In this episode of The Appraiser’s Advocate, host Tim Andersen, MAI explores the surprising power of uncertainty — not as a weakness, but as one of the highest professional and moral virtues. Drawing on philosophy, science, art, and real estate appraisal practice, this 12-minute reflection reveals how doubt, humility, and intellectual honesty shape better decisions and deeper trust.  Therefore, it is perfectly for an appraiser to tell the client, “The data were not very indicative of value.  Therefore, I did the best I could with what I had.”  Is this a fault?  No, it is candid honesty – a demonstration of professional integrity.

Listeners will discover why uncertainty fuels curiosity, protects integrity, and builds credibility in every field — from Socrates’ “I know that I do not know,” to the appraiser’s careful phrase, “based on available evidence.” Tim Andersen, an AQB-certified USPAP instructor, connects these timeless ideas to USPAP ethics.   This connection shows that credibility, not certainty, is the true foundation of public trust in valuation.  Public trust, and giving the public reason to trust appraisal and appraisers, is the cornerstone of real estate appraisal.

Through stories, humor, and gentle wisdom, the episode examines how uncertainty becomes the soil of all virtue: humility in knowledge, compassion in ethics, wonder in art, and transparency in professional life. Whether you’re an appraiser, educator, or lifelong learner, this episode offers encouragement to “love the questions themselves,” as Rilke advised, and to walk confidently in a world that will never be fully certain.

Since uncertainty is an integral part of the science and are of real estate appraisal, keep your E&O insurance up to date, and an Administrative Law Attorney on speed dial.