profile picture

Five Tips for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee their client has the best information available. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Crest Appraisal Services is continuously testing new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Crest Appraisal Services we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of things you can do to speed up the process every time you order an appraisal from Crest Appraisal Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?
By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete.
Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really 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 in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.

If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, don't hesitate to contact us

Be sure to tell us about the unique characteristics of this property.
It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique details contribute 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, 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 sooner makes your report arrive faster.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?
Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the thought an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. Under the belief that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Encourage them to 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 promptly!
Easily follow the status of your report on our website.
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 available instantly to you online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of your report's status.