Career Change

[JTip]

34 is still a young lad.

Reality shows it will take you 8-10 years from day one until you walk into work and can actually kick your feet up knowing you made it. You will make minimum wage (if you are lucky) for the first 2-4 years, another 3-5 eeking out a living until you establish yourself and generate good clients (after experiencing several bad ones) that provide steady work.

Appraising is not an instant gratification or even reveals a finish line. If you get your certification in several years, you are, in the eyes of a client, a brand new 1st day appraiser, and need another 3-5 years to 'season' your certification. A true 60 hour grinder can get to the finishing line in 5 years.....long and hard 5 years....but it can be done.

While that's all going on, you need to master your market, participate in professional organizations and serve the business community. Get on committees/boards and get involved in your local real estate profession. Make a name for yourself and earn your reputation. Those seeds will transform into folding money.

 

[leasedfee]

I have experience in inspection and auditing roles (though in agriculture,

Seriously consider agricultural appraisal. See the article called "Big Country", Deborah R. Huso, in Q2 2017 of the Appraisal Institute's Valuation. Ag appraisers still value homes and oddball commercial properties in rural communities. Most people want to live in the big cities so there is prone to be gluts of residential appraisers and in my area a glut of commercial appraisers (because everyone says, "become a commercial appraiser."

 

[Artemis Fowl]

Seriously consider agricultural appraisal. See the article called "Big Country", Deborah R. Huso, in Q2 2017 of the Appraisal Institute's Valuation. Ag appraisers still value homes and oddball commercial properties in rural communities. Most people want to live in the big cities so there is prone to be gluts of residential appraisers and in my area a glut of commercial appraisers (because everyone says, "become a commercial appraiser."

I think that's great advice. I'm starting to focus classes in that direction myself. Without ANY advertising, I am solicited for rural-type assignments more and more often. When I open the fee appraisal doors again that will likely be a market I will try to service.

 

[Evincere]

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but how would you suggest finding areas with a shortage of appraisers? Should I start by contacting the state board or an appraisal organization?

Are you willing to move to Oregon, Montana, the Dakotas?

 

[Deleted member 77547]

Agree with the others here. Don't go into residential; its a dying sector of the industry IMO. Commercial and Ag the way to go. Also agree that you won't be making much money for the first few years so plan accordingly. Start working on a mentor before you take classes rather than after.