Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to ensure their client receives the best analysis that can be achieved. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Appraise It is always testing new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. At Appraise It we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to lower turn times on any appraisals ordered with Appraise It:

  1. Order your appraisals on the Internet. When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations 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 nor will you wonder whether we received the request.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property information is essential. Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is great information to pass along with your request. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.

    3. You're always welcome to call us at 2607607660 if you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you.

  3. Tell us up front of the property's unique characteristics. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how features unique to a property contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive without delay.

  4. Do the occupants know what to expect? One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Some homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the notion that a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make numerous notes. A common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, believing that will make the house appraise for more money . So they delay the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!

  5. Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website. Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers 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 your report's status.