5 Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to ensure their client is presented with the best analysis. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, P.M. Appraisals, Inc. is constantly testing additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since P.M. Appraisals, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, here are a handful of items you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals ordered from P.M. Appraisals, Inc.:

Order your appraisals on the Internet. By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements 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 manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key. Being just one number off 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. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.


	Feel free to call us at 631-321-6678 if you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you.

Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how features unique to a property contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the occupants. Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the thought that a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take copious notes. Some think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, having the thought that will increase the appraised value and will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Our website is a great resource for tracking the status of your report. 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 track the status of your report.