Five Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee the end user gets the best information to be had. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Peterson Appraisal Group is constantly seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Peterson Appraisal Group we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal from Peterson Appraisal Group.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Make sure that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to include with your assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique characteristics of this property.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how elements unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive quicker.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the current homeowner. Many homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the notion an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take abundant notes. Many commonly think they have to make the place spotless before the inspection, with the notion that will increase the value. And will reschedule the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- some 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 decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your customers to this website, where we have multiple pages of relevant information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Are you using our website as a resource to track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no easier way to keep track of your report's status.