A Few Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to ensure their client gets the best data available. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Filson's Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc. is continuously testing new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Filson's Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some items you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal with Filson's Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc..

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: Being just one number off 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 is good information to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in 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.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct elements.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how elements unique to a property contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive without delay.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the notion an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make lots of notes. Believing that it will make the house appraise for more money, a few homeowners think they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they delay the inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they are 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. Our website has many pages of useful 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 meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Are you using our website as a resource to follow 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.