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5 Tips for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to ensure their client gets the most useful analysis. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Rivers Edge Appraisals & Consulting, Inc. is constantly testing new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since Rivers Edge Appraisals & Consulting, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, below are some tips you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals you order from Rivers Edge Appraisals & Consulting, Inc.:

  1. Always order your appraisals on the Internet. By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications 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 received the order.

  2. Make sure that the subject property data is accurate and complete. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, don't hesitate to call us at 2084208680

  3. Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive without delay.

  4. Set proper expectations with the homeowner. One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. Thinking that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the inspection and will choose to not schedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point your customers to our website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!

  5. Why not use our website as a resource to track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. It's never been faster and easier to keep track of your report's status.