Five Steps to Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to ensure the end user gets the best data possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Jamie Shertzer Appraisals is continuously acquiring additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Jamie Shertzer Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals you order with Jamie Shertzer Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the order 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 received the order.
Confirm 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. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to include with the request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's unique elements.: 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 built on, 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 is likely to make your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Many homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the fact a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take abundant notes. With the belief that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- a person 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 make it more likely their sale will close, and can decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Our website is a great resource for tracking your report's status.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with 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 easier to keep track of the status of your report.