5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this additional work to guarantee their client receives the best data available. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Best Working Appraisals is always testing new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. At Best Working Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of tips you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals you order from Best Working Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: 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 are great data to include with the request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's unique features.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how details unique to a property contribute 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 put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive without delay.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming tasks in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are understandably uneasy with the idea an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make lots of notes. Believing that it will make the house appraise higher, some homeowners believe they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will delay the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have many pages of useful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Are you using our website as a resource 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 available instantly to you online. There's no easier way to track the status of your report.