5 Hints for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to ensure their client receives the best information available. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Crescent Appraisal Group, Inc. is continuously acquiring new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Crescent Appraisal Group, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered with Crescent Appraisal Group, Inc..

Always order your appraisals online.: With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive more quickly.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Many homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the notion an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make numerous notes. With the notion that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your clients to this website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Our website is a great resource for following 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 is instantly available to you online. There's no faster way to keep track of your report's status.