Astute Appraisals, Inc. saves time with cutting-edge appraisal technology

At Astute Appraisals, Inc., we have a confession to make. We always have the latest nerdy gadgets. From smart phones and tablets to laser measuring and GPS devices, we are always looking to find better, faster methods for appraising. Call us geeks. Call us nerds. Call us what you will, but by all means, call us at 410-499-9940 for appraisal orders in Howard County!

The appraisal process has changed enormously lately and most would say it's much more demanding. Since cutting corners on analysis isn't an option for an ethical appraiser, the logical place to save time is in our daily workflow. The appraisers that have persistently adopted new technology have been the ones able to consistently satisfy their customers with more accurate reports, better customer service and faster turnaround times.

Work with someone who uses technology to their advantage

Simple online ordering

Years ago, a great deal of orders were delivered via fax and were confirmed with phone calls once we arrived at the office. It might be hours before a client even knew if we could do the order. Things are quite a bit different different now. When an order is placed on the site, we get a digital notification. We often log into our site from the field and send back an email confirmation – including the time and date for the inspection if we've been able to talk to the occupant.

When you order from Astute Appraisals, Inc. you can expect us to be concerned about your deadlines. We utilize our resources to reduce the waiting between communications and the faster we can get things done directly effects your bottom-line. By utilizing our website we can reduce the time it takes to finish your appraisal.

Report delivery

The majority of our appraisals are delivered through email as PDF documents. Many clients prefer email because they're familiar with receiving attachments like PDFs in their inbox. It's much faster than previously, before the days of email. But,we've even been able to enhance report delivery with this website.

Ever lost a file that was sent to you? Or have you ever had problems sending or receiving an email because it was too big? We provide a solution for those problems, too. When we deliver an appraisal through our website, the client is emailed a link to retrieve the PDF. By bypassing email completely we get around any problems caused by file size. The download link is even good for a full 90 days. So if you lose the file, you can log back into our site and retrieve it without having to wait on us to send it again.

Innovative technology in the field

The appraisal process is nothing if not a detail-oriented routine. We spend much of our time gathering the facts on the subject property, as well as the local market data and trends. Astute Appraisals, Inc. employs technology to close the gap once again.

Instead of using paper forms and pencils and then re-keying all the information at the computer, don't be surprised to see us with a tablet or collecting data using a program for our phone that allows us to sketch a floorplan right on the spot. And instead of using an outdated tape measure, more and more appraisers are utilizing laser measuring devices that are quicker, more accurate, and can get into places that a normal tape measure can't.

All of this technology ensures the final report is as complete and accurate as possible, avoiding call-backs and revisions. This can be a real money saver for busy appraisal clients.

Digital work file technology

It would be much easier if appraisers could never have to think about an appraisal again after submitting it to the client. But one purpose of an appraisal is as a legal document outlining the condition of a property on a specific date. Therefore, appraisers are required by law to retain their reports for 5 years, allowing them to recall any appraisal at any time to defend the valuation or to be used in legal proceedings.

To sum it all up, Astute Appraisals, Inc. leverages our investment in to improve service. By storing every aspect of the appraisal - notes, sketches, supporting documentation, and calculations - along with an electronic copy of the appraisal, we're able to retrieve that file at any time and recall exactly what that report was about.

We wanted to give you a bit of insight into how we use technology daily. Using the right tools, along with the appraisal know-how you expect allows the appraiser to deliver reports more efficiently, with a higher level of accuracy. The goal is to lower costs, and ultimately save you, our cilent, time and money.