5 Steps to Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure their client is presented with the best information possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc is always testing new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a couple of things you can do to reduce turn times every time you order an appraisal from South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc.

Always order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down 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 — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's unique features.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive earlier.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are understandably uneasy with the thought a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. Having the thought that it will increase the value, many homeowners think they must make the place spotless before the inspection. So they delay the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- some 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 can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of useful 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 familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to track your report's status.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been faster to keep track of your report's status.