5 Steps to Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user is presented with the most useful information that can be achieved. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Desert Appraisals, LLC. is always researching additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. At Desert Appraisals, LLC. we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some things you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals ordered with Desert Appraisals, LLC.:

  1. Always order your appraisals online. With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the order.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial. Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, don't hesitate to contact us

  3. Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct? Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive quicker.

  4. Be sure the homeowner knows the plan. Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are justifiably uneasy with the fact that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. Not uncommonly they think they need to make the place spotless before the inspection, thinking that will make the house appraise higher . So they delay the inspection until they have cleaned.

    Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point your customers to our website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!

  5. Easily verify the status of your report on our website. 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. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.