5 Tips for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their research. All to ensure their client has the best data to be had. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, New Century Appraising is always testing new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At New Century Appraising we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some tips you can do to decrease turn times every time you order an appraisal with New Century Appraising.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements 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 re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
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 is good information to include with the request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's unique features.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements contribute 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive earlier.
What are you doing to make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Under the impression that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they put off the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and can go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have lots of pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to verify your report's status.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.