Crawford Romans Appraisal Services: Saving time with cutting-edge appraisal technology

At Crawford Romans Appraisal Services, we have a confession to make. We always have the latest nerdy gadgets. From smart phones and tablets to laser measuring and GPS devices, we are always looking to find better, faster methods for appraising. Call us geeks. Call us nerds. Call us what you will, but by all means, call us at (216) 816-0334 for appraisal orders in Cuyahoga County!

If you ask an appraiser, most will agree that much has changed with nearly every aspect of the appraisal business. Since cutting corners on analysis isn't an option for an ethical appraiser, the logical place to save time is in our daily workflow. The appraisers that have continually invested in new technology have been the ones able to consistently satisfy their customers with more accurate reports, better customer service and faster turnaround times.

Work with someone who uses technology to their advantage

Quick online ordering

Way back when, the majority of orders came in via fax and were confirmed with phone calls once we arrived at the office. In this scenario, it might of taken quite a while to hear back to see if the order could be taken. Things are quite a bit different different now. These days, when orders are entered on the website, we receive a mobile notification. We can even log into this site from the field and send back an email confirmation – including the time and date for the inspection if we've been able to talk to the occupant.

At Crawford Romans Appraisal Services we understand it's all about "cycle time". We utilize our resources to reduce the waiting between communications and the faster we can get things done directly effects your bottom-line. By utilizing our website we can reduce the time it takes to finish your appraisal.

Report delivery

Delivery of appraisals as PDF files through email is definitely the standard these days. Generally our clients are most comfortable with receiving PDFs attached to their email. It's much better than when everything was on paper. But,we've even been able to improve report delivery with this website.

Everyone knows how frustrating it is to lose a file. Or have you ever had problems sending or receiving an email because it was too big? We have the technology to overcome those problems, too. When we deliver an appraisal through our website, the client is emailed a link to retrieve the PDF. At that point, it doesn't matter if all the extra photos and maps in the report result in too big an attachment. The download link is even good for a full 90 days. So if anything happens to the file, you can log back into our site and retrieve it without having to wait on us to send it again.

Advanced data gathering tools

Gathering the data for an appraisal is an in-depth process.. We spend much of our time obtaining both specific information about the subject property and general data about the local market and developing trends. Once again, technology has stepped in to help Crawford Romans Appraisal Services.

Instead of using paper forms and pencils and then re-keying all the information at the computer, don't be surprised to see us with a tablet or collecting data using a program for our phone that allows us to sketch a floorplan right on the spot. And instead of using an outdated tape measure, a large percentage appraisers are utilizing laser measuring devices that are quicker, more accurate, and can get into places that a normal tape measure can't.

We combine all of these different technologies to ensure the final report is complete and accurate, requiring fewer call-backs and revisions. This can be a real money saver for busy appraisal clients.

Digital work file technology

It would be much easier if appraisers could complete an assignment, give it to the client, and never be concerned with seeing that report again. However, appraisals are used to demonstrate the condition of a property on the inspection date. Therefore, appraisers are required by law to retain their reports for 5 years, allowing them to recall any appraisal at any time to defend the valuation or to be used in legal proceedings.

To sum it all up, Crawford Romans Appraisal Services leverages our experience with to improve service. By storing every aspect of the appraisal - notes, sketches, supporting documentation, and calculations - along with an electronic copy of the appraisal, we're able to retrieve that report at any time and recall exactly what that report was about.

We wanted to give you a bit of insight into how we use technology daily. Investing in the right tools, along with the appraisal know-how you expect allows the appraiser to collect the right data and finish the report quickly and more accurately. All of which helps keep our costs down, and ultimately save you, our cilent, time and money.