Five Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their research. All to ensure their client gets the best data available. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Salt Lake Appraising Company is constantly testing 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 few items you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals you order from Salt Lake Appraising Company.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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 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.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct features.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how differing features 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 characteristics 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. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive faster.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Not uncommonly they think they need to make the place spotless before the inspection, with the idea that will make the house appraise for more money. And will delay the appointment until it is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they've been 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 them to this website, where we have multiple pages of helpful 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 as soon as possible!
Our website is a great resource for verifying 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster or easier way to keep track of the status of your report.