Five Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to ensure their client gets the best data to be had. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Litchfield Appraisal is constantly seeking additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Litchfield Appraisal we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a handful of things you can do to lessen turn times each time you order an appraisal from Litchfield Appraisal.

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the order 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 we got the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily delay 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 be different from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how features unique to a property add 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. One common belief is that they have to make the place spotless before the inspection, thinking that will increase the value. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and can shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has multiple pages of helpful 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 meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Easily follow the status of your report on our website.: 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. There's no faster or easier way to track the status of your report.