Five Tips for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to guarantee their client gets the best data to be had. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Graham Appraisal is always researching additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Graham Appraisal knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few things you can do to decrease turn times every time you order an appraisal with Graham Appraisal.

Always order your appraisals online.: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique elements of this property.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics 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 features 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'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Many homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the thought an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make lots of notes. Having the thought that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge 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 numerous pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep track of your report's status?: 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. There's no easier or faster way to track the status of your report.