After years of working under a commercial appraisal firm, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Why shouldn’t I branch out with an appraisal business of my own ?”
After all, you have the skill, the experience, and the contacts: you deserve to have a higher stake in what you do.
Our 10 steps for building an appraisal business is definitely helpful, but you might still be wondering whether taking all those steps is worth it in the long run.
Although no new business venture is ever easy, appraisers often transition to independent work for several reasons. Many love the newfound control they didn’t have at a large company, while others favor the flexibility that comes with working independently.
If you’re thinking about creating your own commercial appraisal business, take a look at these five perks that come with making the switch.
Most people who think about starting their own business do so because they don’t love working for someone else (understandable).
If that sounds like you, starting your own appraisal business is probably a good idea. This isn’t to say that you have issues with authority — you’re just an A-type personality who likes to make their own decisions on things!
When you have your own business, you get to have a major impact on your culture, branding, and business trajectory. This ability to make such an influence can be exciting and reinvigorating to those who have been in the appraisal industry for a while.
Flexibility is a well-known perk of having your own business, and a major draw for those looking for a better work-life balance. Gone are the constraints of a nine-to-five workweek — make your own hours as you please!
This is especially helpful for those looking to find a way to make their home life more of a priority. The world of commercial appraisal is known for its non-stop nature, and it isn’t always easy to leave time in your week for your loved ones and personal errands. When you’re able to make your own calendar, you have the power to shift your workload around as you please.
When you work at a commercial appraisal firm, you don’t always get to choose who you work with. Some people are lucky enough to work with cohesive, respectful work environments, while others get stuck with the opposite.
With your own business, you can wave goodbye to the days in which you had to work with nightmare clients and coworkers. As your own boss, you get to decide who you bring onto your team. You also get to have the final say on who makes your clientele list.
Small business owners also get to make more meaningful connections with clients. With no third-party facilitator in the way, you get to discuss assignments one-on-one and make real impressions that will build relationships and create repeat business.
In the world of commercial appraisal, it’s common for companies to lag when it comes to the adoption of innovative technologies. Older firms can get stuck in their ways and it can be extremely difficult to optimize your operation if it doesn’t fall in line with company standards.
Are you tired of using obsolete data storage and ancient office software?
You should be — these and other out-of-date appraisal practices are keeping you from doing your job quickly and effectively.
When you create your own appraisal business, you get a fresh start at optimizing the way you work and getting work done easier and faster than any firm affiliate. Nowadays, it doesn’t take much to set up the perfect operation; all you need is a decent home workspace and a subscription to the right software.
Appraisal platforms like Valcre offer you everything you need for your business, from easy-to-use templates to automatic invoices. Valcre is a cloud platform that stores everything you need online, negating the need for any hefty hardware — you can work from anywhere with a WiFi connection.
You don’t have to own a business to be proud of the work that you do. But, one of the biggest differences between working at a firm and having your own commercial appraisal business is the sense of achievement you feel. There’s no better feeling in a person’s career than creating something successful and watching if flourish.
No one said it would be easy, but with time, effort and the right tools, you too can create your own appraisal business. Looking to get started?