A lot of industry voices are saying the same thing:
“Private work is the future.”
“Diversify into non-lender work.”
“Get off the AMC treadmill.”
They’re not wrong. Private work is valuable. It’s flexible. It builds relationships.
But let’s be real—if you’re running a firm, not just holding a license, you need more than one lane.
You need a balanced portfolio:
✔️ Private work
✔️ Direct lenders
✔️ Select AMCs (yes, they still have a role)
✔️ Niche verticals (estate, legal, consulting)
No single client or platform should own more than 20% of your revenue. That’s just Business 101.
And if you’re trying to scale, grow, and hire—you need consistency. You need to supplement. You need to play the long game.
Let’s stop acting like private appraisals are a silver bullet.
They’re part of the strategy—not the whole playbook.
Real growth comes from diversification, systems, and smarter client selection.
Don’t just build a job. Build a business.
Hardesty Appraisals 