A Few Steps to Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to ensure the end user is presented with the best data possible. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Weaver Appraisal Group is always seeking new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Weaver Appraisal Group we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some things you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals ordered with Weaver Appraisal Group.

Order your appraisals online.: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: 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 are helpful data to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing characteristics add 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 built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with a stranger inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Many commonly think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, thinking that will increase the value. And will reschedule the appointment until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has several pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Why not our website as a resource to follow the status of your report?: 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. There's no faster way to track your report's status.