The beneficiary was offered $55,000 — a lot of money. But was it market value? As it turned out, the beneficiary’s land was actually valued at more than $2 million. Quite a difference! Credit for getting it right goes to appraisers with the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. These appraisers provide an independent valuation of the fair market value of property in accordance with the “Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.” Once appraisers determine the value, negotiation of a lease, sale or other disposition can begin. 

OST Office of Appraisal Services has 12 regional appraisers who manage appraisal services for Indian and Alaska Native trust lands. These appraisers have a unique responsibility among appraisers. While other federal appraisers represent the general interests of the federal government, the work of an OAS appraiser has a direct financial impact on specific beneficiaries — individual Indians, Alaskan Natives, and tribes.

The 12 regional appraisers met in Washington, D.C., on Dec.4 and Dec. 5, 2007, to review new business practices for OAS. Meeting with Debbie Meisner, the new director of administrative services for OAS, the group set about looking at the past to inform the future. Under review was the new memorandum of understanding with Interior’s National Business Center, administrative matters, budget performance and an update on the automated appraisal tracking system.

The group did take a break to share some stories about the commonplace and the unexpected in the workday of a federal appraiser. The season for appraising land in some locales can be short. For instance, when the snows come to Alaska or even a state like Wyoming, the field work goes on hold. As one appraiser said, lives are not put at unnecessary risk. 

However, appraising can be a risky business. Just walking around a property can get “spooky.” This appraiser wasn’t referring to the cemetery on Indian lands that was appraised because the adjacent city wanted more space to bury people. No, this spookiness came from the feeling of being watched. After all, when doing this work, the appraiser is in someone’s back yard, sometimes figuratively but often literally. Arrival of a government vehicle may spark suspicion in some minds. That’s one reason appraising is very much about people skills.

In more remote areas without roads, the watcher could be a bear or a wolf. OAS appraisers in Alaska carry guns for protection from possible four-footed problems.

The OAS appraisers generally agree the most unusual appraisal that one of their offices performed was for something that had been under the ground. The dinosaur “Sue” was found on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. It is the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil discovered to date. At an auction in 2000, Sue sold for $8.4 million. Of course, the government’s appraisal came first.

The appraisers had some thoughts for anyone who might choose this career line. It’s a big job because an appraiser works closely with other trust property-management professionals including realty specialists, foresters, range conservationists, environmental specialists, geologists, hydrologists and surveyors. While being able to offer expert testimony in court can be a satisfying experience, appraising is also about geographical competency. Appraising is a regionally specific science and art. And of course, it’s a delight to work outdoors amid the beauty of nature. Appraisers work with residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial property types in environments that range from desert to arctic and urban to wilderness. As one appraiser noted, appraising communication sites, which are usually remote and on very high land, is like being on top of the world!

For OAS appraisers, there is one overriding principle: always respect the people — individuals and tribes — and their property. That also means being sensitive to customs and activities that may be taking place, like a ceremony going on smack dab in the middle of the place where appraisal work was planned.

OAS regional appraisers are involved with and passionate about their work because they recognize the difference it makes in the lives of beneficiaries. They are energized by the skill and knowledge it takes to do their work. And they love getting it right.

Interested in this line of work? Think you might need an appraisal performed? If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Meisner at (505) 816-1258.