Five Tips for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client receives the best information to be had. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Elite Appraisal Services is continuously seeking new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Elite Appraisal Services knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals you order with Elite Appraisal Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! 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.: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily interrupt 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 in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements add 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive more quickly.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are justifiably apprehensive with the idea an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and take numerous notes. With the belief that it will make the house appraise higher, many homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they put off the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. They can even 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!
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 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.