Part time job?

[piper1995]

I've been working as an appraiser for a little over 4 years now. I did my 2 years training and then spent 1 year working for someone else. This past year I went out on my own. At first I was sure I made the right decision. The company I was working for was giving me a 50% fee split, but eventually I was told I would need to get my own clients on top of running my own home office. I figured I'm already working from home, and why give them the fee split. The only reason I was with them anyway was becasue I had no expereince in gaining new clients. Now things have slowed to a stop. I'm lucky if I get 1 or 2 orders a week. I don't want to give up on appraising. I've tried looking for something part time to supplement my income, but I need something flexible so if things turn around and can come back to appraising. What are some of you doing to supplement your income? I would appreciate any advise on gaining new clients, or a good way to make extra money.

 

[John Fisher]

Step 1 would be to get certified. Where are you located?

 

[Steve Metz]

Being certifed is not going to help you in the short term,long term yes it will help. There just is no business out there at the moment. Look at being a EMT then go to Paramedic. you can work 2 days on and 2 days off and do appraisals on your off days. EMT only pays $10/hr but the move up to Paramedic pays $36/hr

 

[J Grant]

I havent' done it yet, but actually, the post office pays pretty well ($8-$20 to start) and does have part time work avail. you have to take a test. anyway, it is an idea. substitute teacher is another idea, you work when you are called, have to apply thru school system.

 

[Caligirl]

Substitute teaching can be fun and the pay isn't great but could fill in the gaps. Depends on your state whether you need a credential or not.

If you consider it send me a PM and I'll send you some tips. I used to be a teacher.

 

[TITAN1]

Piper, I have been working for the homeowners insurance industry as a home inspector. Actually, where are you located if your in the Orlando area there is an opening for an inspector their. Contact me for info, only for Orlando though.

Good Luck

 

[ockyappraiser]

Here's the problem with a part time job:

Where I live, part time teaching pays about $75.00 per day. You have to be there from 7:45 A to 3:00 P. Pretty much wipes out the day. I charge a minimum of $300 for full appraisals. So I can make as much in 3 hours as I would part time teaching 4 days.

Lets say you get on with the post office. Here you would work about 4 hours a day on your route. If you got $20 per hour. . .$80.00 per day. (remember $20 is the top end). Again. . .4 days equals one appraisal.

Bottom line: ask yourself this question. . .could you pick up ONE more order by cold calling mortgage offices, realtors, attorney's title companies, etc in four days? When times get slow for me, I take Krispy Kreme donuts to all my regular customers. Then I try this trick: I enter "mortgage" in my GPS unit and visit all the offices that come up in the area I am in. . .then move to the next area. I have never cold called through 6-8 offices in a day that I did not pick up at least one new order and one new client.

In other words. . .you are in a profession that pays $100 per hour! Get up at 6 AM. . .do your office work and get out of the door by 9AM and call on prospects until 5 PM. Do it every day you don't have business. You have to have the attitude that you will not be denied!

Remember. . .you are not an appraiser working for a business. . .you are in business. . .doing appraising. Do what the best business people do!

 

[ockyappraiser]

One more thought. . .you said you got "1 or 2 orders a week"

If you get $300 per order that is $300 to $600 per week. In other words you are all readying making $1,200 to $2400 per month doing 3-10 hours per week of work.

Where else are you going to make that type of money?

The answer is not a job tha pays $10 per hour. The answer is developing an ongoing prospecting and marketing system.

 

[J Grant]

Mark- your math makes perfect sense if one is getting full fee. In many areas though, partic for a newer appraiser, the only work to be had is AMC work, which if you break it down, pays around $30 an hour. no matter the source of the OP's work, they are not getting enough of it...I commend you on your marketing efforts, I am a terrible marketer to local MB's.... 3 hours to do an appraisal is $100 an hour, it takes me 5-6 hours per report, usually it takes 1 1/2-2 hours just to pull prelim reseach, drive, inspect the property and drive home, in some far jobs or ones with traffic takes 3 hours for drive/inspection time. I know what you mean about PT work not paying the same, it doesn't, but for some people having a part time steady income lessens the stress, and they can work appraisals around it.

 

[ockyappraiser]

Just trying to illustrate a point: Being on your own as an appraiser is first and foremost "being in business". The same principles apply. If a person does not enjoy the marketing part. . .calling on customers. . .regular email and fax marketing. . .asking for the order!. . .then there are two options. Appraisers then need to either work for a firm that gives them orders (in exchange for smaller fees). . .(this is basically what AMC companies do). . .or the appraiser can pay a marketing firm to do it for him/her.

I have no problem with AMC companies. . .because I look at them as paying a smaller fee in exchange for "marketing" my services to companies that would not use me as I have no access to them.

Bottom line: you need to do one of the following:

a: get on every AMC list you can and regularly call them to see how you can get more orders. . .and realize you will be paid less for not marketing

b: work for a larger appraisal firm in your area that gives you orders in exchange for a cut

c: learn to visit in person new potential customers on a DAILY basis and ASK for the order. That's what successful business people do.