Will personal property appraisers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Personal property appraisers score 57 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 47%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 32% outright, and 21% stays with people.
- 32% AI can do it
- 47% AI helps
- 21% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 87% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 14 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 4 of them today, speeds up 7 and leaves 3 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Create and maintain a database of completed appraisals. Routine record keeping that software and AI handle well. | 80% AI can do it |
| Write descriptions of the property being appraised. Drafts descriptions from inspection notes and photos; appraiser reviews. | 70% AI can do it |
| Locate and record data on sales of comparable property using specialized software, internet searches, or personal records. Web and database searches pull comparable sales quickly. | 70% AI can do it |
| Write and submit appraisal reports for property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment. AI drafts reports from work papers; appraiser reviews and signs. | 65% AI can do it |
| Calculate the value of property based on comparisons to recent sales, estimated cost to reproduce, and anticipated property income streams. AI runs comparisons and calculations; appraiser judges final value. | 55% AI helps |
| Verify that property matches legal descriptions or certifications. AI can match documents, but physical verification needs a person. | 45% AI helps |
| Forecast the value of property. AI can model market trends, but forecasts need expert judgement. | 45% AI helps |
| Update appraisals when property has been improved, damaged, or has otherwise changed. Site checks needed for changes; AI updates the text. | 40% AI helps |
| Recommend loan amounts based on the value of property being used as collateral. Loan value math is simple, but lending decisions stay human. | 40% AI helps |
| Document physical characteristics of property such as measurements, quality, and design. Hands on measuring needed; AI helps organize the notes. | 30% AI helps |
Show the other 4 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Determine the appropriate type of valuation to make, such as fair market, replacement, or liquidation, based on the needs of the property owner. Depends on client purpose; needs professional judgement and conversation. | 25% AI helps |
| Take photographs of property. Photographing items requires someone physically present with the property. | 12% Needs a person |
| Testify in court as to the value of a piece of tangible property. Live testimony under oath requires a person with legal accountability. | 10% Needs a person |
| Inspect personal or business property. Physical presence needed to examine items in person. | 8% Needs a person |
How personal property appraisers compare
All occupations (923)
Business and financial operations (48)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Projected change in jobs
- +3.5% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Inspect and photograph jewelry, art and antiques in person
- Pull comparable sales data and verify it in Excel
- Choose fair market, replacement or liquidation valuation basis
- Review and sign AI-drafted reports in Microsoft Word
- Testify under oath on property value in court
- Hold an ASA or ISA appraisal designation
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about personal property appraisers and AI
Will AI replace personal property appraisers?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly maintaining the database of completed appraisals and drafting property descriptions. Inspecting items, taking photographs and testifying in court stay with people.
Which tasks will AI take over for personal property appraisers?
Creating and maintaining the database of completed appraisals scores highest on exposure, at 80, because routine record keeping is what software handles well. Writing property descriptions from inspection notes and photos, and drafting reports from work papers, come next, with the appraiser reviewing and signing the result.
Which tasks stay human for personal property appraisers?
Inspecting property stays with people, because examining items in person needs physical presence. Testifying in court about the value of tangible property also stays human, since live testimony under oath needs a person with legal accountability. Taking photographs of items needs someone physically present with them.
How can personal property appraisers stay valuable?
Choose the valuation basis for each client from the owner's purpose, whether fair market, replacement or liquidation. Do the measuring, condition checks and photographs on site yourself, since photographing scores just 12 on exposure. Check every AI-drafted report in Microsoft Word against your work papers before signing, and verify comparable sales and cost figures in Excel or cost estimating software.
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