Five Hints for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client is presented with the best information available. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, The Appraisal Firm is constantly seeking new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since The Appraisal Firm knows that time is important to everyone, here are some tips you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order from The Appraisal Firm.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.

Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?

Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily interrupt 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 from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, don't hesitate to contact us

Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property.

It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique features contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique elements 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. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive faster.

Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.

Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Many commonly think they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the notion that will increase the appraised value. And will delay the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!

Our website is a great resource for tracking the status of your report.

No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.