Tools of the Trade

by Mark Fisher, Appraisal Technician

August 2022

Any appraiser who has been in the industry for a while will tell you there has been some major changes in how they do their job. Although the final result is much the same, how they get there has changed significantly, mostly for the better. Many of the tools that appraisers utilize today on the job make them much more efficient and save time, which in turn gives the client a better result, at a quicker turn- around time. This also allows the appraisers to take on more work and increase profits.

Personal Computer

Probably the most important tool the appraiser has today is the personal computer, or PC. It has significantly saved them valuable time in many ways. It has allowed them to do so many things from the comfort of their home or office, saving time and money on gas and vehicle expense.

Before the PC and the internet, appraisers would have to obtain all their appraisal information by post or by visiting the local courthouse, USDA offices, and clients. Today, courthouses often, but not always, have much of their information posted online, and other information can be gained through email from clients and other offices. Aerial and soil maps can be drawn with special software online. Special software for processing sales and writing the appraisal reports has become indispensable for appraisers. With the exception of physical property inspections, most everything could be done from the PC, at any convenient time of the day or night.

Laptops and Tablets

While laptops and tablets are very similar to the personal computer, they also have their own separate place in the appraiser’s arsenal of tools. They can be brought into the field with the appraiser and have most of the functions and storage of a PC. With laptops, if extra transferable storage is needed, a thumbdrive storage device can be utilized to later download the information to the main PC.

Cell phones

Cell phones and smart phones have greatly changed the life of an appraiser. When they do have to go out into the field, they are not isolated or limited in what they can do. They can communicate with their clients, work associates and others, no matter where they may be. They can have access to GPS, when trying to find directions to property. They can take all their property photos with their phone, as the quality of smart phone cameras has increased dramatically. Notes and other information can also be stored, to be downloaded later the main computer.

Measuring devices

Whenever there are buildings present on a site to be appraised, it is necessary to measure their dimensions, which often helps determine the value. Until recently, appraisers had to do all measuring with a manual tape measure. This was often time consuming and very hard for one person to do. Now with the help of digital devices, this task is much easier. The new devices use laser technology to gather the dimensions of the structure and will also store the information into memory. While they are a little costly, they save much time and inconvenience in the field.

Vehicles

Although much can be done from home or office now, an appraiser still has to go into the field, as mentioned earlier, to do physical inspections of property. The automobile plays an important role in that process. Most rural appraisers that appraise farmland have four-wheel drive vehicles, which are very helpful on muddy roads and in inclement weather. Many vehicles are also equipped with GPS to help with directions. Their personal vehicles sometime become their mobile office, with the help of some of the other tools mentioned.

Conclusion

Although knowledge of the industry and experience are significant in the job of an appraiser, there are also many tools they use every day that make them much more proficient. Again, those who have been in the industry for a while will tell you how much things have changed, however, there are probably very few that will tell you it is not for the better.