Five Tips for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure their client gets the best information possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Compliant Appraisal Services LLC is constantly testing additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Compliant Appraisal Services LLC knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some items you can do to trim turn times on any appraisals ordered from Compliant Appraisal Services LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to pass long with your assignment. 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 might differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive earlier.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Some current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. One common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, under the impression that will increase the value. So they delay the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and can decrease 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. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Our website is a great resource for tracking your report's status.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are 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 track the status of your report.