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5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure the end user gets the best data available. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, True South Appraisals, LLC is continuously testing additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since True South Appraisals, LLC knows that time is important to everyone, below are a couple of items you can do to decrease turn times every time you order an appraisal with True South Appraisals, LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?
With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is 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 information is essential.
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 is helpful information to include with the assignment. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.

If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, you're always welcome to contact us

Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?
Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive more quickly.
Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?
Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making lots of notes. With the idea that it will increase the value, some homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they delay the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- some info 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 go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your clients to this website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Our website is a great resource for following the status of your report.
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 is available instantly to you online. There's no easier way to keep track of the status of your report.