Was your appraisal volume lower than expected? Did your income take a hit compared to last year? If 2024 felt like a struggle for your business, here’s the good news: it can only get better from here. As we enter a new year, the big question is: What are you going to do differently in 2025 to make it a success?

 

Sometimes, tackling a tough appraisal assignment means figuring out what a property isn’t worth before you can determine its value. The same principle applies to your appraisal business. If your volume in 2024 wasn’t where you wanted it, it’s clear that your current approach isn’t working. But that’s okay—it gives you a starting point for change.

 

I’m not here to sell you an “easy button” that will magically make 2025 your best year. Instead, I want to provide you with actionable strategies to grow your non-lender business. The reality is, appraisers can no longer rely solely on lender work to survive. To thrive, you need diversification.

 

Goal: Diversify and grow your appraisal business by focusing on non-lender and private work. Define what success looks like for you, and use this step-by-step marketing plan to make it happen.

2025 Marketing Plan

Q1 (Jan/Feb/Mar): Build Your Digital Presence

  • Professional Website: Create a user-friendly site showcasing your services and client testimonials. Include a blog as well.
  • Social Media Profiles: Establish profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to engage with clients and share insights.
  • Google Business Profile: Optimize your listing with photos, post updates, and seek reviews.
  • SEO: With your website use relevant keywords to improve online visibility.
  • Stay Consistent: Post weekly and update your website and profiles regularly, and respond promptly to inquiries.

Q2 (Apr/May/June): Build Connections and Network

  • Industry Events: Attend conferences and networking events to build relationships.
  • Networking Groups: Join professional groups to expand your connections.
  • Partnerships: Collaborate with real estate agents, attorneys, and other professionals.
  • Appraisal Referral Network: Connect with appraisers nationwide for referral opportunities.
  • Advertising and Sponsorships: Consider online ads or local sponsorships like the Bar Association or Realtor Associations to increase visibility.

Q3 (July/Aug/Sept): Marketing and Communication Strategies

  • CRM System: Use tools to manage clients and send targeted emails.
  • Email Campaigns: Share value-driven emails, newsletters, and updates.
  • Tailor Marketing Materials: Highlight your expertise in non-lender work through brochures and ads.

Q4 (Oct/Nov/Dec): Order Management, Tools, and Client Retention

  • Innovative Tools: Invest in technology like lasers for faster and more accurate sketches.  Utilize software to support adjustments for more credible reports.
  • Appraisal Software: Go mobile to increase efficiency, streamline workflows and reduce errors.
  • Differentiate with Technology: Showcase your advanced tools to highlight accuracy and efficiency.
  • Financial Tracking: Monitor income, expenses, and tax liabilities with software.
  • Order Management: Use systems to track orders and client details efficiently.
  • Client Retention: Follow up with past clients, offer additional services, and use CRM tools for reminders to maintain relationships.

A Final Note

Throughout the year, focus on personal development. Commit to reading one book a month, whether physical or audiobooks. This habit will inspire new ideas and foster a growth-oriented mindset.  At the same time, professionalism and customer service remain non-negotiable. Maintain a polished appearance, communicate clearly, and deliver error-free, high-quality reports on time. Address disputes professionally, set clear expectations, and actively listen to your clients’ needs.  Also, broaden your expertise with these specialized non lender appraisal types like divorce, probate, estate, and tax appeal appraisals. If needed, invest in additional training to refine your skills and expand your service offerings.

 

The secret to a thriving non-lender appraisal business lies in diversification and action. Take this marketing plan, tailor it to your goals, and commit to making meaningful changes. The lender-driven model alone is no longer enough. With new forms, increased appraisal waivers, and growing regulatory pressures, diversification isn’t just smart—it’s necessary.  This year, I’ll close out with over $200K in gross income as a single-appraiser shop. Could I have made more? Sure, but that’s not my focus right now. Your goals may be different—so aim high and start by doing something new.

 

If you’re ready to grow and want to connect with like-minded professionals, join the Appraisal Referral Network at  ReferAppraisals.com. We offer free and paid memberships to help you succeed and grow your non-lender business.

 

2025 is yours to shape—let’s make it the year your appraisal business thrives.

I recently worked on an appraisal for the marital home in a divorce case. This referral came from a family law attorney I collaborate with regularly. My client, the husband, planned to keep the house and buy out the wife’s share. The wife had already obtained an appraisal, and the husband wanted one to confirm its accuracy. It seemed straightforward: a simple ranch with plenty of comparable sales. However, I encountered an issue that surfaces from time to time—the client lied.

 

Private appraisals often carry the same pressure and external influences as lender work, just in different forms. In both cases, clients or third parties may attempt to influence the outcome to achieve their desired numbers. In lender work, it’s typically a seller or listing agent pushing to meet the sale price. In this case, the husband wanted the appraisal to come in as low as possible, reducing the amount he’d have to pay his wife in the buyout. Understanding client motivations is crucial in divorce appraisals: one party wants a high valuation to maximize their payout, while the other seeks a low number to minimize theirs. But how do you handle it when a client lies to manipulate the outcome—and you catch them in the act?

 

In this instance, I noticed water damage on the ceiling in the family room and breakfast area. When I asked the husband about it, he claimed the flat and main roof were nearly 20 years old and needed replacement. As part of my standard process, I reviewed available permits, which showed the roof had been replaced only two years ago. Initially, I thought this might be an error, but to confirm, I reviewed year-over-year aerial photos—a tool easily accessible through the county appraiser’s office. The photos clearly showed the roof had been replaced, with a visible color change, which was further corroborated by the assessor’s photos.

 

When I reported my findings to the client, he was almost speechless, claiming he didn’t remember replacing the roof. (I thought to myself, who forgets spending $20,000 on a roof just two years ago?) He reluctantly admitted that if the permit stated so, it must be accurate. His motivations were evident from the start. During the observation, he had insisted I classify the home as a two-bedroom, even though half the family room had been converted into a functional third bedroom with a door, window, closet, and appropriate layout. He justified this by saying he would remove the third bedroom after the divorce. His attempt to lower the appraisal value by claiming the roof needed replacement was unsurprising given this context.

 

When information cannot be verified, disclosure is key. For example, if a client tells me a home has foundation issues but provides no evidence, I include a statement in the report: “Ms. Smith indicated the home had foundation issues. No reports or repair bids were provided to support this claim. The appraiser is not qualified to determine foundation issues, and the report is subject to an inspection by a qualified third party.” I have no hesitation making a report subject to an inspection when necessary. In this particular appraisal, I didn’t mention the husband’s false claim about the roof. Instead, I stated the permits showed it had been replaced two years prior. Regarding the bedroom issue, I reported it as a two-bedroom home converted into three bedrooms.

 

With any type of assignment, the approach of trusting and verifying works well. If you’d like to learn more about private appraisal work and scenarios like this, the Appraisal Referral Network offers over 25 lessons. You can also unlock opportunities by connecting with colleagues, exchanging referrals, and growing your non-lender business. Visit ReferAppraisals.com to explore free and paid memberships tailored to your needs. Unlock your potential by connecting with other appraisers today!

Mindset Matters: The First Step to Growing Your Non-Lender Business

Recently, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern among some appraisers, and it’s not helping their success. The first step to creating a thriving non-lender business is adopting the right mindset. Unfortunately, I see too much negativity about the future from appraisers. Personally, I’m optimistic about my business and the opportunities ahead.

 

Yes, lender work is slow, but you have a choice. You can either dwell on the downturn or take proactive steps to change your circumstances. The reality is, relying solely on lender work hasn’t been sustainable in recent years. So, what’s your next move? Complain about the situation—or take charge and make changes?

 

After launching the Appraisal Referral Network, I’ve had appraisers from across the country reach out to me. One asked, “Does this network really help appraisers get non-lender business?” While I appreciated their curiosity, they seemed to expect an automatic flood of work just for signing up. Let me be clear: that’s not how the non-lender business works.

 

Joining a network like ours is a great first step, but success requires effort. Completing your profile is essential, as is connecting with nearby appraisers, sharing your specialties, and building relationships. When you take these steps, your chances of receiving referrals increase significantly.

 

Beyond referrals, we provide 30+ lessons on how to grow your business. These lessons are packed with actionable strategies, but they’re only valuable if you actually apply them. The resources are there—you just need to put in the work!

 

Pessimism Won’t Help Your Business Grow

I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook forums. On the positive side, I enjoy seeing what my peers are up to and learning from insightful discussions. However, the negativity and defeatism I often encounter are disheartening.

 

For example, I recently saw a post from an appraiser nearing retirement who primarily does lender work. Their attempts to break into private work had been unsuccessful, and they were seeking advice. While I sympathized with their struggles, many of the comments were along the lines of “Just retire and give up.”

 

This defeatist attitude isn’t going to help anyone grow their business. In contrast, I offered to help them directly, encouraging them to join the referral network and even letting them know I had a couple of referrals in their area I could send their way. Their response? Silence. It seems they weren’t ready to make a change—and that’s the harsh reality: misery often loves company.

 

The Path to Success: Time, Commitment, and Consistency

Growing a non-lender business isn’t easy. It requires time, commitment, and consistent effort. You’ll need to step outside your comfort zone, embrace change, and treat your business like a business. Nothing will be handed to you—but with the right plan and determination, success is within reach.

 

I’ve designed the Appraisal Referral Network to help appraisers succeed in growing and diversifying their businesses. If you’re ready to make changes and take control of your future, visit ReferAppraisals.com. Let’s build your success together.

Growing Your Non-Lender Appraisal Business

In June, I launched the Appraisal Referral Network with one primary goal: to help appraisers grow their non-lender business. Through my own experience, I’ve identified three critical ways appraisers can expand this side of their practice:

  1. Connecting with fellow appraisers
  2. Sending and receiving referrals
  3. Learning actionable strategies through short education lessons

The Appraisal Referral Network was created to address these needs and provide appraisers with the tools, resources, and connections to thrive in a competitive and evolving profession.

1. Building Connections with Peers

Let’s face it—appraising can be a solitary profession. While there are national associations and coalitions, not every appraiser is involved in these groups. That’s why the Appraisal Referral Network includes a membership map, which allows appraisers to see who is nearby and make meaningful connections.

Connecting with peers isn’t about competition; it’s about collaboration. Whether you need advice on a challenging assignment or want to share insights on effective marketing strategies, having a network of appraisers to turn to is invaluable.

Personally, connecting with peers has been a game-changer for my business. By talking with other appraisers, I’ve learned new techniques, avoided common mistakes, and even discovered profitable opportunities. One connection with a peer across the country led me to a lender that brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in business. That’s the power of collaboration.

2. Leveraging Referrals to Grow Your Business

One of the key features of the Appraisal Referral Network is its referral system. The idea is simple: if you can’t take on an assignment—whether it’s outside your area, beyond your expertise, or simply not a good fit—you can pass it on to another appraiser. In return, you earn a referral fee.

This system isn’t just for active appraisers. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for those nearing retirement. Retired appraisers can refer assignments they still receive to active peers and earn passive income, keeping them connected to the profession while enjoying their retirement.

I modeled the referral system after my own experience. For years, I referred work to others without asking for a fee, hoping the favor would be returned. But it rarely was. That’s why I started charging referral fees—because I spent the time and money to bring in the client. The Appraisal Referral Network takes this concept a step further by streamlining the process. Referrals are tracked, updated, and payments are automated, eliminating the hassle of chasing down fees or assignment updates.

3. Real-World Education for Appraisers

The third pillar of the Appraisal Referral Network is education. While there’s plenty of training on different types of non-lender appraisal assignments, there’s a lack of resources that show appraisers how to get the business.

That’s why I created micro-lessons—short, actionable videos that share real-world examples of what has worked (and hasn’t) in my own practice. From networking with agents to hosting events and using social media, I’ve tried countless strategies to grow my non-lender business. Some were successful; others were learning experiences.

For example, I once spent $3,000 on a booth at a divorce attorney education event, hoping to make connections. While I met several attorneys and added them to my email list, I didn’t land any new clients. It was an expensive lesson, but it taught me to focus my efforts elsewhere.

These lessons, along with a growing resource library of templates, emails, and marketing tools, are available to Elite Members of the network. My goal isn’t to claim I know everything—it’s to share what’s worked for me and help appraisers find strategies that fit their markets and goals.

Why the Network Was Created

For more than 10 years, I’ve been growing the non-lender side of my business, which now accounts for 80% of my work—roughly 300-400 appraisals a year. I’ve learned firsthand that building a non-lender business takes persistence, trial and error, and a willingness to try new things.

The Appraisal Referral Network is here to help appraisers on that journey. Whether you’re looking to:

  • Connect with peers for advice and collaboration
  • Send and receive referrals to grow your income
  • Learn actionable strategies to market your business

…this network is designed to support you.

Membership Options

Joining the network is simple and flexible:

  • Free Membership: Access the referral map, connect with peers, send a referral and a 3% referral fee, receive a referral and set your own fee.
  • Elite Membership: For $20/month or $199/year, gain access to exclusive micro-lessons, the resource library, and increase your referral fee earnings to 12%.

The best part? Membership is scalable. Whether you’re just starting out, actively growing, or looking for passive income in retirement, the Appraisal Referral Network has something for you.

Ready to Grow Your Business?

The Appraisal Referral Network is more than a platform—it’s a community designed to help appraisers succeed. Whether you’re ready to build connections, grow your client base, or learn new marketing strategies, the tools and resources are here to help you thrive.

Join us today and take the first step toward growing your non-lender business!