If flexible working hours and a good balance between office and in-field work appeals, Brisbane’s Aleisha Brookes, who has been in the property game for thirteen years, recommends a career in property valuations.
As a Valuer Area Manager with Propell National Valuers, Aleisha has worked through the ranks from a cadet level. Here she shares her tips on how to get into the industry and what to expect when you get there.
1. Qualifications are generally necessary: I studied a Bachelor of Applied Science (Property Economics) but there are a few different property courses on offer which will help provide a pathway into the industry. After completing my degree, I achieved registration through the Valuers Registration Board of Queensland and also became an associate member through the Australian Property Institute.
2. Get work experience or start out as a cadet: I started out as a cadet while finalising my degree which was a great introduction to the industry. When you first start out, you’ll usually get to assist managers and valuers across all fields including residential development, industrial, commercial and residential mortgage security valuations.
3. Broaden your skills: Strong analytical and reporting skills are a must for valuers, but what I didn’t realise when I first started out was how important self management and time management skills would be. The flexible nature of the work means you need to juggle your time accordingly to meet deadlines – this means planning ahead and managing your schedule. The ability to use and troubleshoot computer technology comes in handy as well. Excellent communication skills are also really important when conveying valuation results to clients. Unfortunately sometimes the role of a valuer is not always providing good news to the client, particularly when market conditions are soft.
4. Progress your career: There are so many different avenues and levels of responsibility available to keep you stimulated and moving forward in the property industry. I’ve been involved in a working group for Quality Assurance reporting, investigated policies and procedures, represented Propell National Valuers at conferences, trade expos and client functions, implemented new computer software, authored training manuals and travelled Queensland. I am now a Valuer Area Manager and conduct valuations on a mixture of residential properties including prestige property and multi-unit dwellings for family law and mortgage security purposes. I undertake inspections, research and investigating and analysing sales evidence. I’m accountable for compiling the valuation report and communicating the results with the client.
5. Enjoy a good work-life balance: Working in property valuations, it is possible to have a good work life balance as you can structure your field inspections around your schedule. This is a great benefit particularly when trying to juggle family and personal commitments. Of course, there are still deadlines to meet and sometimes the turnaround times from evaluation to reporting are pretty tight, so you still need to be on your game.
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