5 Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client gets the best data to be had. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, C L Harper & Associates is constantly testing additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since C L Harper & Associates knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered from C L Harper & Associates.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key.: Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to 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 sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing details 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 had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive earlier.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Some homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the thought a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. Many commonly think they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the belief that will make the house appraise higher. So they delay the appointment until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they have been 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 shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Encourage them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Our website is a great resource for following the status of your report.: 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster way to track your report's status.