A Few Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to guarantee their client receives the best information available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Appraisal House, Inc. is always seeking additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Appraisal House, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few items you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals ordered with Appraisal House, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's 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 we received the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the unique features of this property.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how features unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive earlier.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the idea a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take numerous notes. A common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the notion that will make the house appraise higher. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- some info 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. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with 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 the status of your report.