Faster Appraisals

4 Suggestions for Quicker Turn-Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their process - all to ensure their client receives the best analysis. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Priority Appraisal is constantly acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At Priority Appraisal we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a few items you can do to decrease turn times when you order an appraisal from Priority Appraisal:

1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the assignment 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 retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the request.

2. 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. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to include with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from 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.

3. Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct details. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how features unique to a property contribute 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 recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.

4. Be sure the occupants know the plan. Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are clearly uneasy with the thought that a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. Some think they should make the place spotless before the inspection, under the impression that will make the house appraise higher . So they delay the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point them to our website, where we have multiple pages of relevant information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment without delay!

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