A Few Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this additional work to guarantee their client is presented with the best data possible. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, A. M. Appraisals is always testing new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At A. M. Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some items you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order with A. M. Appraisals.

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.

When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.

Make sure that the subject property information is accurate and complete.

Having just one number incorrect 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 good data to include with your request. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

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

Let us know up front of the property's distinct features.

Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. 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 ordering your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive quicker.

Let the homeowner know what to expect.

Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be apprehensive with an unknown person looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Under the impression that it will make the house appraise for more money, some homeowners think they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Tell them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!

Use our website to keep track of 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. There's no faster or easier way to keep track of the status of your report.