Some Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to ensure their client is presented with the best information available. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Aaron Scott is always testing additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. At Aaron Scott we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some tips you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals ordered with Aaron Scott.

Always order your appraisals online.: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is essential.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to pass long with your assignment. 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 differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any elements of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing characteristics add 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive sooner.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. Under the impression that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners believe they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they delay the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has numerous pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment soon!
Use our website to track 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier and faster to track your report's status.