Five Hints for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure their client receives the best information to be had. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Crawford Romans Appraisal Services is continuously acquiring new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Crawford Romans Appraisal Services knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to lessen turn times whenever you order an appraisal with Crawford Romans Appraisal Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the order.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key.: Being just one number off on the street address can really 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 — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique features contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we would 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.: One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the current homeowner. Many current homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the notion an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make abundant notes. A common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, under the impression that will make the house appraise higher. So they delay the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they are working with on their loan -- some knowledge 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. Our website has several pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. Advise them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Why not our website as a resource to keep tabs on your report's status?: 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.