LaFayette businessman acquires Piedmont Appraisers

BY JOHN BRICE

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LAFAYETTE — LaFayette businessman Brandon Ison recently become the new owner of Piedmont Appraisers Inc.

Dantz Frazer sold the business to Ison after the two worked together for several years.

Ison discussed the transition and his professional background.

“I started with Ison Logging, which was my father’s forestry business, and then worked for several other companies,” Ison said. “I started working with Dantz in 2020, around the time COVID hit. That’s when I began doing appraisals and worked my way up to becoming a general certified appraiser. When we first started working together, we discussed the possibility of me buying him out in the future, and that time has come.”

Ison said his experience in related industries led him into appraisal work.

“I was working for another company and started Backwoods Forestry, which is my primary company,” he said. “I am a registered forester in the state of Alabama. I approached Dantz about doing some forestry work, and that led to doing appraisals.”

Ison said the variety of properties involved is one of the aspects of appraisal he finds most interesting.

“We specialize in land appraisals, primarily estates and agricultural properties,” he said. “I have appraised tracts ranging from 10 acres to several thousand acres. There is a wide range of properties that we work with.”

Piedmont Appraisers primarily serves East Alabama and portions of West Georgia, according to Ison.

“We generally work east of Interstate 65 in Alabama, with parts of Georgia as well,” he said. “Much of our work involves agricultural land that supports timber and crops. Being located near Auburn also factors into some aspects of our business.”

Becoming a certified appraiser required completing adult education coursework, which Ison said he pursued while balancing family responsibilities.

“I received my trainee license in 2020 and earned my general certification in February 2025,” he said. “Because of COVID, all of the coursework was online. I had been out of school for about 13 years, so getting back into studying was challenging, especially while working and raising a family.”