5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to ensure their client is presented with the best data available. To keep up with the always changing requirements, JTH Appraisals is continuously testing additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more efficiently. Since JTH Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, here are a few tips you can do to trim turn times on any appraisals you order with JTH Appraisals.

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: 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 sales from the area 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 let us know about the unique features of this property.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique characteristics 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive sooner.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be apprehensive with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making copious notes. With the belief that it will increase the value, some homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they are working with on their loan -- a little 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 likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has many pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Why not our website as a resource to follow your report's status?: Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers 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 keep track of the status of your report.