Oh bummer, I apparently missed the magic on this one. Non competes are not enforceable in all states. It's countered by the concept of right to work.
Online research keywords; states where non competes are unenforceable. / Many are simply prohibited, while others have various degrees where such activity can be applicable. If you're operating as a 1099 in a free market space, good luck to them trying to enforce that, because they're going to need it.
I signed one with this scummy firm when I was trying to move away from the family business. They were so dirty, they promised me I would not have to sign one, but then tried to make me in order to get paid after two months of work. I signed the dang thing anyways, left, and competed anyways. Lol. They didn't do a damned thing because I was on the inside and was seeing how they operate for long enough. Then the firm manager had her license stripped and sanctioned by the state due to ongoing investigations I never knew about. But I knew this was not going to be the place for me. In the end I did not even claim the hours on my appraisal application and just scrounged with pick up work instead. They knew I was working elsewhere and I never heard a dang thing from them, they'd even see me at live CE classes and appraisal group meetings and such. They kept quiet because they knew... I was not like them and actually believed in honesty and ethic.
I ran across one of the puppy mill guys whom was telling me I'd do all the inspection and write up, he'd review and send back to me for revisions, then he'd sign, and I'd get like twenty five percent or something. I was like you've got to be kidding me. At the time runners of this nature were prohibited practice, but so many of them were doing it anyways. When I got my first refi after having been an appraiser for a while, this CG sent a runner over but she got a last minute phone call just before she got to the door and skedaddled off somewhere else. Then the real appraiser showed up. I did not say anything to the state though because landing a 2.5% 15 yr was too important. My principal was melting off like butter on a steak.
As far as advisement to turn everyone into the state, think twice. There is no greater objection than absence. Just go compete and be sure to stay away from those people. They'll never know. One does not need all this online presence and listing data to be a confirmed working appraiser. Literally all you need is a license, a phone, and an email address. I shut the web site presence down a decade ago and never regretted that even once. Too much hassle and I don't like individual requests. I land long term clients, roll with them until something unravels, then I pick up the phone and replace them with whom I want to work with.
Talk to lawyers and state persons on purpose? Go to government buildings by my own free will? Not in a damned million years and I don't care if a real world leprechaun is there on a real pot of gold. I'm not doing that. Life is too short. Karma will catch up with them eventually. Always operate on the good faith principal. And if people violate the good faith, simply leave and never look back.
