5 Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user receives the best data available. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, The Residential Appraiser is always acquiring new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since The Residential Appraiser knows that time is important to everyone, here are some things you can do to trim turn times on any appraisals you order from The Residential Appraiser.

Order your appraisals online.: When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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 area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's unique elements.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features add 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 had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive faster.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. One common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the idea that will make the house appraise for more money. So they delay the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your clients to this website, where we have multiple pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Encourage them to call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment without delay!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep tabs on the status of your report?: 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to track your report's status.