Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to ensure the end user receives the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Doty Appraisals, Inc. is always researching additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Doty Appraisals, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a handful of things you can do to hasten the process every time you order an appraisal with Doty Appraisals, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to 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. 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 be different from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any details of the property that might make it distinct?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features 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 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 earlier.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. With the belief that it will increase the value, many homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will put off the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have lots of pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!
Easily follow the status of your report on our website.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are 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 keep track of the status of your report.