Five Steps to Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee the end user is presented with the best information to be had. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Allen Appraisal Service is continuously seeking new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Allen Appraisal Service we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to decrease turn times whenever you order an appraisal from Allen Appraisal Service.

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is great information to include with your request. 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 might differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's unique elements.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique elements contribute 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive more quickly.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Many homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the fact an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. Thinking that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners feel they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they put off the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they are working with on their loan -- a short explanation 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your customers to this website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to track your report's status.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. There's no easier way to keep track of your report's status.

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