Some Tips for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their research. They do this extra work to guarantee their client is presented with the best information to be had. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, A. M. Appraisals is always testing new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At A. M. Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some things you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal from A. M. Appraisals.

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment 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 retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: 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 is great information to include with your assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct characteristics.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Some current homeowners are understandably uncomfortable with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take lots of notes. Thinking that it will make the house appraise higher, some homeowners believe they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. They can even 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!
Our website is a great resource for following 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 is available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.

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