A Few Steps to Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to guarantee their client is presented with the best data possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Accuracy Matters Appraisals is continuously researching new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Accuracy Matters Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some items you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered with Accuracy Matters Appraisals.

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key 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?: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how characteristics unique to a property add 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 recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive quicker.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the thought an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. A common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the idea that will increase the value. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- some information 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 appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your clients to this website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Easily keep tabs on 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been faster and easier to keep track of your report's status.