Which of the below statements best describes you:

What type of Commercial Real Estate best applies to you:

The People of J.H. Berry: Paulk Turner

Paulk Turner

Our employee spotlight series continues as we highlight Paulk Turner, MAI, and his role as director of the appraisal and valuation services division.

As the lead commercial property appraiser at J.H. Berry, Paulk’s extensive experience in office, industrial, medical, retail, multi-family, institutional, and vacant land properties combine with his reputation for accurate and reliable services to make him a valuable member of our team.

Paulk’s credentials and abilities speak for themselves – he is a Certified General Real Property Appraiser, holds the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute, and is a skilled professional in collecting the most current market data and utilizing the latest methodologies and techniques to best serve his clients.

Paulk is a graduate of The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in history. He is engaged in the community, having served and contributed to multiple boards and committees, and is a member of All Saints Episcopal Church.

You’ve worked in the commercial real estate industry for 17 years, completing over 600 appraisals and assignments. What are a few things you’ve learned that have made you a better appraiser? Ask questions, pay attention to details, proofread your work, and remain unbiased.

Appraising requires a great deal of trust between the client and the appraiser. What do you say or do to quickly build this trust? Be honest about the time it will take to complete an assignment and reinforce to the client that my values are never based on a predetermined number, only from what is indicated by the market. I am also willing to discuss the property in-depth with the client and/or owner.

It’s no secret that downtown Birmingham is thriving. What should residents and tourists expect to see as the city continues to grow? The number of building sales purchased for redevelopment is staggering over the past few years, and only seems to be increasing. Everyone wants to find an older building or buildings to redevelop to get in on the momentum. Sales prices have risen substantially over the past 4-5 years as investors are paying premium prices just to get something in Parkside, Downtown, Southside, Lakeview, or Avondale. While it is great to see so many old buildings get new life and these areas be revitalized, I am skeptical that it is sustainable. I think prices are inflated right now as available redevelopment opportunities are growing increasingly scarce, and Birmingham does not have the population or employment growth to support all of these new businesses and apartments.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Spending time at the lake and with my dogs, gardening, cooking, and seeing live music.