Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee the end user receives the best information available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, ASAP Appraisal Group is continuously testing new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since ASAP Appraisal Group knows that time is important to everyone, below are some things you can do to accelerate the process whenever you order an appraisal from ASAP Appraisal Group.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements 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 we got the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily interrupt 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. Even a list of recent area sales 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.
Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how differing elements add 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 had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive earlier.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. With the idea that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and can shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!
Easily follow the status of your report on our website.: 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 is available instantly to you online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of your report's status.