5 Hints for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their research. They do this extra work to ensure the end user has the best information available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, John A Dunlap & Associates, LLC. is always acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At John A Dunlap & Associates, LLC. we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a handful of items you can do to decrease turn times when you order an appraisal with John A Dunlap & Associates, LLC..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to include with the request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive sooner.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making copious notes. A common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the inspection, having the thought that will increase the appraised value. And will delay the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have many pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Are you using our website as a resource to verify 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 faster to track the status of your report.