Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to guarantee their client has the best information to be had. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Salt Lake Appraising Company is always researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Salt Lake Appraising Company we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of tips you can do to decrease turn times when you order an appraisal with Salt Lake Appraising Company.

Order your appraisals online.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the request.
Make sure that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down 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 area sales is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique elements of this property.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how characteristics unique to a property 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive without delay.
Are you making the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. A common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the belief that will make the house appraise for more money. And will put off the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they are working with on their loan -- a short explanation 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 shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have multiple pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Use our website 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.