A Few Tips for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to guarantee their client receives the best information possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Phoenix Valuations, LLC is continuously researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Phoenix Valuations, LLC knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few tips you can do to hasten the process when you order an appraisal with Phoenix Valuations, LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct features.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how characteristics unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive quicker.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. Under the belief that it will increase the value, some homeowners feel they must make the place spotless before the inspection. So they reschedule the appointment until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Encourage them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Easily follow 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. There's no faster way to track your report's status.