5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their process. All to ensure their client is presented with the best data available. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Timely Appraisal Services is continuously researching new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Timely Appraisal Services we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a handful of items you can do to lessen turn times each time you order an appraisal with Timely Appraisal Services.

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any elements of the property that might make it distinct?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how elements unique to a property contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering 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 predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on 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 time consuming tasks in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. Many commonly think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, under the impression that will make the house appraise higher. And will put off the inspection until it is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a short explanation 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. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have many pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Our website is a great resource for keeping 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of the status of your report.