Some Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee the end user has the best information available. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Triangle Residential Valuations is constantly seeking additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Triangle Residential Valuations knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a couple of items you can do to trim turn times when you order an appraisal with Triangle Residential Valuations.

Always order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: 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 helpful information to include with your request. 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 might differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any elements of the property that might make it distinct?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how unique characteristics 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive more quickly.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the current homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an unknown person looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Many commonly think they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, believing that will increase the appraised value. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they are working with on their loan -- a little information 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 time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Encourage them to call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!
Are you using our website as a resource to track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. It's never been faster to track the status of your report.