A real estate assessor is a person who works to help determine the official value of real estate. While some real estate professionals work for the benefit of a buyer or seller, a real estate assessor does neither. Instead, he typically works for a government agency in placing official values on properties for tax purposes.
Real estate assessors are typically found in the employ of a local or regional government. In an effort to provide accurate assessments of the properties to which they are assigned, they typically collect and analyze demographic information and various real estate data. A person in this field may also be required to go out and inspect properties or visit neighborhoods in order to provide an accurate assessment. A real estate assessor may also be responsible for giving property owners assessment notices and preparing reports from the data he collects and analyzes.
Often, people confuse real estate assessors with appraisers. The two jobs are not the same, however. Assessors and appraisers both have the job of assigning value to real estate, but their scope is different. Typically, real estate appraisers have the job of evaluating the value of a single property at a time. Real estate assessors, on the other hand, often evaluate many properties at one time. In fact, a person with this title may evaluate a whole neighborhood rather than just a few houses in the same area.
Real estate assessors are called on to use their organizational and analytical skills on a regular basis. Typically, individuals in this field also need good communication skills to communicate effectively with coworkers and property owners. Since a real estate assessor usually employees computer software for handling mass assessments, computer skills are typically required as well.
The requirements a person must meet in order to become a real estate assessor may vary from place to place. Training requirements may depend not only on the jurisdiction in which a person plans to work, but also on the types of properties he will assess. In general, a person who wants to become a real estate assessor will need a bachelor’s degree to pursue this career, and many employers prefer individuals with degrees in a field related to real estate. Those who have non-real-estate-related degrees may boost their chances of landing this job by taking courses in subjects such as real estate law and real estate assessment. Additionally, a person interested in pursuing this career may have to secure licensing or certification, which may require him to pass an exam.
