A Few Hints for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to ensure the end user receives the best data available. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Total Property Service is continuously seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Total Property Service we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to hasten the process when you order an appraisal from Total Property Service.

Are you ordering appraisals online? When you order online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment 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 nor will you wonder whether we got the order.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.


	If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, don't hesitate to contact us

Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct features. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how details unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive quicker.
Set proper expectations with the occupants. Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Some think they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, believing that will make the house appraise for more money. So they reschedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- the person they've 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Tell 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!
Are you using our website as a resource 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. There's no faster way to keep track of your report's status.