat

 

[Wayne Tomlinson]

Good course, and good instructors!!

Take the class if you have any interest in that type stuff.

As was said above, it is a great opportunity to mingle, learn and make contacts with people outside your immediate area.

There were people in the class I attended on Austin a few years ago from 13
states.

That should take care of all your CE except for USPAP.

Wayne Tomlinson

 

[Kali the Boston Terrier]

I took the course, thought one instructor Bruce Closser was top notch. However I thought the course was not that great...and a lot of the 33 hours was wasted, could have easily been a 15 hour course.

Great intro to conservation easements, but a little light on the actual valuation techniques in my opinion. A lot of people faile din my class, not sure what that means though.

 

[H.B. Userman]

For $795 they better not be wasting 1/2 the class time!

 

[Stone]

For $795 they better not be wasting 1/2 the class time!

For someone with no experience, I doubt you will find half the time wasted. However, I took the class in a very small setting (about a dozen of us) and had great instructors. I've been told that when it was taught in MN, the class was large and it didn't sound as good.

For me it was mostly a refresher, but I was happy to be taking a class that related directly to what I do, even if it was more basic than I would have liked. It was about a day too long, IMO. But, again, I had great instructors and a small class so I don't know how typical that was. I was also the only person in the class with extensive experience in this type of work.

You will get something out of it. Ask a lot of questions and do the reading. If you want to do this type of work, it is almost a necessity to take this for your resume.

 

[Stone]

I should add that I've seldom taken a multiple day course that I didn't feel could have been tightened up. In the case of the easement course, tightening one day would have been great. Both instructors agreed with that. But, I think the concern was to make sure there was plenty of time to get through all the material and take a lot of questions from folks with little or no experience. It really wasn't bad. Much better than taking some one day courses filled with war stories.

 

[Kali the Boston Terrier]

For $795 they better not be wasting 1/2 the class time!

You are paying for the book (which is top notch) and the certificate. The certificate is the ticket to dance, without it you do not meet the competence requirement for IRS work. Also you will get work out of the certificate, I got contacted to be added to the DNR list because I was one of a handful appraisers that took the class in my state...I also do these as well.

I'm not sure I would invest the money for the course and the time if you do not plan on doing this type of work. However if you are looking for a new niche...this is it.