Five Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure their client gets the best data to be had. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Allied Real Estate Appraisers is continuously acquiring new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. At Allied Real Estate Appraisers we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals you order from Allied Real Estate Appraisers.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, 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 nor will you wonder whether we received the order.
Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial.: Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent area sales 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 telling us up front any details of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing characteristics 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 had a recent 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 as early as possible makes your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the idea a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take copious notes. Some think they have to make the place spotless before the inspection, having the thought that will make the house appraise higher. And will put off the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- some knowledge 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 decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has several pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. 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!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.