5 Tips for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to guarantee their client is presented with the best information available. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Salt Lake Appraising Company is constantly seeking additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. Since Salt Lake Appraising Company knows that time is important to everyone, below are some items you can do to reduce turn times each time you order an appraisal from Salt Lake Appraising Company.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: Being just one number off 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. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: 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 recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: Setting 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 apprehensive with a stranger looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. With the notion that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has multiple pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Encourage them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep track of your report's status?: 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.