A Few Tips for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee their client is presented with the best data possible. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Performance Appraisals Inc. is always seeking additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Performance Appraisals Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some items you can do to hasten the process when you order an appraisal from Performance Appraisals Inc..

Always order your appraisals online.
When you order online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.
Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, feel free to contact us

Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property.
Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive faster.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.
Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an unknown person looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making lots of notes. Some think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, believing that will increase the value. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a little info 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. Our website has multiple pages of helpful 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 benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Our website is a great resource for verifying your report's status.
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 is available to you online. There's no faster way to track your report's status.