5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to guarantee their client receives the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Tri-County Appraisal Group, Inc. is always acquiring new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Tri-County Appraisal Group, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few tips you can do to hasten the process when you order an appraisal with Tri-County Appraisal Group, Inc..

Always order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really 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 sales in the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct details.: 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 elements 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'd find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive sooner.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an unknown person looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Many commonly think they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection, with the belief that will make the house appraise for more money. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- some information 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 decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have multiple pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. 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 without delay!
Our website is a great resource for tracking the status of your report.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to track the status of your report.