5 Tips for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user is presented with the most useful information. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Elite Appraisal is constantly acquiring new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Elite Appraisal knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to hasten the process each time you order an appraisal from Elite Appraisal:

Order your appraisals on the Internet. When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key. 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 include with the request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.


	You're always welcome to call us at (630)625-2245 if you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you.

Are you telling us up front any features of the property that might make it unique? Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique features add 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive without delay.
What are you doing to make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect? Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an outsider looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. With the Notion that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection . So they put off the appointment until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has many pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Tell them to call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!
Easily track 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to track your report's status.