Five Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their research. They do this extra work to ensure the end user has the best data available. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Crowe Appraisals is constantly testing additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. Since Crowe Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to lower turn times on any appraisals you order from Crowe Appraisals.

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: 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 great data to include with the assignment. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the unique characteristics of this property.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, 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, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive faster.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an unknown person looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. A common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the notion that will make the house appraise for more money. And will delay the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has many 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 the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Easily follow 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available instantly to you online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of the status of your report.