5 Steps to Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee the end user has the best information to be had. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Peterson Appraisal Group is continuously testing new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. At Peterson Appraisal Group we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some items you can do to trim turn times when you order an appraisal with Peterson Appraisal Group.

Order your appraisals online.: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment 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 re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to include with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the unique characteristics of this property.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how details unique to a property 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive faster.
Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most inefficient steps of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the current homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. With the notion that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a little info 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 time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.