5 Hints for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to ensure the end user is presented with the best information available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Metropolitan Real Estate Appraisal Service, Inc. is continuously acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Metropolitan Real Estate Appraisal Service, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to lower turn times on any appraisals you order with Metropolitan Real Estate Appraisal Service, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online 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 the order was received.
Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive faster.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the idea a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. Not uncommonly they think they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, thinking that will increase the appraised value. So they choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment quickly!
Our website is a great resource for following the status of your report.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.