Eighty percent of my business comes from non-lender work, and about 30% of that is related to divorces. While the diversification away from lender-based appraisals is beneficial, it also brings its own set of challenges. Sometimes, these cases can be emotionally taxing, and other times, they require you to provide more than just professional expertise—sometimes, you need to offer emotional support. That’s what I want to talk about today.

 

When I was a member of the National Association of Divorce Professionals, I learned a lot about the divorce process. One key takeaway was understanding how the brain works under stress and how to handle clients going through such intense situations. This knowledge has been invaluable because I often see these scenarios play out with my clients.

 

A few weeks ago, I met with a woman in her mid-50s going through a divorce. Her husband had moved out, and she shared with me that they had been married for over 25 years. She discovered through her Ring camera that her husband was bringing another woman to their home while she was away. This woman turned out to be his childhood girlfriend, with whom he had reconnected and had secretly been giving money to for years. By the time she got to this part of the story, she was in tears and visibly distraught. At that moment, my role as an appraiser took a backseat, and I had to be there as a supportive listener. All you can do in such situations is be present and let the client express their emotions until they’re ready to proceed.

 

It’s heartbreaking to hear these stories, and it can be tough to separate your feelings from your professional responsibilities. However, it’s crucial to remain impartial when determining the property’s value. It’s okay to empathize with a client, but you must set aside those emotions when providing an objective appraisal.

 

Despite the emotional challenges, I find divorce appraisals rewarding because they can bring resolution to a difficult situation. For many, the home is the most significant asset, and knowing its actual value—not relying on estimates from sites like Zillow or Redfin—can help expedite settlements. I’ve seen couples argue throughout my time at a property, witnessed a spouse physically assault the other, and, most painfully, seen families with young children go through the distress of divorce. While the diversity of non-lender work is valuable, it certainly comes with its own unique challenges.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about private appraisals and divorce assignments, consider joining the Appraisal Referral Network at ReferAppraisals.com. We offer both free and paid memberships, and it’s a great way to connect with fellow appraisers and grow your expertise in this niche field.

 

Daniel Lindeman

Appraisal Referral Network

How many appraisers are truly familiar with valuing properties with solar? I’ve completed a couple dozen assignments on properties with solar, whether the panels were leased, financed, under a PPA, or owned outright. Just last week, I handled two more assignments involving solar—one for setting a listing price and another for a divorce case. Understanding how to appraise properties with solar can be a valuable specialty that enhances your non-lender assignments and sets you apart, potentially increasing your business volume.

 

Coincidentally, I recently attended Mark Buhler’s 7-hour solar continuing education class through Appraiser eLearning, and I highly recommend it. Even if you’re already familiar with valuing properties with solar, this class serves as a great refresher and taught me a lot about using the PVValue Tool more effectively. Definitely check out his class!

 

I wanted to share my experience appraising two properties with solar systems this week. The first property was an estate inherited by a son whose father had purchased solar panels 3-4 years ago with a loan. The son hired me to determine the property’s value for setting a listing price, as he had received multiple offers from rehabbers. We discussed various appraisal approaches, including factoring in the solar panels as if they were paid off or excluding them altogether, and how each scenario could affect the property’s marketability and saleability. Due to the additional work required for analyzing the solar aspect, I charged an extra $100 for this assignment. I was chosen for this job specifically because of my familiarity with solar systems.

 

The second property was part of a divorce case and involved a particularly challenging situation. The couple had purchased solar panels through a loan from a solar company. Although they believed the installation was permitted, it turned out the company hadn’t secured one, leading the city to require the removal of the panels. At the time of my appraisal, the panels were lying against the house, and the roof was leaking due to the removal. To make matters worse, the solar company had since filed for bankruptcy, leaving the couple with a loan but no functioning solar system. In this case, the impact of the solar panels on the property’s value was $0, but the roof damage did affect the overall valuation.

 

So, how can you use your solar experience and knowledge to get more private work? I maintain a database of about 750 agents, and I send them weekly emails, including one specifically about solar. Here’s a link to that email. How many appraisers in your market are reaching out to agents to let them know you can assist with listings that have solar panels? You could also offer to speak at real estate offices about solar and how to properly value properties with solar installations.  So, put your continuing education to work this week to boost your income and expand your business!

 

If you’re looking for more private work, consider joining the Appraisal Referral Network at ReferAppraisals.com. For just $20 a month, we provide non-lender education with actionable tips to help grow your business. You can also join our referral network for free, which connects you with peers and increases your chances of receiving referrals for private work.

 

Daniel Lindeman

Appraisal Referral Network

As appraisers, we’re constantly navigating various forms of influence and pressure (Cue Under Pressure by Queen) Whether it’s a lender pushing for a quick turnaround, an agent trying to nudge you toward a contract price, or the pressure to keep the business flowing, it can be tough to manage. This week, I want to discuss how to handle situations where a client attempts to influence or pressure you, and share how I personally deal with these challenges.

 

I’m currently working on a couple of divorce assignments for a new family law attorney. This is probably my third or fourth assignment with their office. The cases involve two houses—one occupied by the husband and the other by the wife. During our conversation, the attorney mentioned, “I need the husband’s property value to be high and the wife’s to be low.” 

 

Now, some appraisers might see this as unacceptable and choose to withdraw from the assignments, which is entirely valid, and I support that decision. However, I take a different approach. I see this as an opportunity to educate my client to prevent future misunderstandings. I explained to the attorney that my role is to remain independent, impartial, and objective. The market data will dictate the values, and it’s not my job to ensure that the results favor their client. If they’re looking for an appraiser who can be influenced, that’s not me. 

 

I didn’t worry about how the attorney might react. If they decided to find a new appraiser, I would simply add them to my “Do Not Accept” list. But if they understood my stance, we wouldn’t face this issue again. In this case, the attorney accepted my point, and we moved on.

 

I apply the same approach when dealing with one spouse who might be standoffish because I was hired by the other. I make it clear that I’m independent and the value will fall where it may, whether it benefits them or their ex. This usually helps open up the conversation.

 

As appraisers, we’re always the neutral party, and it’s our responsibility to rise above any pressure to maintain our independence, impartiality, and objectivity. Often, clients may not fully understand what an appraiser does or what’s appropriate to say during the process. It’s up to us to educate them on what is and isn’t acceptable. So, the next time a client or customer tries to influence you, how will you respond?

 

If you’re interested in connecting with local appraisers and generating additional income, consider joining the Appraisal Referral Network at ReferAppraisals.com—membership is free. Additionally, if you’re looking for practical strategies to grow your non-lender business and break free from lender pressure, we’re here to support you.

 

Dan Lindeman

Appraisal Referral Network

ReferAppraisals.com

Appraising, like any other business, can go through slow periods. If you primarily depend on lending assignments, you’ve likely felt the impact of the current interest rate environment, with many weeks of reduced activity. So, what should an appraiser do during these slow times? What strategies do you use? How can you stay productive and focus on growth when business is slow?

 

It’s tough when business slows down, and it’s easy to start thinking the worst: Did my clients switch to another appraiser? Am I on a “do not use” list? Did an AMC find a cheaper option? How will I pay my bills? Will I need to find a different career? I’ve had these thoughts many times over the years. My goal was to build a consistent business with fewer of these slow periods. I believed diversifying into non-lender clients would achieve that, but I was wrong—I still experience slow periods sometimes.

 

This past week, the week of 8/5/24, was one of those slower weeks. I completed only three appraisals: a 1/1 condo appraisal for a cash buyer negotiating with an unrealistic seller, an update on a divorce appraisal I did earlier this year, and an appraisal for an agent who regularly hires me to help set accurate listing prices. In total, just three appraisals—well below my weekly goal!  So, how did I spend my time outside of those three assignments?

 

– I worked on continuing education, as my license renewal is due on November 30.

– I volunteered with the middle school music board, spending a day picking up furniture from Ikea and assembling it in the music office.

– I focused on marketing through Constant Contact.

– I scheduled a coffee meeting with a new estate/probate attorney contact and booked a lunch with a marketing professional from my BNI chapter.

– For ReferAppraisals.com, I had a great hour-long conversation with a California appraiser who reached out to connect. It turned out to be an excellent conversation and a valuable resource for the platform.

– I caught up on a lot of emails and industry publications that I hadn’t had time to read.


Although it wasn’t a high-revenue week, it was still productive in many other ways. Slow periods always come to an end, and the busy times return. During these slow weeks, I remind myself that this phase will pass. I could choose to be frustrated and complain, but that wouldn’t accomplish anything. Instead, I use these slower periods to catch up on tasks, explore new business opportunities, work on marketing, recharge, and strengthen both new and existing connections. 

 

As always, the slow week eventually ended. Monday brought 9 calls and appraisal requests, including a client from the Appraisal Referral Network looking to place over 100 appraisals for an estate across the country. This opportunity will make for an incredible week and year for another appraiser on the platform.

 

So, the next time you have a slow week, how will you spend it?

 

Dan Lindeman

Appraisal Referral Network

 

Whenever I leave the house, it’s inevitable that I’ll run into someone I know. My wife always cringes when I start chatting with them—I’m the social one, and she’s not as much. It wasn’t always like this for me. When I decided to step out of my comfort zone and expand into private appraisal work, I realized that networking and building connections were essential. This brings me to a recent connection I made from running into a familiar face.

 

My son recently turned 16, so we took him and some friends to TopGolf to celebrate. While we were having a great time, I noticed someone I knew in the bay next to us—a friend’s son who works with his father in commercial insurance. We started chatting, and he mentioned he was there with his networking group for a social happy hour. I asked if there were any attorneys or agents in his group that I could meet. Although neither the estate planner nor the agent in his group was present, he invited me to visit his networking group, and I agreed. Even though I’ve been part of a networking group for the past 10 years (see prior blog: “Is Joining a Networking Group Worth It?“), I thought it was a great opportunity to expand my connections.

 

A few days later, I attended the meeting and was introduced to an estate planning attorney. Although the real estate agent wasn’t present, I plan to connect with him in the future. The estate attorney, who recently started her practice, didn’t know any appraisers. We scheduled a coffee meeting to learn more about each other’s businesses and explore potential collaboration. While I’m not sure where this will lead, it’s certainly better than waiting at home for my phone to ring.

 

My advice to fellow appraisers is to get out there and network. Expand your connections and see where it takes you. I turned a fun evening celebrating my son’s birthday into a potential business opportunity that could result in thousands of dollars in new business. It’s not hard—you just need to put yourself out there and be open to new opportunities.

 

Appraisers, if you’re looking to learn how to market your appraisal business and step out of your comfort zone, join us at ReferAppraisals.com. We offer free membership with valuable resources and opportunities to earn additional income through referrals or accepting assignments. For just $20 a month, our Elite Membership provides actionable educational micro lessons to help you grow your non-lender business.

 

Dan Lindeman

Appraisal Referral Network

ReferAppraisals.com