Why I Tossed the Slide Deck and Just Listened
Nov 09, 2025
I had a slideshow ready. A full, prepared presentation titled something like “What’s an Agent Supposed to Do with a Stupid Appraiser?” Yes, with some self-deprecating humor baked in. But I never touched it.
The second I walked into the room—a group of eight agents seated around a boardroom table—I could feel the questions bubbling up. Two of them came at me before I even sat down. So I scrapped the script and just asked, “What’s on your mind?”
For the next 80 minutes, I answered questions. Not complicated ones—nothing that required a research paper. Simple, straightforward concerns that agents have all the time. Things like:
- “Should I bring comps to the inspection?”
- “How do you deal with a fence that’s six feet over the property line?”
- “Does a tandem garage count in value?”
- “What do you think about the NAR settlement?”
It reminded me of something important: agents want to understand appraisals. They’re looking for someone they can trust, someone who will explain things without brushing them off. And when you give them that space—when you show up, crack a few jokes, and treat them like partners instead of adversaries—they respond.
Honestly, it’s one of the best ways to build private work. Not with polished speeches or perfectly animated slideshows, but by showing up with a willingness to listen and a few stories to share.
These conversations matter. They build trust. They get you remembered. And sometimes, they start before you even hit “play” on your presentation.
Check out The Appraiser Coach Podcast for more info on this topic:
