A Few Hints for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure their client gets the best information possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Martin Appraisal is constantly testing additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. Since Martin Appraisal knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to lower turn times on any appraisals you order with Martin Appraisal.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
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 are helpful data to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. 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. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive quicker.
What are you doing to make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. With the notion that it will make the house appraise higher, some homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- a little bit 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. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Have them 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 soon!
Our website is a great resource for keeping tabs on 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available instantly to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.