A Few Steps to Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to guarantee their client has the best information to be had. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, On-Time Appraisers, Inc. is always seeking new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since On-Time Appraisers, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, below are a handful of tips you can do to hasten the process each time you order an appraisal with On-Time Appraisers, Inc. .

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you 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 delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct characteristics.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how differing details 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 recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive faster.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an outsider inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. Having the thought that it will make the house appraise for more money, a few homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will reschedule the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a short explanation 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has lots of pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Our website is a great resource for following your report's status.: 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 can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster way to track your report's status.