Five Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to ensure their client has the best information to be had. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, SoCalAppraising.com is constantly researching additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At SoCalAppraising.com we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a couple of things you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals you order from SoCalAppraising.com.

Order your appraisals electronically.: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. 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. 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 had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the idea a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make lots of notes. Thinking that it will increase the value, many homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will put off the inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can 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. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. There's no faster or easier way to track the status of your report.