A Week in the Life of a Non-Lender Appraiser

People often ask what it’s like running a mostly non-lender appraisal business. The short answer? No two days are the same. It’s rewarding, unpredictable, and occasionally exhausting. But it also gives you more flexibility, better pay, and a stronger sense of control over your schedule and your business. Here’s what a recent week looked like for me.

Monday: Collaborative Law Meeting and Catch-Up

I started the week with a collaborative divorce meeting. For those unfamiliar, collaborative law is a family law process where both parties work together with attorneys and professionals like appraisers to resolve disputes without going to court. I still need to do some digging to see if it’s common outside of Florida, but it’s a great niche.

This case involved a home that had just been purchased and gutted when the divorce began. The couple couldn’t agree on the value, and their accountant asked me to attend the meeting to answer questions in real time. I was there before, during, and after their meeting with the attorneys. It was a valuable use of my time, and I was paid over $300 an hour. The couple reached a tentative settlement during the session, and it was great to see it come together.

In addition, I got to meet a new family law attorney who said she would begin using me for appraisals going forward. Another solid connection made by simply showing up and being helpful.

After that, I caught up on a few reports I hadn’t finished over the weekend.

Tuesday: Lending Job and CRA Assignment

Tuesday started with a lending assignment. I still take on lending work, and about 20 percent of my business comes from it. I like keeping a mix.

Later that day, I worked on an appraisal for a nearby city’s CRA. It came through an attorney who had been referred by another attorney. The property was essentially a teardown—so rough that I had to meet a police officer on site, and we couldn’t even go inside due to safety issues. Still, it was an interesting job and a good example of the kind of variety that comes from referral work.

Wednesday and Thursday: Divorce and Pre-Listing Work

Midweek, I had another lender job and a divorce assignment from an attorney I regularly work with. I also had a high-end pre-listing job referred by a real estate agent who sends me consistent business. Both paid well and came from trusted referral partners. This is where the long game of building strong relationships really pays off.

Friday: Desktop Appraisal and Marketing Day

Friday included a desktop appraisal for a cash buyer. I had lots of MLS photos, a great floor plan, and an inspection report. I gave him two options: a full inspection for $595 or a desktop report for $450. He went with the desktop, which saved him money and saved me time. Win-win.

The rest of the day was all business development. Every two months, I set aside time to schedule all my outbound marketing: emails to attorneys and agents every 10 days, holiday-specific messages, blog posts, and social media content. It takes me about three to four hours, but it keeps me visible and keeps the pipeline full. I even created a training video on how I do it. It’s not exciting work, but it’s necessary if you want consistent business.

The Takeaway

Non-lender appraisal work is real business ownership. You have to market, network, quote jobs, take some calls, and turn some down. It’s not always easy, but it’s absolutely worth it. The fees are better, the work is more varied, and the business is far more resilient. If interest rates shoot up tomorrow, it won’t derail my schedule or bottom line.

If you’re looking to grow your non-lender business and get more of this kind of work, check out the Appraisal Referral Network at ReferAppraisals.com. We’re here to help you build a smarter, more sustainable appraisal business—one connection at a time.