A Few Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee the end user has the best information to be had. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Astute Appraisals, Inc. is constantly seeking additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. Since Astute Appraisals, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, here are a few tips you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order with Astute Appraisals, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications 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 nor will you wonder whether we got the request.
Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily delay 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 in the area — 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 tell us about the property's unique elements.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how elements 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with an unknown person inspecting every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. Thinking that it will make the house appraise for more money, many homeowners think they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will reschedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- some information 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 lots of pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!
Why not our website as a resource to verify the status of your report?: 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 can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster way to keep track of your report's status.