A Few Tips for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user is presented with the best information available. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Alamance Appraisals is constantly testing additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Alamance Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, below are a handful of things you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order from Alamance Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to include with your request. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — remember, however, 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.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique elements 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 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 sooner makes your report arrive more quickly.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. With the belief that it will make the house appraise for more money, some homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will choose to not schedule the appointment until it is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little information 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has numerous pages of relevant 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 become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Why not our website as a resource to verify the status of your report?: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster or easier way to keep track of the status of your report.