5 Tips for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to guarantee their client receives the best data available. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Cantus Appraisal Services is continuously seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Cantus Appraisal Services knows that time is important to everyone, here are some items you can do to lessen turn times when you order an appraisal from Cantus Appraisal Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: 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 are helpful data to include with your request. 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.
Be sure to tell us about the property's distinct details.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique elements add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, 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 early on makes your report arrive sooner.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an unknown person looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. Not uncommonly they think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the idea that will make the house appraise higher. And will delay the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the 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 increase their home's value one little bit, and can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has several pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep tabs on your report's status?: 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.