Why Your Appraiser Vendors Deserve the Same Respect as Your Best Clients

Article by Nick Roberson

April 23, 2025

In the valuation industry, relationships matter. At Vision VMC, we serve a diverse range of lenders, investors, and financial institutions, each expecting speed, accuracy, and compliance in every valuation product we deliver. But there’s one often-overlooked truth that underpins our ability to meet — and exceed — those expectations:

👉 You can’t deliver exceptional service to your clients without exceptional relationships with your appraiser partners.

Treating your appraisers/vendors with the same respect, care, and professionalism that you extend to your clients isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a strategic business imperative. Here’s why.

🧩 Appraisers Are Not Just Vendors — They’re Mission-Critical Partners

Every single appraisal, whether for a residential refi or a small-balance commercial investment, reflects directly on the credibility of your organization. And while your clients may only see the final report, the quality of that product depends entirely on the person in the field: the appraiser.

When you treat appraisers like transactional vendors rather than professional collaborators, you risk poor communication, low morale, and subpar results. On the other hand, when you treat them like valued extensions of your team, the outcomes change dramatically: better communication, faster turn-times, and higher-quality reports.

💬 Communication is a Two-Way Street

Just like your top clients want real-time updates and clarity on expectations, appraisers do too. They want:

• Clear and accurate engagement letters

• Reasonable revision requests

• Support when dealing with difficult borrowers or property access

• A voice in policies that affect their work

Creating a feedback loop where appraisers feel heard not only improves morale — it builds trust. And in a tight vendor market, trust is currency.

💸 Fair Fees = Better Performance

You wouldn’t ask your best client to pay pennies for premium service — so why expect that from your appraisers?

Negotiating fair, market-based fees ensure you remain an attractive partner to top-tier professionals. Appraisers are inundated with orders from multiple AMCs and lenders. The ones who pay fair fees, offer clear communication, and treat appraisers with respect? They get prioritized. Every time.

📈 Retention Drives Consistency

Just like you work to retain loyal clients, retaining your best appraisers drives long-term consistency and quality. When your panel is made up of professionals who know your expectations, your systems, and your service philosophy, you eliminate costly delays and training gaps.

Frequent appraiser turnover = inconsistent product quality, more revision cycles, and increased client escalations. Treating appraisers like long-term partners reduces that churn.

👥 Culture of Mutual Respect

At Vision VMC, we believe that professionalism flows both ways. We:

• Pay timely and fairly

• Limit unnecessary revisions

• Avoid overburdening appraisers with requests outside of scope

• Advocate for appraiser independence and compliance

Because we know that by creating a positive appraiser experience, we organically create a positive client experience.

Final Thought: Appraisers Are Your Brand, Too.

Clients judge your valuation management company based on the performance and professionalism of your vendors. If that experience falls short due to delayed responses, poor communication, or an appraiser who feels unsupported your brand suffers.

Treat your appraisers like your best clients, and they’ll treat your clients like gold.

Vision VMC

People. Process. Performance.