Some Steps to Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to guarantee the end user gets the best data available. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Crest Appraisal Services is continuously testing new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Crest Appraisal Services knows that time is important to everyone, here are some tips you can do to decrease turn times whenever you order an appraisal from Crest Appraisal Services.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Complete and accurate subject property information is essential.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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.
Are you letting us know up front any details of the property that might make it distinct?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are justifiably apprehensive with the thought an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and take copious notes. With the notion that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a little 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 decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Advise them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Easily verify the status of your report on our website.: 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. There's no faster way to track your report's status.