Five Hints for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to ensure their client has the best information to be had. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Instant Certified Appraisals is constantly seeking additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Instant Certified Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, here are a handful of items you can do to accelerate the process each time you order an appraisal with Instant Certified Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements 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 re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Make sure that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to include with the assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct details.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique features contribute 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 details 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'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive more quickly.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an outsider looking in every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Some think they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, having the thought that will increase the value. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

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. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have many pages of useful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. Have them 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 soon!
Our website is a great resource for verifying the status of your report.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are 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.