hal
Sophomore Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Michigan
For years, November through March was brutal. When AMC work slowed down (especially after dealing with a complaint and E&O headaches), I had to make a choice: fight for scraps (low ball AMC work) or pivot completely.
I went all-in on non-lender work—divorce, estates, probate, tax appeals, bankruptcy, investor deals, and commercial assignments around 2020. I have been cautious to share, because I don't want to lose business. I am a business owner. Now in 2025 I can happily say it was a full year with ZERO lender assignments, and honestly, I've never been less stressed.
What changed:
Here's what I didn't see coming—the biggest bottleneck in non-lender work isn't getting clients, it's capturing them. Attorneys call late. Homeowners text on Saturdays. Investors want instant quotes.
I implemented two things:
The results? I went from missing inbound calls to missing zero. My AI assistant handled calls last quarter while I was on inspections or living my life (I am not glued to my phone for work since I am a one man show).
Why I'm sharing this:
If you're doing non-lender work (or want to), your biggest competition isn't other appraisers—it's response time. The attorney who calls three appraisers at 6pm hires whoever answers first. The executor researching appraisers at 10pm moves on if they can't get a quote.
AI isn't optional anymore. It's the difference between capturing leads and losing them to someone who responds faster.
Questions I'd ask yourself:
I went all-in on non-lender work—divorce, estates, probate, tax appeals, bankruptcy, investor deals, and commercial assignments around 2020. I have been cautious to share, because I don't want to lose business. I am a business owner. Now in 2025 I can happily say it was a full year with ZERO lender assignments, and honestly, I've never been less stressed.
What changed:
- Revision requests dropped to almost nothing
- Clients appreciate the work regardless of value (no purchase fall-through drama)
- I'm getting actual reviews and referrals
- My schedule is more predictable year-round
Here's what I didn't see coming—the biggest bottleneck in non-lender work isn't getting clients, it's capturing them. Attorneys call late. Homeowners text on Saturdays. Investors want instant quotes.
I implemented two things:
- AI phone assistant - Answers every call 24/7, captures info, schedules callbacks
- Website chatbot - Gives instant fee quotes and books appointments
The results? I went from missing inbound calls to missing zero. My AI assistant handled calls last quarter while I was on inspections or living my life (I am not glued to my phone for work since I am a one man show).
Why I'm sharing this:
If you're doing non-lender work (or want to), your biggest competition isn't other appraisers—it's response time. The attorney who calls three appraisers at 6pm hires whoever answers first. The executor researching appraisers at 10pm moves on if they can't get a quote.
AI isn't optional anymore. It's the difference between capturing leads and losing them to someone who responds faster.
Questions I'd ask yourself:
- How many calls did you miss last month because you were on an inspection?
- How many website visitors left because you couldn't quote them instantly?
- Are you losing weekend/evening leads to appraisers who ARE available 24/7?
