Some Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to ensure their client gets the best information possible. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Appraisal House, Inc. is constantly acquiring additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Appraisal House, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some items you can do to accelerate the process each time you order an appraisal from Appraisal House, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the order.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the unique characteristics of this property.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how features 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 characteristics 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 as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Not uncommonly they think they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the idea that will make the house appraise for more money. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- some 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. Our website has lots of pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Tell them to call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment without delay!
Easily verify 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. It's never been faster and easier to keep track of the status of your report.