The past couple of weeks have been jam-packed. You know the kind, appointments, follow-ups, reports, rinse, repeat. But Monday morning, I had a one-to-one scheduled with a probate and divorce attorney. She was introduced to me by my CPA, who knows I’m always looking to connect with professionals in the legal world.
Let me pause right here and say this: your CPA may be a goldmine of referrals, if you ask. Don’t assume anyone is going to send people your way just because they like you or know what you do. You’ve got to ask. Be specific. People are happy to help, but they’re not mind readers.
Anyway, I wasn’t exactly pumped about an early Monday breakfast meeting. But I showed up because relationships don’t build themselves.
And guess what? It was a fantastic conversation. We talked about our kids, our marriages, growing our businesses, and where we see things going. Outside of divorce work, she was surprised to learn what other types of appraisals I did like listings for agents, partition cases, etc. She literally said, “I didn’t even know appraisers did that!” By the end of our avocado toast and coffee, she told me the next time she needs an appraisal, I’m the guy she’s calling.
That’s the magic. Not some fancy pitch. Just a real conversation with a real person.
Fast forward a couple of days, and I’m doing a pre-listing appraisal for an agent who’s been hiring me for years. I first met him four years ago, and now he sends me every listing, 10 to 20 appraisals a year, easy. He’s also referred me to multiple agents in his office. After the inspection, we stood in the driveway and talked for 30 minutes—not about work, but about life. Classic cars, health stuff, mutual friends… Just two people catching up. That’s not just a client, that’s a friend who happens to be an agent.
Another call this week, another agent I’ve worked with for years—same story. We talked about Easter plans, family life, and everything in between.
This business is not about transactions—it’s about relationships.
If you’re an appraiser trying to grow your private work, my advice is simple: start building relationships. Not just handing out business cards or spamming emails, actual, meaningful conversations. Show up. Be real. Follow up. Be helpful. That’s how you build a network that lasts.
If you want to dive deeper into this kind of relationship-building, marketing, and referral strategy, check out ReferAppraisals.com. It’s where appraisers go to stop flying solo and start growing smarter—together.
