Five Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to guarantee their client receives the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Everyday Appraisal is always seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since Everyday Appraisal knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a handful of things you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals ordered with Everyday Appraisal.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Having just one number incorrect 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any elements of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the current homeowner. Many homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the thought an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make numerous notes. Many commonly think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, believing that will increase the appraised value. So they delay the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point them to this website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!
Easily verify the status of your report on our website.: 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. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.