A Few Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to ensure their client gets the best information possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Desert Sky Appraisers is always seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. At Desert Sky Appraisers we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some items you can do to speed up the process each time you order an appraisal from Desert Sky Appraisers.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
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. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's distinct features.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report 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, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive faster.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the current homeowner. Some homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the notion a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. Many commonly think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, believing that will make the house appraise for more money. So they choose to not schedule the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- the person they've been 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 decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your clients to this website, where we have many pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to follow your report's status.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no easier or faster way to keep track of the status of your report.