5 Tips for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to ensure the end user is presented with the best data available. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Mid State Appraisal Group is continuously testing additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Mid State Appraisal Group we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a couple of items you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal with Mid State Appraisal Group.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down 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 — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how differing details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive without delay.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the current homeowner. Some current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the fact an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make numerous notes. Thinking that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners believe they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing 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 make it more likely their sale will close, and can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point them to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Use our website to keep track of your report's status.: 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 is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.