Five Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user has the best information available. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Elite Appraisal Services is continuously acquiring new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Elite Appraisal Services we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some items you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered with Elite Appraisal Services.

Always order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, 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! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is essential.: 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 — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's unique details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how characteristics unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive without delay.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: One of the most inefficient steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Many current homeowners are understandably uneasy with the notion an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take numerous notes. A common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, believing that will increase the value. And will put off the inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they are working with on their loan -- a little 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. Our website has lots of 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 familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment soon!
Use our website to track your report's status.: 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 available instantly to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.