Appraisers On Purpose

Hosted by Michael Hobbs

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Episodes

140

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Appraisers on Purpose Podcast showcases inspiring appraisers and professionals from the industry who are leaders in their field. How did they get to where they are? What have they learned along the way? And what do they do now for their teams, their clients, and the industry? Your host is real estate investor, seriel entrepreneur, and appraiser Michael Hobbs.

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60 recent

August 5, 2026Episode 951 min

Jessie Ruckel | Why Appraiser Competency Matters More Than Ever

Your strongest client relationships may begin with how you treat appraisers. Jessie Ruckel joins Appraisers on Purpose to explain why putting appraisers first can lead to better reports, stronger client service, and more trust in the final value conclusion.Her experience shows that quality does not begin at delivery. It begins with the right assignment, the right competency, clear expectations, strong communication, and a professional relationship built on respect. For appraisers, that can mean fewer revisions, less friction, better workflow, and more confidence in the work we produce.Jessie’s perspective comes from every side of the profession. She started as an intern learning to verify facts at the courthouse, moved into staff appraisal and review work at a lending institution, built her own appraisal practice, and later helped grow a major Central Texas firm. Each role reinforced the same lesson: credible work depends on people who are properly supported and prepared.That lesson became central to iAppraisal. When clients asked for the same quality outside Central Texas, Jessie saw an opportunity to build something different. Rather than treating appraisers as interchangeable names on a panel, she focused on competency, communication, trust, and long-term partnerships.For those of us building appraisal careers or firms, the practical value is clear. Better assignment decisions can reduce costly mistakes. Stronger professional relationships can improve client retention. Thoughtful review can sharpen our reporting. Understanding how clients use our work can help us communicate more effectively and protect our credibility.Watch or listen to the full episode of Appraisers on Purpose to hear how Jessie Ruckel turned mentorship, relationships, and careful professional judgment into a sustainable approach to appraisal leadership and business growth. Video Chapters 00:00 How Jessie Found Appraisal by Accident11:50 The Lesson That Shaped Her Career18:33 What Reviewing Appraisals Taught Her24:23 Why Competency Starts Before the Assignment37:53 The Leap From Employee to Business Owner41:38 Leaving Ohio to Chase Bigger Growth46:45 Building iAppraisal Around Appraisers51:37 Why Relationships Still Drive the FutureJessie’s story raises an important question about how we build quality in this profession.Are we focusing only on faster turn times and completed orders, or are we creating the conditions that allow appraisers to do credible work the first time?Better service does not come from squeezing more out of people. It comes from choosing the right professionals, supporting sound judgment, and building trust on both sides of the assignment.What would improve in your business if appraisers were treated as long-term partners instead of interchangeable vendors?What could change if stronger appraiser relationships became your competitive advantage?Start here: https://www.pahroo.com Connect with Michael Hobbs and follow PahRoo for more conversations like this: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok YouTube: Appraisers On Purpose

July 22, 2026Episode 71 hr 3 min

Mark Verrett | How to Build a Faster, Scalable Appraisal Business

Speed is not the enemy of quality when the right systems are in place. Mark Verrett joins Appraisers on Purpose to explain why faster appraisal delivery does not have to mean rushed analysis, weaker reports, or lower standards. His experience building a national residential appraisal firm shows that speed often comes from better preparation, clearer roles, and stronger processes around the appraiser. For appraisers, that creates a real business advantage. Better workflow can reduce administrative drag, improve consistency, shorten turnaround times, and free us to spend more time on judgment, analysis, and client service. Mark makes the case that the goal is not to push appraisers harder. It is to build a business that supports them better. His path started in his father’s appraisal office, where he helped assemble reports and saw early how parts of the process could be delegated. From there, he trained friends to become appraisers, explored appraisal technology, helped build a cloud-based report writer, and eventually helped shape a national firm operating across multiple markets. Today, his team averages delivery in under three days, with 65 percent of reports completed on the same day as the inspection. Mark also shares why he believes the profession may be heading toward a period of too much work and too few appraisers. As order volume returns, firms with reliable systems, strong leadership, and the ability to serve clients consistently may be in the best position to grow. He also reflects on AI, modernization, volunteer leadership, and the broader role appraisers can play in shaping the future of the profession. The value for us is practical. This episode offers a clearer way to think about delegation, service, scale, and professional responsibility. It can help us identify where time is being lost, where revisions or delays are being created, and where a better process could improve both quality and profitability. Watch or listen to the full episode of Appraisers on Purpose to hear how Mark Verrett built a career around experimentation, leadership, and the belief that appraisal businesses can work differently. Podcast Chapters: 00:00 Meet Mark Verrett 07:56 From baseball to appraisal 14:37 Building an appraisal team 19:42 Rethinking systems and workflow 27:59 Solving national client problems 32:58 Appraising after major floods 38:50 Speed without sacrificing quality 48:47 The future of appraisal and leadershipAre we really losing time because appraisal work requires it, or because we have accepted inefficient systems for too long? Mark’s story is a reminder that speed does not come from cutting corners. It comes from preparing earlier, assigning work more thoughtfully, and giving appraisers the support they need to do their highest-value work. What part of your appraisal process could be redesigned without compromising quality? Where could stronger systems take your appraisal practice? Start here: PahRoo Appraisal & Consultancy Connect with Michael Hobbs and follow PahRoo for more conversations like this: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

July 1, 2026Episode 41 hr 1 min

Robert Oglesby | Why Service Is Still the Strongest Appraisal Brand

The strongest appraisal brands are built on trust, not speed. In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Michael Hobbs sits down with Robert Oglesby to talk about what it really takes to build lasting value in the appraisal profession.Robert’s journey spans military service, residential appraisal, business ownership, appraisal management, team building, and eventually exiting a valuation company. His story is a reminder for appraisers everywhere: the future does not belong only to the fastest or cheapest provider. It belongs to those who create clarity, confidence, and trust.Top 3 Takeaways from This Episode:1. Service is still your strongest appraisal brandClients may hire us for the report, but they remember how we guide them through the process.2. Growth requires the right peopleRobert shares why building a strong team changed what was possible in his appraisal business.3. Change creates opportunityFrom HVCC to AMCs to today’s technology shifts, Robert shows how appraisers can adapt without losing their professional value.This episode is for appraisers who want to grow beyond the report, build stronger client relationships, lead better teams, and stay valuable in a changing valuation industry.Watch the full conversation with Robert Oglesby and discover how service, trust, and leadership can help appraisers build businesses that last.Question for appraisers:What do you think clients remember most, the report, the value, or the experience?===========Curious where appraisal is heading?Start here: PahRoo Appraisal & Consultancy Connect with Michael Hobbs and follow PahRoo for more conversations like this: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X TikTok YouTube Appraisal On Purpose

June 24, 2026Episode 354 min

Drew MacDonnell | The Future Needs Better Appraisers

The appraisers who adapt fastest may have the biggest advantage. The appraisal industry is changing fast.AI, new forms, shifting lender expectations, DSCR loans, specialization, and alternative appraisal work are forcing appraisers to ask a real question:Where do we fit in the future?In this episode of Appraisers on Purpose, Michael Hobbs sits down with Drew MacDonnell to talk about why adaptable appraisers have every reason to be hopeful.Drew’s path into appraisal was anything but traditional. Before building his appraisal career, he worked around hardware stores, invested in real estate, owned bed-and-breakfast properties, dealt with historic buildings, and learned firsthand how property value works from the owner’s side.That experience shaped how he approaches appraisal today.In this conversation, Drew shares how appraisers can:• Turn change into opportunity• Use real-world property experience as a competitive advantage• Build trust with investors, lenders, and referral partners• Think beyond traditional lending work• Stay curious in a profession that keeps evolvingThis episode is a reminder that the future of appraisal is not just about forms, tools, or technology.It is about appraisers who keep learning, keep adapting, and keep finding ways to bring real value to the people they serve.Watch the full conversation with Drew MacDonnell and discover why the future may belong to the appraisers willing to think differently.Curious where appraisal is heading?Start here: https://www.pahroo.comConnect with Michael Hobbs and follow PahRoo for more conversations like this: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X TikTok

May 13, 2026Episode 754 min

Heather D Hardy | Turning Appraisal Skills Into Real Estate Wealth

What if your appraisal skills could do more than earn a paycheck they could help build your future? In our latest “ Appraisers on Purpose ” podcast episode, appraiser, realtor, and investor Heather D Hardy shares a hopeful reminder: appraisal skills are not just business tools they are wealth-building tools. Instead of seeing valuation knowledge as something used only inside reports, Heather shows how appraisers can apply that same expertise to spot opportunity, evaluate risk, and make smarter real estate decisions for themselves. From buying duplexes and triplexes to improving value-add properties, her story reveals how market knowledge can become a pathway to more freedom, stability, and long-term options. Beyond appraisal work, Heather encourages appraisers to think bigger about the knowledge they already have. She has used her experience across appraisal, brokerage, and investing to build income streams, reduce living expenses, and create a real estate portfolio with purpose. For Heather, this isn’t about chasing quick wins. It’s about staying active, walking properties, understanding neighborhoods, and using what we already know to build something lasting. Tune in to this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose” to hear Heather D Hardy’s inspiring perspective on using appraisal expertise not just to value real estate—but to create a more secure and hopeful future. Curious where appraisal is heading? Start here: https://www.pahroo.com

May 6, 2026Episode 61 hr 3 min

Clarence Cundiff | What Appraisers Can Learn from Real-World Investment Risk

What if appraising is your greatest investing advantage? In our latest “ Appraisers on Purpose ” podcast episode, seasoned appraiser and investor Clarence Cundiff challenges a belief many appraisers quietly accept: that appraisal work is only a career, not a wealth-building advantage. Instead, Clarence argues that appraisers sit in one of the most powerful positions in real estate. By analyzing thousands of properties, market trends, and investment decisions over time, appraisers develop a unique ability to spot opportunity long before others do. From renovating student rentals near the University of Kentucky to buying an 11-unit apartment property with creativity, hustle, and strategic risk-taking, Clarence shares how resourcefulness, not massive capital, helped him steadily build long-term wealth. Beyond investing, Clarence highlights the hidden value of the profession itself. For him, appraisal isn’t just about writing reports, it’s about gaining access to knowledge, relationships, and real-world lessons that can shape an entirely different future. Tune in to this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose” to hear Clarence Cundiff’s perspective on risk, investing, and why the appraisers who think differently are the ones who thrive. Curious where appraisal is heading? Start here: PahRoo Appraisal & Consultancy

April 29, 2026Episode 544 min

Sandra Fioretti Loughlin | Turning Appraisal Skills Into Real Estate Wealth

What if your appraisal skills could unlock real wealth, not just reports? In our latest “Appraisers on Purpose” podcast episode, seasoned appraiser and investor Sandra Fioretti Loughlin challenges a quiet assumption many in the industry hold: that appraisers are limited to observing the market, not participating in it. Instead, Sandra reveals a more hopeful reality appraisers already possess a powerful advantage. With deep knowledge of valuation, market trends, and risk, they’re uniquely positioned to step into real estate investing with greater confidence and clarity. But she doesn’t stop there. Sandra shares how her first fix-and-flip deal wasn’t about making money, it was about building experience. From underwriting deals to managing renovations, she highlights the importance of learning through action, partnering with the right people, and embracing the process, even when things don’t go perfectly. For Sandra, this journey is bigger than profit. It’s about growth, confidence, and recognizing that appraisers can do more than analyze opportunities they can create them. Tune in to this episode of “ Appraisers on Purpose ” to hear Sandra Fioretti Loughlin’s perspective on turning appraisal expertise into real-world opportunity and taking the first step toward building wealth beyond the report. Curious where appraisal is heading? Start here: Pahroo Appraisal & Consultancy Website

April 22, 2026Episode 41 hr 6 min

Ed Miller | Why Every Appraiser Should Think Like a White-Hat Hacker

What if your biggest edge isn’t speed, but seeing risk before anyone else does? In our latest “Appraisers on Purpose” podcast episode, mortgage compliance expert Ed Miller challenges a powerful truth many appraisers overlook: the most valuable appraisers are not just reporting value, they are helping others manage risk. Instead, he argues, the future belongs to professionals who understand how their work impacts the entire lending ecosystem. For Ed, an appraisal is not just a document. It is a critical tool that influences underwriting, quality control, investor decisions, and loan saleability. Beyond that, Ed offers a hopeful perspective on where the industry is heading. He points to innovation, smarter product development, and a growing need for professionals who can think beyond old patterns. In his view, the opportunity ahead belongs to those who stay curious, embrace change, and learn how all the moving parts connect. For appraisers, this is more than insight; it is an advantage. The better we understand the pressures lenders, regulators, and investors face, the more indispensable we become. Tune in to this episode of “ Appraisers on Purpose ” to hear Ed Miller’s perspective on risk, growth, and why the appraisers who think differently will be the ones who thrive. Curious where appraisal is heading? Start here: https://www.pahroo.com

April 15, 2026Episode 31 hr 6 min

Baker Loch | Why Great Appraisers Build Judgment, Not Just Reports

What if curiosity is your biggest competitive advantage? In our latest “Appraisers on Purpose” podcast episode, appraiser Baker Loch challenges a quiet assumption in our profession: the best appraisers are simply the ones with the most polished process.Instead, he shows that real growth often comes from curiosity. For Baker, stepping beyond familiar templates and routine assignments is not a distraction from good appraisal work. It is what sharpens judgment, deepens market understanding, and builds long-term value in a changing industry.Beyond that, Baker offers a hopeful perspective on adaptability. From unusual property types to new technologies and career pivots, he makes the case that appraisers who stay open, flexible, and willing to learn are the ones most prepared to thrive.For Baker, this is not just about doing more varied work. It is about becoming more capable, more resilient, and more relevant in a profession that rewards thoughtful problem-solvers.Tune in to this episode of “Appraisers on Purpose” to hear Baker Loch’s encouraging perspective on why curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to think beyond the template may be the real edge for appraisers today.Curious where appraisal is heading? Start here: https://www.pahroo.com Connect with Michael Hobbs and follow PahRoo for more conversations like this.

April 8, 2026Episode 257 min

Taylor Curd | How Appraisers Can Overcome Analysis Paralysis and Build Wealth Through Real Estate

What if the knowledge you already have could build your future? In our latest “Appraisers on Purpose” podcast episode, appraiser and investor Taylor Curd challenges a quiet problem holding many appraisers back: analysis paralysis.Instead of letting expertise become hesitation, Taylor shows how appraisers can use what they already know to create momentum. For Taylor, the market knowledge, valuation skills, and daily exposure appraisers gain on the job are not just tools for serving clients, but assets that can help build confidence, opportunity, and long-term wealth.Beyond technical skill, Taylor highlights the hidden power of relationships. From investors and wholesalers to contractors and property managers, he explains how the connections appraisers make every day can become a powerful network for future growth. What looks like routine fieldwork today may actually be the foundation for tomorrow’s investment opportunities.For Taylor, this is not just about making more money; it is about thinking bigger. It is about using appraisal as a launchpad to create freedom, expand possibilities, and build a future with greater purpose and control.Tune in to this episode of “ Appraisers on Purpose ” to hear Taylor Curd’s hopeful perspective on how appraisers can move from overthinking to action and start using what they already know to build something bigger.Curious where appraisal is heading? Start here: https://www.pahroo.com