A Few Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their process. All to ensure their client gets the best data to be had. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Real Estate Appraisal Services of WI, Inc. is constantly researching additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Real Estate Appraisal Services of WI, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, here are some items you can do to trim turn times on any appraisals you order from Real Estate Appraisal Services of WI, Inc..

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to pass long with your assignment. 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 may be different from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's distinct features.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how differing features 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive quicker.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: One of the most time consuming parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the current homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. One common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection, having the thought that will increase the value. So they put off the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a little bit 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 decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point them to this website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment soon!
Use our website to verify 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 to you online. There's no easier or faster way to track your report's status.