5 Tips for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to ensure their client gets the most useful analysis that can be achieved. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Quality Appraisal Solution and Services is constantly testing additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. At Quality Appraisal Solution and Services we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few tips you can do to lessen turn times every time you order an appraisal with Quality Appraisal Solution and Services:

  1. Always order your appraisals online. By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property information is essential. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass along with the request. 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.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, don't hesitate to call us at (805) 298-4578

  3. Be sure to tell us about the unique features of this property. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive sooner.

  4. Be sure the occupants know the plan. One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with a stranger inspecting every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. One common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the inspection, with the notion that will make the house appraise higher . So they choose to not schedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

    Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has several pages of useful 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 become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment without delay!

  5. Are you using our website as a resource to track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no easier or faster way to track your report's status.