Some Hints for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to guarantee their client is presented with the best information possible. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, A. M. Appraisals is continuously acquiring new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since A. M. Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, here are some items you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals ordered from A. M. Appraisals.

Always order your appraisals online.

With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.

Complete and accurate subject property information is key.

There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might 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.

Be sure to let us know about the unique characteristics of this property.

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing characteristics 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 built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive more quickly.

Let the occupants know what to expect.

One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making lots of notes. Thinking that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners believe they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they reschedule the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little bit 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. 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 the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!

Easily follow the status of your report on our website.

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 can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster or easier way to track the status of your report.