A Few Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user has the best information to be had. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate Services is always acquiring additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate Services we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a handful of tips you can do to hasten the process whenever you order an appraisal from Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly 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 we got the request.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily delay 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 differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any features of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report 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. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive quicker.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the current homeowner. Some homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the idea an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. Having the thought that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will reschedule the inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they are working with on their loan -- a little knowledge 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 go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of useful 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 our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Use our website to track your report's status.: 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 is available instantly to you online. There's no easier or faster way to track your report's status.