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5 Steps to Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this additional work to ensure the end user is presented with the best information possible. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Norcal-Appraisers is continuously researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Norcal-Appraisers knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to accelerate the process whenever you order an appraisal from Norcal-Appraisers:

  1. Order your appraisals online. When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the assignment 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 we received the request.

  2. 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. 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 are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, feel free to call us at 7073187232

  3. Tell us up front of the property's distinct features. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique elements 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive sooner.

  4. Set proper expectations with the occupants. One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the current homeowner. Many current homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the notion that a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take abundant notes. With the idea that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection . So they put off the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

    Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. 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's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!

  5. Easily follow the status of your report on our website. Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7? As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been faster and easier to keep track of the status of your report.