FOR over a decade, TASC Property Appraisals Company Limited has positioned itself as a premier player in the Jamaican real estate appraisal industry, marking 13 years of service grounded in accuracy, trust, and family legacy. Founded in December 2011 by Managing Director Ryan Taylor, TASC has cemented its role as a key partner for clients in need of reliable property valuations.

“Everyone claims to ‘know the market’— attorneys, developers, and even casual investors,” said Taylor, TASC’s managing director, during an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

“But what separates us is that we analyse market trends daily, offering clients insights that only come from dedicated experience in valuation. We’re the ones you should contact to ensure a sound investment.”

Taylor’s inspiration for entering the field came from his father’s successful career in real estate. Growing up, Taylor watched his father excel in the field, working as a real estate appraiser — a role he admired and sought to emulate.

“I walk like him, I talk like him, and I try to do everything that mimics him,” Taylor said with a smile.

His father became his first mentor, instilling in him a deep respect for the profession. As Taylor recalls, he spent summers working with his father, learning the trade by assisting with tasks such as measuring property and handling administrative duties. After a stint working alongside his father, Taylor eventually pursued his own path, seeking a broader view of the field.

When asked why he didn’t simply take over his father’s business, Taylor explained that he wanted the freedom to explore different facets of the profession. Working alongside his father would have limited him to his father’s methods and perspectives. By branching out independently, he was able to experience a variety of approaches and standards in real estate, ultimately allowing him to develop his own unique style.

“I do love my father and appreciate everything he’s taught me,” he said, “but my style might be a little different from his,” he told the Business Observer.

Despite being in the same industry, Ryan Taylor and his father, both offering real estate appraisal and related services, see each other as allies rather than competitors. Taylor explained that their services often complement each other, allowing for mutual referrals that benefit both businesses. For instance, if his father is managing a property sale, Taylor can handle the valuation aspect, or vice versa. The establishment of TASC began with humble beginnings at 60 Law Street, downtown Kingston, where Taylor set up his business with minimal funds and maximum determination. His grandmother, a prominent lawyer, provided space rent-free in her building, helping him keep startup costs low.

“She had the building, and I said, ‘Grandma, I really want to start my own thing.’ She said, ‘Yes, man, just come to the office and take any section you want’,” Taylor recalled.

Starting small with just two staff members, Taylor capitalised on this cost-effective setup to carve out a presence in the market, despite the initial uncertainty surrounding revenue. When he founded TASC, Taylor envisioned the company as more than just an appraisal service. Already holding a diploma in land economy and valuation surveying, he knew the competitive landscape demanded additional qualifications, so he pursued a degree in land surveying at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) while managing his fledgling business. Balancing full-time studies with the responsibilities of a new business was a formidable challenge, but he credits his team’s dedication and shared vision as crucial to TASC’s early success.

“They believed in the vision and saw where I wanted to go,” he shared.

TASC’s work culture, which he describes as more family-orientated than traditional, encouraged his staff to work beyond standard hours, including on Saturdays, to meet client demands. In 2015, a significant transition saw TASC relocate to a new office at 125 Maxfield Avenue in Kingston. Although the company had been profitable at its downtown location, Taylor felt that a more corporate setting would better reflect the firm’s growth. A break-in at the former office finally motivated the move.

“It was a tough decision because now I wouldn’t be that comfortable anymore. And it can be scary,” Taylor said, reflecting on the move. “In life, you have to take risks. That’s just how it is. You won’t step forward until you get uncomfortable. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations to grow.”

Since relocating, Taylor noted that TASC saw an immediate surge in business, with the first month marking a record number of jobs completed. By 2018, TASC had expanded with a new branch in Port Antonio, Portland. Taylor explained that the move was motivated by a need to raise the standard of professional appraisal services in the region.

“I felt that the profession at the time wasn’t properly represented there,” he stated.

TASC’s Port Antonio branch has strengthened the company’s relationship with financial institutions, which now have a greater level of trust in the firm’s professional presence in the area. TASC’s services cater to a broad client base — from walk-in customers needing property valuations for acquisitions, court cases, and probate matters to attorneys requiring assessments for legal purposes. After 13 years in business, Taylor expressed that more is in the pipeline for the company and revealed to the Business Observer that he envisions TASC eventually being listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE).

“I don’t want to divulge all our plans just yet,” he said. “But we have great ambitions for the firm. We don’t plan to stay at this level.”