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Five Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to ensure the end user is presented with the most useful data. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Nace Appraisal Group is constantly researching new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more efficiently. At Nace Appraisal Group we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a few items you can do to decrease turn times each time you order an appraisal:

 

  1. Always order your appraisals online. With online ordering, 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 received the order.

  2. Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property? Having just one number incorrect 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. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

  3. If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, feel free to call us at 631-294-6069

  4. Are you letting us know up front any features of the property that might make it distinct? It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how unique details 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 built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive more quickly.

  5. Set proper expectations with the occupants. One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Some current homeowners are justifiably apprehensive with the thought that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make numerous notes. Thinking that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection and will delay the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has numerous pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!


  6. Easily verify the status of your report on our website. 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 is available to you online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.