A Few Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to ensure their client receives the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Region Appraisals & Consultants, LLC is constantly acquiring additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Region Appraisals & Consultants, LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some tips you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered with Region Appraisals & Consultants, LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key.: Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may 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 house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique elements contribute 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive sooner.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are justifiably apprehensive with the thought an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take abundant notes. Having the thought that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners think they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they put off the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- a person they are 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 them to this website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Easily track the status of your report on our website.: 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been faster to track the status of your report.