I don't decline any orders but I work with only good clients. I have one very steady and consistent client and two clients who order regularly but are less consistent. I feel very fortunate to work with good clients. All AMC go straight to spam without opening the email.
I am glad that is working for you Joe. If you don't mind however, I'd like to use your post to make a larger point that may be helpful to the younger appraisers out there.
Having only 3-4 clients is a recipe for trouble during lean times. There's lots and lots of talk about "diversification", so I'll add one variant that's not discussed much on here but that younger appraisers should think about. If you are only doing lending work, one way to "diversify" is to develop a system so that you can handle a larger client base (which you build up over the good years and decades).
As an example, right now we have over 70 clients of all types - direct and AMC as well as platform-based work that draws multiple clients like the Mercury Network. Of course, I can't be sure all of them are even still in business right now, but back when were in CA we had even more.
Obviously, at any one time, only a fraction of that number are active in sending us work, but (and this is the BIG "but"), the identity of that fraction CHANGES from year to year. And when its real lean like it is now, getting a few orders here and there from a large stable of established clients can make the difference between being able to pay the bills and having to look for alternative or additional employment.
There's no "quick fix" for lean times, but this is one kind of "insurance policy" youngsters should keep in mind as they develop their practices. And for heaven's sake get yourself some help. "I can't do it alone" may be a joke saying from some old 1980s movie, but its 100% true in this business. Turning it into a family business (one way of getting help) has worked out great for us.
