5 Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their research. They do this extra work to ensure the end user receives the best data to be had. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Carley Appraisals is continuously seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Carley Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some items you can do to hasten the process every time you order an appraisal with Carley Appraisals.

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: 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 are great data to pass long with your request. 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 might differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering 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 predisposed to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive more quickly.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with a stranger looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. A common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection, thinking that will increase the appraised value. So they delay the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has lots of pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
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 your report's status.