A Few Hints for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee the end user has the best information possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Cedar Elm Appraisals is always seeking new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Cedar Elm Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a couple of things you can do to lessen turn times each time you order an appraisal from Cedar Elm Appraisals .

Order your appraisals online.: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations 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 nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really 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. 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 be different from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's unique features.: 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. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive without delay.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: One of the most time consuming parts of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the current homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an unknown person inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. A common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the inspection, under the impression that will make the house appraise higher. So they reschedule the inspection until it is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- someone they've been 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. I encourage you to point your clients to this website, where we have many pages of useful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available instantly to you online. There's no easier way to track your report's status.