Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee their client is presented with the best data possible. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Peterson Appraisal Group is constantly acquiring new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Peterson Appraisal Group we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some items you can do to reduce turn times when you order an appraisal with Peterson Appraisal Group.

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly 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.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to pass long with your request. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct features.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique elements add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with an outsider looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Under the belief that it will increase the value, many homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they put off the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Why not our website as a resource to track your report's status?: 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 is available instantly to you online. It's never been faster to track the status of your report.