As with most plans that started around 2020, delays and derailments by the pandemic became normal frustrations. However, Property Appraiser Bryan Andrews would not be deterred from his goal of earning the designation of Property Appraiser II from the North Carolina Department of Revenue. “Earning this took me a bit longer than expected because of the COVID pandemic and how it rewired how the world interacts over the past few years,” says Bryan. “Classes that were available became harder to attend or just became unavailable altogether. Most classes, if they came back, became virtual, which is a good thing as far as budgets go. It is much cheaper to take a class on the other side of the state through Zoom than it is to travel there in person.”
Along with the newly earned designation comes a further understanding of the appraisal process. “This designation is not required to hold the position I have in the County. It does give someone a much broader and deeper knowledge and understanding of assessment, in turn being able to give greater assistance,” explains Bryan, noting he had some virtual classroom etiquette reinforced throughout the process. “Also, I learned to always make sure to remember my Zoom password, make sure my camera is plugged in, and double-check that mute tab!”
Supervisor and Property Appraiser III Bryan Marshall says earning the designation is no easy task as it takes an additional 165 hours of education around topics like land valuation, property tax policy, income approaches, mass appraisal, and more. “These classes are taught by highly experienced, certified instructors with many years of appraiser or appraiser-related experience. In addition, all appraisers are required to take an initial 15-hour USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) class and seven-hour USPAP update classes every two years. USPAP is a set of national standards applicable for most U.S. appraisals,” notes Bryan Marshall. “Behind the certification is a lot of hard work and valuable knowledge gained through many hours of high-quality education and years of on-the-job experience. Appraiser Certifications are crucial for building public trust, enhancing customer service, and validating our qualifications to list and assess real property in Buncombe County.”
While that’s a significant investment of time and resources, Bryan Andrews says the quest for improvement is never-ending. “As a former teacher, I believe that knowledge is the key to pretty much everything. Whether someone is in the role of student and absorbing knowledge or in the role of a teacher and passing that knowledge on,” he says. And his supervisor agrees. “Professional development boosts employees’ confidence, job satisfaction, and efficiency, which strengthens the whole department. It is especially important for County appraisers because mass appraisal valuation is a very specialized, intellectual field of work that cannot be mastered solely through job experience,” notes Bryan Marshall. “Bryan is a highly competent, educated County appraiser and is known for teaching and training of newly hired appraisers.”
Congratulations on your unwavering commitment in the face of changing plans while pursuing this prestigious certification. Buncombe County is proud to have you on our Property Assessment team.