Some Tips for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their data gathering - all to ensure their client gets the most useful analysis that can be achieved. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Crest Appraisal Services is constantly seeking additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Crest Appraisal Services knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few items you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals ordered from Crest Appraisal Services:

Are you ordering appraisals online? When you order online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete. 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 is great information to include with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.


	If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, you're always welcome to contact us

Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how elements 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive faster.
Set proper expectations with the occupants. One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. A common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the notion that will increase the appraised value and will put off the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has multiple pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to keep track of your report's status. Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates 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 faster way to keep track of your report's status.