Advice on entering the Appraisal profession

[devin]

Marketing occurs with every report completed and every post online.

 

[Deleted member 128537]

Give us some pointers on how you market to get private work. Thanks

1. A website that looks professional. I get a lot of work off my web site. And in most cases it’s because other appraisers either have no web site or they stink. I use to also make sure that when people searched for appraisers in my area that my web site came up on the top. A web presence is an absolute must.
2. Putting your name on appraiser search websites. One of the best I had early on was appraisers.com. I got more hits of that early in my career. At least 3 a month and the cost was $10 a month. I have’t done much of that recently because I don’t need to, but it’s something a new appraiser should do.
3. Introduce yourself to local bankers in the area. Give them your card, get to know them, etc. This is also true for lawyers. A lot of work will come through lawyers looking for estate or divorce work.
4. Introduce yourself to your county workers especially in the property tax collection area. They will send you work on tax foreclosures.
5. Get to know the real estate agents in the area. Become a source of information to them. I have agents that talk to me on a regular basis and refer work to me on a regular basis. Also ask questions from them. I call them up and talk to them about how buyers react to certain amenities from time to time. This builds trust and respect.
6. I actually put up a billboard on one occasion in a good location. You’d be surprised at how that affects name recognition.
7. Advertise in real estate magazines and/or papers in the real estate section.
8. Obviously doing good work. When you do good work you will get referrals. Most of it will come from agents, lawyers, and neighbors of your clients.

Initially you will need to make more of an investment of time, money, and energy in this, but after awhile you will find that a good web site and knowing people in the community will be a great way for private work to come your way.

But don’t think advertising doesn’t work. It does. Just make sure you get a good bang for the buck because you can waste money on it as well.

 

[bnmappraisal]

5. Get to know the real estate agents in the area. Become a source of information to them. I have agents that talk to me on a regular basis and refer work to me on a regular basis. Also ask questions from them. I call them up and talk to them about how buyers react to certain amenities from time to time. This builds trust and respect.

Agents (and their referrals) have been the biggest source of private/non-lending work for me over the past few years. 3 of my last 5 assignments have come from agent referrals