5 Hints for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to guarantee the end user is presented with the best data to be had. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Lemmon Appraisal Services is always testing additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Lemmon Appraisal Services we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to lessen turn times when you order an appraisal with Lemmon Appraisal Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail notifications 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 re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: Being just one number off 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 are good data to pass long with your assignment. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the unique features of this property.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how differing features contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive quicker.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the current homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with a stranger inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Under the belief that it will make the house appraise for more money, some homeowners think they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Encourage 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 as quickly as possible!
Our website is a great resource for keeping tabs on 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been faster and easier to track your report's status.