5 Steps to Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to ensure their client gets the best data possible. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, is constantly researching new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some tips you can do to trim turn times when you order an appraisal with .

Order your appraisals online.: When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily delay 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct characteristics.: 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. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them sooner will likely make 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 time consuming tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making lots of notes. Under the belief that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will put off the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly 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 increase their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Encourage them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to keep tabs on your report's status.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. There's no faster way to track your report's status.