5 Tips for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to guarantee their client is presented with the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Schwab Appraisal LLC is always testing additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At Schwab Appraisal LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to lower turn times when you order an appraisal with Schwab Appraisal LLC.

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the request.
Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt 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 — though be advised 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 elements of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique features 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 recently had an addition constructed, 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 makes your report arrive quicker.
What are you doing to make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy 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 inspection, believing that will increase the value. And will delay the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- some 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 can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Our website is a great resource for verifying 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.