If you’ve ever wondered how an appraiser moves from lender chaos to a thriving non-lender business, this one’s for you. I sat down with Brad Bassey, SRA, MBA, who has more than thirty years in the field and over sixty-five hundred valuations under his belt.

We cover everything from wildfire litigation to horse ranches, why he walked away from AMCs years ago, how he built a 99.9 percent private-party business, and why customer service matters more than comps if you want repeat clients. Brad does not sugar-coat anything, which makes this episode a must-listen for appraisers who want to survive the changes ahead and actually grow in the process.

On this episode of Brews & Appraisal Views, Chicago-area appraiser and broker Donna Halfpenny shares a recent on-site incident during a divorce appraisal where she intervened in an assault, called 911, secured the scene, and later recused herself to avoid any appearance of bias. The male property owner in her story spent the night in the hospital for observation and treatment of cuts and bruises and was released the following day.

From there, the conversation walks through a practical 15-point safety checklist: sharing schedules, requesting police escorts when needed, announcing yourself in “vacant” homes, watching for hazards on site, keeping your phone charged, leaving if you feel unsafe, knocking before entering rooms, securing your vehicle and gear, carrying legal safety tools, assuming you are on camera, and more.

Real-world stories cover surprise occupants, hostile neighbors, dog bites, comp-photo confrontations, and why “just take the picture” can be the riskiest part of the job. The episode closes with a reminder to stay vigilant and treat safety like part of the assignment.

Key takeaways

• Safety starts before arrival. Share your schedule and ETA with someone who can find you if needed.
• In family law cases or heated situations, consider requesting a police escort.
• Announce yourself in any “vacant” property and assume cameras are recording.
• Stay situationally aware inside and out. Hazards range from window wells to thunderstorms.
• Secure the car and protect client data. Your laptop is part of your risk profile.
• Carry legal, practical safety tools you will actually use.
• If it feels wrong, it probably is. Leave, reschedule, or recuse.

Here is a link to 15 Safety Tips: https://referappraisals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/15-Safety-Suggestions-for-Appraisers.pdf

In this episode of Brews & Appraisal Views, Dan Lindeman talks with veteran appraiser Steven R. Smith, MAI, SRA, about what he calls the lost art of verification. Steven explains why so many appraisers are missing key market signals, how “stable” reports are masking real declines, and what separates real appraisers from the ones just holding a license.

They discuss verification, market conditions, liability, and how doing the job right can turn you into the go-to market expert.

We are joined by Carole Henrysen of Zen Appraisals (PA & NJ). We dig into how she shifted to non-lender work, why saying yes to the tough assignments paid off, and how a simple monthly coffee meetup turned into real referrals and real community.

What you’ll hear:

• The exact habits that took 8 months to the first private lead
• How to talk to callers so they don’t reduce you to “fee and turn time”
• Starting a local appraiser meetup without overthinking it
• Using Google and social posts to make your phone ring

In this episode of Brews & Appraisal Views, host Dan Lindeman dives into a big question appraisers wrestle with: Is getting a designation worth it? Dan is joined by three certified general appraisers with different perspectives:

Jack Lavoie (SRA, AI-RRS) – Residential specialist who earned his designations through the Appraisal Institute.

Ernie Ramos (ASA, IFA) – Chicago-based appraiser with ASA/IFA designations, focusing on residential, multifamily, and small commercial.

Carlos Rodriguez (MAI candidate) – Commercial appraiser in South Florida, currently deep in the MAI process.

They break down: The major designations (MAI, SRA, ASA, IFA, etc.). What the process looks like (courses, exams, demo reports, peer review, costs). How long it takes (3–5 years is common). The financial and time investment ($10k+ plus annual dues). Whether designations actually pay off in fees, credibility, and opportunities.

The consensus? Designations don’t guarantee success, but the process itself makes you a better appraiser, adds credibility in court/legal work, and opens doors to certain clients. Whether it’s “worth it” depends on your goals and market.

In this episode of Brews & Appraisal Views, Dan chats with Josh Walitt of Walitt Solutions about what’s ahead for appraisers—from AI tools changing how we analyze and write reports, to the new UAD format that’s going to shake up how we collect and present data. They also dive into Josh’s Learn Every Day platform, smarter ways to train new appraisers, and how to think beyond the traditional appraisal box. If you’re looking to future-proof your appraisal business, don’t miss this one.

We sit down with Steve to talk about referral income. As one of the earliest members of the Appraisal Referral Network, Steve shares how he’s been able to earn extra income by referring non-lender assignments to trusted colleagues in his market.

Ever had to turn down a job because it was outside your coverage area, outside your expertise, or just too time-sensitive? Instead of saying no, you could be turning those missed opportunities into referral income.

In this episode of Brews & Appraisal Views, I sit down with Karen Johnson—powerhouse REALTOR®, commercial and residential expert, and NAR liaison for appraisal affairs. We dive into the agent-appraiser relationship, how we can bridge the communication gap, and why sharing information isn’t influence—it's just smart. Karen shares her journey from underwriting multi-million dollar portfolios to mentoring agents and advocating for industry-wide change. We also talk about appraiser involvement in NAR, technology’s impact (yes, we said AI), and what it takes to price like a pro in today’s market.