5 Steps to Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user has the best information available. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Appraisal-One is always acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Appraisal-One knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few things you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals ordered with Appraisal-One.

Order your appraisals online.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the order 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 retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the order.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really 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 the assignment. 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 let us know about the property's distinct details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive faster.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Having the thought that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will delay the inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to keep track of your report's status.: 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.