Which tools are primarily used for real estate assessment?

Field cards, maps, and valuation guides are essential tools in the real estate assessment process because they provide the necessary data and frameworks that assessors use to determine property value. Field cards contain detailed information about individual properties, including dimensions, features, and previous assessments. They are vital for maintaining accurate and updated records.

Maps, such as zoning maps and property boundary maps, help assessors understand the location, size, and layout of properties. This geographical context is critical as it affects property values based on location-related factors like accessibility, neighborhood characteristics, and nearby amenities.

Valuation guides provide standardized methodologies and benchmarks that assist assessors in evaluating properties consistently and impartially. These guides incorporate market trends and comparable property sales data, which ensure that assessments reflect current market conditions.

The other options lack direct relevance to the core assessment functions. Church records and governmental bonds do not provide information pertinent to property evaluation, while personal interviews may offer anecdotal data but cannot replace the systematic approach of utilizing formal assessment tools. Lastly, survey data from local businesses could be useful but is not typically a primary source for real estate assessments compared to the systematic tools listed in the correct answer.