A Few Steps to Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user has the best data to be had. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Appraisal-One is continuously acquiring new tools and tweaking processes in order 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 some things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered with Appraisal-One.

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering 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 the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is essential.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down 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 sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to 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 details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique elements add 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 had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making lots of notes. Believing that it will make the house appraise for more money, a few homeowners think they must make the place spotless before the inspection. And will reschedule the appointment until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- some 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. Our website has several pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no easier or faster way to track the status of your report.