When Valuation Associate Shelby Donovan receives an assignment in Washington State, her mind isn’t solely on property; it’s also on the location. “What part of the state will it be?” she wonders. “Because every area is completely different, and each trip needs to be planned that way.”
For someone who grew up in Houston, and now lives in Dallas, Washington’s varied landscapes can feel almost surreal. “In Texas, it’s very flat,” Shelby explains. “But when you fly into Washington, you see volcanoes: Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Hood. So many mountains. I’d never seen anything like it before this job.”
Shelby admits she can’t get enough of the scenery, and Seattle has become her favorite city — in part, due to one unforgettable sight. If you’re lucky enough to catch Seattle on a clear day, Mount Rainier makes its grand appearance in the south, emerging through the mist nearly 60 miles away.
Shelby said locals have a phrase for this rare and noteworthy unveiling. “The mountain’s out,” she laughs. “That’s what everyone says.”
Of Landscapes and Logistics
Washington offers a surprising variety of terrain for appraisers traveling across the state. Around Seattle, you “get a little bit of everything,” says Shelby. “You’ve got Puget Sound, the Pacific Ocean nearby, the Cascade Mountains, and Mount Rainier.” Further south, along the Olympic Peninsula, the scenery shifts to the dense woodlands and rain-soaked landscapes called “the rainforest.” The rugged Pacific coastline stretches along the western edge of the state. Cross the Cascades toward eastern Washington, and the landscape transforms again. “It’s rolling hills of farms all the way toward Spokane,” Shelby says. “It’s a totally different world.”
One of Shelby’s most memorable appraisal locations is in Point Roberts, a small peninsula that’s technically part of the United States but completely cut off from the rest of Washington. “You actually have to drive through Canada to get there,” Shelby explains. “You can’t reach it by road from Washington without crossing the border.”
For someone used to large cities, the transitions in scenery and lifestyle are striking. “In clear weather, you can drive from a large city to a rural mountain town within an hour,” Shelby says. “I appraised one school where there were only fifty students in the entire K-12 building. I kept thinking, that’s the same number of girls that were on my high school drill team.”
Those dramatic shifts in population and geography can also mean unexpected logistical challenges. Many of the smaller communities Shelby visits are far from major highways, and cell service can vanish right when you need it.
As a female appraiser on the road, Shelby remains mindful of these safety factors. “In fact, sometimes the safest option is staying in a larger town and driving a couple hours in the morning to reach the site,” she says. “You learn to think ahead. Where are you staying? How far are you driving? What happens if the weather changes?”
In some cases, the communities Shelby visits extend their hospitality. “One city offered their apartment for visiting workers if I got stuck during a snowstorm. People in Washington are usually very willing to help.”
When the Road Gets Interesting
Early in her second year on the job, Shelby discovered the importance of having a backup plan when the weather changes quickly.
“I’d never driven in snow before,” Shelby recounted. “There were three mountain passes I could take to get back to Seattle after an appraisal, and two had already shut down before I realized I couldn’t get through. I kept passing people, stuck on the side of the road.” Wisely, she maneuvered her four-wheel-drive rental vehicle back to the hotel she’d stayed at the night before. There, she discovered her luck held out just a little bit longer. “The hotel staff told me, ‘You got the last room!’”
The next morning, a one-hour drive became a four-hour slog back to Seattle. Yet, the journey ended on a high note, with a safe hotel, a hot meal, and a hot tub overlooking the bay. Shelby regrouped, reflecting on how much she’d learned during those 24 hours — about winter driving, as well as her own resilience.
Popular Perks and Pike Place Market
Shelby’s free time in the Evergreen State has, thankfully, involved less nail-biting and more sampling of local cuisine. Like many visitors to Seattle, she’s made time to visit Pike Place Market, home of the city’s best seafood.
“My favorite meal is Pike Place Chowder and a lobster roll,” she says. “It was freezing outside the first time I went, and the hot food was amazing. Whenever my appraisals finish up early, I try to visit.”
Shelby also made a pilgrimage to the original Starbucks location, and although she admits she loves the chain, she quickly discovered something else about Washington’s coffee culture. “Locals actually prefer the small, family-owned coffee shops,” she says. “There are these little drive-through coffee huts in parking lots where cars line up every day.”
Still, whether it’s seafood, coffee, or scenery, Washington continues to be one of Shelby’s favorite destinations. All she needs is a good plan, a full tank of gas, and her sense of adventure.