5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee their client has the best data possible. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Coulton Company Appraisals LLC is always researching additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. At Coulton Company Appraisals LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of things you can do to speed up the process when you order an appraisal with Coulton Company Appraisals LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to include with the request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any details of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how features unique to a property contribute 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive faster.
What are you doing to make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with a stranger inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. A common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the idea that will make the house appraise higher. And will delay the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- the 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 can decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment promptly!
Why not our website as a resource to keep track of 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.