Five Tips for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to ensure the end user receives the best data available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Steyskal Home Appraisal LLC is always acquiring additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. At Steyskal Home Appraisal LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a couple of tips you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals you order with Steyskal Home Appraisal LLC.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down 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 — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct characteristics.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how unique 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 had a recent 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 sooner makes your report arrive without delay.
Did you make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. Some current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the idea an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. Thinking that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners believe they must make the place spotless before the inspection. And will put off the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- the person they've been 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 appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your clients to this website, where we have many pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as 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 soon!
Why not 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.