One of the best ways to grow a non-lender appraisal business is by developing relationships with family law attorneys and learning how to handle divorce appraisals professionally and compassionately.

 

Divorce work can be rewarding financially, but appraisers also need to understand that these assignments are very different from traditional lender work. You are often walking directly into one of the most stressful situations a family will ever experience. Emotions are high. Tension is high. Sometimes there are children involved, financial concerns, or uncertainty about whether one spouse can even remain in the marital home.

 

As appraisers, we are not there to solve the divorce. We are there to provide a credible, independent opinion of market value. But how we handle the process can make a huge difference in helping the situation stay calm and professional.

 

How Divorce Appraisals Typically Start

For me, divorce assignments usually begin with a referral from a family law attorney I’ve worked with in the past. The attorney refers their client to my office, and then the client reaches out directly to me.

 

From there, I have the client complete an engagement letter before anything else. This is extremely important in divorce work. Clear expectations upfront can help avoid misunderstandings later regarding fees, intended use, report distribution, testimony, updates, or scheduling issues.

 

Once the engagement letter is signed, I schedule the inspection.

 

Sometimes scheduling is easy. Other times, it becomes more complicated because the spouse who hired me no longer has access to the property. In those situations, I often need to get on an email chain with both attorneys to help coordinate access to the home.

 

If cooperation breaks down completely, the attorneys may need to obtain a court order establishing a date and time for the appraisal inspection.

 

This is why appraisers entering divorce work need to understand that these assignments often involve more communication and coordination than standard lender appraisals.

 

What Happens at the Inspection

The inspection itself can also feel very different from traditional appraisal assignments.

 

I recently completed a divorce appraisal where the husband was my client, but he no longer lived in the home. The wife met me at the property for the inspection.

 

She was extremely emotional and clearly stressed about the situation. She wasn’t really sure what to expect from the appraisal process or what the value might mean for her future.

 

Even though she was not technically my client, I still treated her with kindness and compassion.

 

That’s important in divorce work.

 

You can still be professional, neutral, and independent while also being a decent human being.

 

As we walked through the house, she explained how much money she had put into the property after her husband left. She was worried the value would come in too high and that she wouldn’t be able to afford to keep the home.

 

Obviously, we are not attorneys and should never give legal advice. But I explained from a general perspective that Florida is an equitable distribution state, and issues like post-separation contributions are typically matters for the attorneys and judge to address during settlement negotiations or trial.

 

I also helped ease her anxiety by explaining the appraisal process itself.

 

I explained that the valuation would primarily be based on comparable sales in the neighborhood and overall market data. I pointed out that while the property was in good condition, it still had items like an original roof and original windows that would be considered by the market.

 

Sometimes simply explaining the process calmly helps diffuse tension.

 

Appraisers Need More Than Technical Skills

One thing appraisers quickly learn about divorce work is that these assignments require more than just valuation knowledge.

 

In many ways, you almost need to put on a counselor hat during these inspections.

 

That doesn’t mean taking sides.
 That doesn’t mean offering legal advice.
 And it definitely doesn’t mean disclosing confidential information from your client.

 

But it does mean understanding that the people standing in front of you are often going through one of the hardest periods of their lives.

 

A little professionalism, patience, compassion, and communication can go a very long way.

 

My Advice for Appraisers Entering Divorce Work

If you want to pursue divorce assignments, here are a few important things to remember:

  • Always use a strong engagement letter
  • Clearly define intended use and intended users
  • Understand who your client is
  • Be prepared for scheduling and access issues
  • Stay neutral and independent at all times
  • Never disclose confidential client communications
  • Be compassionate and professional during inspections
  • Understand that emotions may be high
  • Communicate clearly with attorneys and clients
  • Keep the process calm and organized

 

Divorce appraisals are not always easy assignments, but they can become an excellent niche within a non-lender appraisal business.

 

And if you want to grow your non-lender business, divorce work is a perfect way to do that.

 

To learn more about non-lender work, networking, referrals, and growing your appraisal business, check out the Appraisal Referral Network at ReferAppraisals.com. We offer both free and paid memberships depending on your needs, and we’d love for you to join a community of over 1,600 appraisers looking to grow their non-lender business.

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