Five Tips for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user receives the best data available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Allen Appraisal Service is constantly seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Allen Appraisal Service knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals you order with Allen Appraisal Service.

Always order your appraisals online.

When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the request.

Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?

There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to include with the 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 may differ from yours.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique?

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive without delay.

Let the homeowner know what to expect.

One of the most time consuming parts 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 inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. A common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the notion that will increase the value. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge 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 go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has multiple pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Advise them to call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!

Why not our website as a resource to follow your report's status?

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 available instantly to you online. There's no faster or easier way to keep track of the status of your report.