5 Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to ensure the end user has the best information to be had. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Barnes Appraisal Company is constantly testing additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Barnes Appraisal Company we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a few items you can do to trim turn times whenever you order an appraisal from Barnes Appraisal Company.

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 retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt 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 sales in the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any elements of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing characteristics add 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive faster.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Many homeowners are understandably uneasy with the notion an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. With the idea that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners believe they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will reschedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- some information 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. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Easily verify the status of your report on our website.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been faster and easier to track the status of your report.