5 Steps to Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their process. All to guarantee the end user has the best information available. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Astute Appraisals, Inc. is continuously seeking additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. Since Astute Appraisals, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few tips you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals ordered with Astute Appraisals, Inc..

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down 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. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how unique details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report 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 prone to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are clearly uneasy with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make lots of notes. One common belief is that they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, believing that will increase the appraised value. And will delay the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- some 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 likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has several pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Why not our website as a resource to follow the status of your report?: 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. There's no easier way to keep track of the status of your report.