Some Hints for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure their client has the best data to be had. To stay current with the always changing requirements, is continuously acquiring new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since knows that time is important to everyone, below are a couple of tips you can do to accelerate the process each time you order an appraisal from .

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Are you telling us up front any features of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how details unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive without delay.
Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the current homeowner. Some homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the thought a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take numerous notes. Having the thought that it will increase the value, many homeowners believe they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they reschedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your customers to this website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment quickly!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.