How I Went All Non-Lender in 2025 (And Why AI Changed Everything)

[hal]

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:

• 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

The unexpected game-changer: AI automation

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:

1. AI phone assistant - Answers every call 24/7, captures info, schedules callbacks
2. 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?

For anyone interested in the non-lender transition or AI implementation, happy to share what worked (and what didn't). Feel free to DM me or drop questions below. If you are still wondering about A.I. I would like to disclose that it helped me with this post.

 

[glenn walker]

Good Job you embraced technology and made positive changes to move off the AMC plantation. I believe with your positive attitude your now going to build a lasting profitable new way of doing business. Keep looking forward and keep us posted.

 

[Tom D]

i never have, or had, any aggrevation with my direct lenders.

Good for some thinking on your business end.

 

[TC]

Kudos!

 

[WestMichiganCG]

What's your service area?

 

[cashcatz]

1. AI phone assistant - Answers every call 24/7, captures info, schedules callbacks
2. Website chatbot - Gives instant fee quotes and books appointments

That's neat, which specific tooling are you using?

 

[nstanbru]

I haven't done appraisals for any kind of loan in over 20 years. The key, at least for me, was a good marketing plan.

 

[J Grant]

I haven't done appraisals for any kind of loan in over 20 years. The key, at least for me, was a good marketing plan.

Amarketing plan and most of all, your commercial license, which opens up an entire spectrum of work that a res license can not capture

I find it difficult to believe the OP with a res license is so busy with non-lender work that an AI assistant makes a difference. Perhaps they are trying to sell or promote the AI service. Many real estate license appraisers develop a marketing plan, and the best they can do is supplement their income with some listing appraisals or attorney /other private work - unless they are designated and well-connected.''

 

[J Grant]

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:

• 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

The unexpected game-changer: AI automation

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:

1. AI phone assistant - Answers every call 24/7, captures info, schedules callbacks
2. 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?

For anyone interested in the non-lender transition or AI implementation, happy to share what worked (and what didn't). Feel free to DM me or drop questions below. If you are still wondering about A.I. I would like to disclose that it helped me with this post.

How do you do commercial assignments with a residential license?

 

[Zoe]

How do you do commercial assignments with a residential license?

A duplex is classified as commercial in the County I work. I can think of mixed use, etc if he is doing bankruptcy, court type work with lawyers, accountants and property owners. I may should have said she. I don't know if this person is he or she.

Tax appeals. Wanting to sell. etc.etc. The possible uses are very wide range to need an appraiser.

They probably get a bunch of referrals too....... from existing clients.

Dividing an estate up, trust type work after a death in family or for whatever reason for a trust. It is a wide market.

Income taxes, divorce. The list goes on.