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Agricultural valuer

An agricultural valuer is a trusted adviser to farms, estates and others for matters to do with agricultural and rural property and business.

Also known as a land agent, factor (Scotland), surveyor or land steward.

This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on level of the role and the size or type of the business.

Land agents apply their professional expertise to help their clients achieve the best value, whether it's for the sale or purchase of property, letting of a farm, dwelling or commercial premises, negotiating compensation following utility works, securing finance for rural investment, implementing a diversification project or providing strategic business advice.

An agricultural valuer can be a specialist but may advise on a wide range of areas. They will become trusted advisers to many farmers and landowners, given their professionalism, practicality and ability to see the whole business.

Valuers can tackle issues such as succession, renewables projects, taxation, environmental appraisals, machinery valuation, compulsory purchases and infrastructure projects. They can then work with other professionals – such as lawyers, auctioneers, accountants, ecologists and planners – to achieve the best outcomes for the client.

An agricultural valuer is a natural problem solver with excellent communication and intra-personal skills. They develop long-term relationships with clients and are involved in making critical decisions that have long-term effects on the businesses they advise.

The role requires both a degree (full-time or apprenticeship) and achievement of professional qualifications in work.

With this area of work growing, the profession needs more people to meet the demand for the services of these specialist advisers. The profession is looking for new entrants and second career seekers with diverse outlooks and experiences. A strong interest in the future of the nation’s rural environment and economy is a must. A good agricultural valuer will thrive when faced with variety, challenge and change.

Agricultural valuers may work in different ways. Large estates may solely employ some to provide planning and advice on long-term strategies or a single employer, such as a utility company or an environmental charity. Others may be employed by firms that provide services to a portfolio of clients.

All new entrants to the role will require at least two years of experience before taking their exams/further qualifications. From there, it's possible to gain experience and progress to become a partner in a firm. You might also consider working in government, the utilities or with charities, and you could branch off to become an independent adviser or be employed by a large private estate or farm business.

Agricultural valuers take responsibility for advising the farmer or landowner so as to best meet their objectives for their land, business and family, whether financial, environmental or personal.

As an agricultural valuer, your responsibilities might include:

Correctly ascertaining the client’s business vision and needs
Carrying out research to ensure clients' requirements are correctly and efficiently met
Being up to date with all relevant legislation
Understanding the full range of potential rural land/property uses
Presenting clients with a range of options in response to their business needs
Supporting clients in bring projects to fruition
Maintaining an overview of all client’s current projects
Being proactive in looking to the future for client’s business potential

To work as an agricultural valuer, you should:

Have good communication skills
Be able to cultivate excellent intra-personal relationships
Have a keen eye for detail
Be able to identify potential issues timeously
Be able to adapt quickly to changing situations
Enjoy working with others but able to work independently
Be accountabile for decision making

The role would suit someone with a strong interest in working with the members of the rural community.

They should aim to shape the positive future development of its environment and economy. A successful agricultural valuer will have good creative vision coupled with efficient working practices, people management and communication skills and correct compliance with all legislation.

As a guide, an agricultural valuer earns from £24,000 to £28,000 following graduation, with the potential for this to rise to more than £150,000 in annual salary, depending on career progression.

The higher end figure is dependent on factors such as location, nature of business and level of experience.

After university, many companies then offer work contracts bringing practical experience and training, developing professional knowledge and skills leading to qualification and career progress.

Employers may be professional firms, national, regional or local, estates, or organisations in the public, private and charitable sectors.  When in work or through the contacts you make, look to gain as broad a base of experience as you can, finding what suits you.

You can keep developing your career, taking an active interest in all that comes in and the people you meet – no such experience is wasted, and all help to understand the rural world.  Look for work that you enjoy and are good at so that your role grows with what you do.  You may be able to develop a broad practice with many issues as a trusted adviser to a wide client base or focus on one of the many new emerging topics – renewables were new once.

There are positions with government departments, utility companies, environmental bodies, mineral companies, developers and many others, all needing good professional skills. Those who gain responsibility and recognition can find there are opportunities to become a partner or a director of a business or to hold a senior position in an organisation, as well as taking an active role in the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), locally or nationally as your professional body.