Five Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their research. All to guarantee the end user has the best information possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Harris Valuation Solutions is always acquiring new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Harris Valuation Solutions knows that time is important to everyone, below are a handful of items you can do to reduce turn times every time you order an appraisal with Harris Valuation Solutions.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the request 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 got the request.
Make sure that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt 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 in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ 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. What takes time is analyzing how characteristics unique to a property 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive earlier.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with a stranger looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making copious notes. A common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, thinking that will increase the value. So they put off the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- the person they are 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 go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have many pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Advise them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Use our website to keep track of 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.