A Few Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to ensure the end user receives the best data available. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Alliance Appraisal, Inc. is continuously seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Alliance Appraisal, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a couple of things you can do to accelerate the process whenever you order an appraisal with Alliance Appraisal, Inc..

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations 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! 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 key.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from 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 elements.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique features add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, 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 makes your report arrive earlier.
What are you doing to make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most time consuming parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Many homeowners are understandably uneasy with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make lots of notes. With the idea that it will make the house appraise higher, some homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will put off the inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has many pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is instantly available to you online. There's no easier way to track the status of your report.