5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure the end user gets the most useful data possible. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Elite Appraisal Services is continuously researching new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Elite Appraisal Services we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a few things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered from Elite Appraisal Services:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? When you order online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial. 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 great information to include with the assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, don't hesitate to call us at 8502944660

  3. Are you letting us know up front any elements of the property that might make it unique? Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how characteristics unique to a property 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive more quickly.

  4. Set proper expectations with the homeowner. Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the idea that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take lots of notes. Many commonly think they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, believing that will make the house appraise higher and will choose to not schedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

    Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. They can even 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!

  5. Our website is a great resource for verifying your report's status. 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of the status of your report.