A Few Tips for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to guarantee the end user gets the best information available. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Allen Appraisal Service is constantly seeking new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since Allen Appraisal Service knows that time is important to everyone, here are a handful of tips you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered with Allen Appraisal Service.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the order.

Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete.

There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to include with the request. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, don't hesitate to call us at

Tell us up front of the property's distinct details.

It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how differing features 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 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 susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive earlier.

Does the homeowner know what to expect?

One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Under the impression that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners think they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they reschedule the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a little 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 appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of useful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!

Easily track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.