Five Steps to Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client has the best information to be had. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Preferred Appraisal Service is continuously researching additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work quickly. Since Preferred Appraisal Service knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal with Preferred Appraisal Service.

Order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to manually enter information from an email, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to pass long with your assignment. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the unique details of this property.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed or a basement finished, it's subject to zoning restrictions, remodeling, etc. These are things we will find out on our own but knowing them sooner makes your report arrive more quickly.
Are you making the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. With the notion that it will make the house appraise for more money, many homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the inspection. So they delay the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has numerous pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!
Use our website to keep track of your report's status.: Why are you still playing phone 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 instantly to you online. It's never been faster and easier to track your report's status.