What's In A(n) Appraisal Business's) Name? Or Logo? Or Business Card?

[Joe Flacco]

The obvious was in my name. As an ag appraiser I don't wear business casual and had some shirts embroidered. Perhaps mere vanity, it does help ID you to those you meet.

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I like this logo you use better.

 

[Joe Flacco]

I like this one too. Timothy is a clever dude. I can't remember what it was but I liked the company name he had before this one too.

 

[ICT RE]

A logo would be your call. Will it be a service area identifier or will it be used primarily for marketing?

Just marketing/image/branding purposes. At least in my market, stuff like this is mostly ignored, and if not it is done in an amateur manner. Just looking for ways to separate from the pack a bit. I'm a visual person as well, so it is a point of pride thing too (even if my ROI is zero).

Appreciate the other input!

 

[ICT RE]

Ditch the embroidered polo (you aren't trying to be their pool service) and wear business casual.

Ya think? I know of a TON of self-employed folks who are doing well for themselves in other fields, that wear gear with the logo of their business.

Thanks for the response, by the way!

 

[ICT RE]

i don't think you have anything to worry about. even if someone decided to start on the path of being an appriaser the day the requirements were reduced they still won;t be eligible for the test for another 6 months, and once passed most still need to acquire 3-5 years of experience not only to be able to apply to panels but to get a grasp pn what one is doing. now factor in the cost of startup, which you are becoming familiar with, and the general state of residential lending work declining and you should be ok not many will choose this path.

using your name or not is a personal decision. i chose not to include my name in my company but many do. i don;t think there is any real benefit to either side, it;s just a personal preference thing.

i do think there is value in a well designed logo and quality business cards. the $10 special from places like vistaprint will get you by but we have all seen quality, and not so quality, business cards. which one did you like better?

Thanks! Sure hope you're right on the supply side issue!

 

[ICT RE]

When you go out on your own you will have a license that is very new. Is there a reason to leave the people who trained you? Getting private work can be very challenging. One thing to consider is that you most likely have been trained by one person, one way and it might be beneficial to see what other people do. If you feel you need to make more $$ once certified have you ever thought of asking your mentor for more $$ after getting the CR? Have you thought about going to another experienced appraiser and offering them your services? It is going to be very hard to get work on your own without at least three years of having that CR license.

I'm not currently working with my primary mentor, and I haven't in a while. I would assume he would not see that as a good use of his time, nor would I vice-versa. Nothing scandalous on either end, he's just mostly moved on from appraisal work as his main source of income, and his clientele base would illustrate that. A slow move away from appraisal that he started many moons ago, which I saw as I was working under him.

I have nothing at all against working under a senior appraiser in my market for another couple or three years, if that's what has to happen. I'm just going to make sure I can't make a go of it on my own first. I didn't take this financially painful, circuitous, long road only to end up again as some else's employee or subcontractor. That negates the entire point of the process I've undergone, from my perspective. I'm no mensa member or anything, but I have an education and background that would get me a better career tract than working as a staff appraiser - if I were wired to work the rest of my days as someone else's employee. I am, however, more than willing to earn less as my own boss, as I'm sure can be said for a lot of people in this field.

Could also find a CG to work under, and knock that out while I’m also playing the CR minimum experience waiting game. Would probably be the most long-term productive use of that time, if it comes to pass.

 

[ICT RE]

The obvious was in my name. As an ag appraiser I don't wear business casual and had some shirts embroidered. Perhaps mere vanity, it does help ID you to those you meet.

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I have a family crest too, actually. Since I'm just ~200 miles NW of your market would you sue me for infringement if I used it professionally?

Kidding, of course.

 

[ICT RE]

In consideration of the possible coming wave of form-filling zombies on the resi side, what with the new wild west CR qualifying standards, would it be prudent to include education under a person's name and cert on a business card? I don't consider myself a special snowflake or anything, but having something like "BBA - Finance" (for example) linked to your name should be an advantage when very soon many new participants to the market largely won't be able to say much more than "I passed 10 classes of gen eds at the local community college".

Not that I have anything against people who didn't go to college (know a few that didn't that are doing very well), but it sure feels like the minimum barrier to entry for an analytical, quantitative, professional field - one that also requires reasonable communication skills - is at least an undergrad degree. Debate for a different day, I suppose.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I have a family crest too, act

Not a family crest the Shield was an area in N. England. In ancient times it was a Gaelic name meaning "lazy" or "sluggish" or someone who was old - a grandfather figure ...go figure

The heraldic defensive item originated from a different source. But crests grew out of the practice of painting symbols on shields.

 

[Walter Kirk]

My business was formed before appraisers were required to have licenses. At that time my partner covered portions of three states and the business name, Delaware Valley Appraisal, described our service area. At that time our name helped potential clients to identify us. Today, with most residential business coming from AMC's, I don't think that identifying a service area is necessary since AMC's don't care! As to a Logo, my former partners wife designed a simple logo for us (a roofline with chimney) which was used for over 25 years. Today my business card lists only my name with no logo.