Ad Valorem Work?

[DeseretJohn]

POSTED ORIGINALLY IN "NEWBIES", REPOSTED AT LEE ANNS SUGGESTION

I've been a long time lurker and occasional poster here for a while. As the sole breadwinner, I've been hesitant to change careers and take the immediate pay cut. I think I'm now ready to take the plunge, but for now, I think the Ad Valorem route is the way to go. I may still work on my own down the line or hook up with a fee appraiser on the side. Working with state or county assessors gives me a predictable income, stable work, assorted benefits and paid-for training. I realize the upside money potential is limited for the same reasons.

I have a lot of the resume stuff going for me; bachelors degree in economics, lotsa' number crunching experience and background from banking and brokerage jobs, and most of the initial appraiser training recently completed.

With that said, any counsel from you folks as to what types of questions I should anticipate in such an interview, or for that matter, what kinds if questions I should be asking of them? One thing I anticipated is whether I would be permitted to do fee work while also working for the assessor. The local counties here (Salt Lake, Davis, Weber)generally prohibit private work in the same county while the state does not limit private work. I realistically have 3 counties could work withing in either capacity (Fee or Ad Valorem).

Other than within appraisersforum, are there other web forums that cater more to this type of niche?

 

[EDWARD BERRY]

IF you can live within the pay scale a while, it is one of the best training methods you could do.

All the sales are recorded at the Assessor's office. Thus you have access to all the data.

They also have some good training classes. (usually free to employees)

NOW I must warn you, if you then want to go to independant work there will be some difficult (not hard) "rethinking". However MANY of things learned can only be learned in Tax work.

Good Luck, ed who has done both.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

While in the assessor's office, take every class they will allow, especially the courses offered by the IAAO. Before being interviewed do a lot of research, find out as much as you can about your state, county, city assessment and taxation laws and regulations. Be very familiar with legal descriptions, become familiar with the duties of the office that collects taxes, also the office where deeds, mortgages, etc are located. If title companies handled deed transfers in your state, talk to several title companies to gather as much information about procedures, etc in your area. All of that will some day down the road prepare you much better for fee appraising. The basics are the same for ad valorem and fee appraising--then they go their separate ways. So as you learn about ad valorem appraisal, you will be getting the basics learned for fee appraisal.

 

[Restrain]

In Texas, there are courses about tax appraising that are given for those who are professional tax reps. If your state has these, then that's a good way to learn about the business.

Good Luck. Been there, done that.


Roger

 

[Thomas N. Morgan]

Jo Ann gave you some excellent suggestions. Working in the assessor's office (5 years) has been a big benefit to me in appraising.

Regards,


Tom