Five Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to ensure the end user gets the best information available. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Reliant Appraisals is constantly acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Reliant Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few items you can do to reduce turn times whenever you order an appraisal from Reliant Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone 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.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details 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 built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive without delay.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make abundant notes. Believing that it will increase the value, a few homeowners believe they must make the place spotless before the inspection. And will choose to not schedule the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- someone 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 affect their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point them to this website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as soon as possible!
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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier and faster to track your report's status.