Five Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to guarantee the end user gets the best information possible. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Approved Appraisals of Indiana is always seeking additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more efficiently. Since Approved Appraisals of Indiana knows that time is important to everyone, below are some items you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals you order from Approved Appraisals of Indiana.

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the order 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 we received the request.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: 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 good information to include with the request. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any elements of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique details 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 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'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive sooner.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming tasks in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are understandably uncomfortable with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. Under the belief that it will make the house appraise higher, many homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person 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 make it more likely their sale will close, and can go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have multiple pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Are you using our website as a resource to track the status of your report?: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.