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Appraisers of Personal and Business Property

Under the title Appraisers of Personal and Business Property, workers appraise and estimate the fair value of tangible personal or business property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment. O*NET rates it as considerable preparation, which usually means a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience. It leans on reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing. One core duty is to write descriptions of the property being appraised. With a code of CER, this is mostly a job for people drawn to orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. Enterprising interests also help, rated 4.7 out of 7. If you want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, keep it on your list. If you need helping, teaching or caring for people, it may feel thin.

What they do

Appraise and estimate the fair value of tangible personal or business property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment. May also appraise land.

Main tasks

  • Write descriptions of the property being appraised.
  • Determine the appropriate type of valuation to make, such as fair market, replacement, or liquidation, based on the needs of the property owner.
  • Document physical characteristics of property such as measurements, quality, and design.
  • Calculate the value of property based on comparisons to recent sales, estimated cost to reproduce, and anticipated property income streams.
  • Locate and record data on sales of comparable property using specialized software, internet searches, or personal records.
  • Write and submit appraisal reports for property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Active Learning

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and critical thinking.

May not suit you if

  • You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
  • You want helping people to be at the center of your work. Social rates 1.7 out of 7 here.
  • You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CER takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.

Preparation

Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Accredited Appraiser
  • Aircraft Appraiser
  • Appraiser
  • Art Appraiser
  • Certified Appraiser

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.