Five Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their process. All to guarantee their client receives the best information available. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Alliance Appraisal, Inc. is always researching new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Alliance Appraisal, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some tips you can do to lower turn times whenever you order an appraisal from Alliance Appraisal, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the order 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 we received the order.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to pass long with the assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any elements of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing elements 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive earlier.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most tedious parts 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 an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Under the impression that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners believe they must make the place spotless before the inspection. And will put off the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- the person 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 can decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment soon!
Use our website to verify 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. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of your report's status.