5 Hints for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their process. All to guarantee the end user receives the best information possible. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Alliance Appraisal, Inc. is continuously seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Alliance Appraisal, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some items you can do to trim turn times on any appraisals ordered with Alliance Appraisal, Inc..

Are you ordering 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 alone will save the most time! 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 information is crucial.
There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt 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 in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Tell us up front of the property's unique characteristics.
It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique features contribute 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive without delay.
Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?
One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the occupants of the home. Many homeowners are clearly uneasy with the idea an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make numerous notes. A common belief is that they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, thinking that will increase the value. And will reschedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they are 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have lots of pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to keep tabs on 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. There's no faster or easier way to track your report's status.