From Zero to Clients: Launching Your Non-Lender Appraisal Business

So, you’ve decided to become an appraiser specializing in Non-Lender business. Now what? How do you start attracting clients and getting your phone to ring? Should you join the chamber of commerce, distribute flyers, arrange speaking engagements at real estate offices, or even stand on a corner with a sign?

The most effective first steps are to create an engaging website and set up your Google Business Profile. These steps will establish your online presence and make it easier for potential clients to find and contact you.

Creating a website is the most crucial first step in gaining non-lender business. While I may be an expert in real estate appraising, I am not an expert in web design. That’s why it’s important to hire a professional web designer to create a simple, effective website for your business. Yes, this involves some expense, but you can find qualified, affordable designers on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Investing in a well-designed website will pay off with your first non-lender order.

Keep the website simple and user-friendly. People have short attention spans. My site, for instance, includes tabs for the home page, a drop-down menu with my services, coverage areas, reviews, rates, request a quote, blog, and contact information. Honestly, I might even have too many tabs—simpler is often better. Here’s my site for reference: empireappraisalgroup.com.

A consumer visits your page to see if you offer the service they need, what it costs, and how to contact you. If your site is too complicated, they’ll go elsewhere. It’s not difficult to get started. I have detailed pages about my services primarily to boost my Google ranking, not because I expect every customer to read about divorce appraisals or IRS tax laws.

Take action and complete your website to start opening your business to non-lender opportunities.

Now that your website is ready to go, the next step is to create your Google Business Profile. A Google Business Profile allows you to manage how your local business appears across Google products, like Maps and Search.

With a Google Business Profile, you can:

• Maintain Accurate Information: Provide your business hours, website, phone number, and location (street address, service area, or place marker, depending on your business).
• Interact with Customers: Post photos of your business, products, and services, and collect and respond to customer reviews.
• Attract New Customers: Improve your online visibility so new customers can find you and direct them to your website.

Nearly everyone uses Google, so it’s essential to have a presence on this platform. You can’t achieve that without a Google Business Profile. One of the best features is the reporting: you’ll receive insights on how many people called you, visited your website, viewed your profile, and the search terms they used. This valuable information can greatly enhance your marketing efforts.

We haven’t covered whether it’s beneficial to advertise on Google yet. To learn more about setting up your Google Business Profile and understand how much of business comes from Google, please sign up at ReferAppraisals.com.

Dan Lindeman

Appraisal Referral Network

ReferAppraisals.com