5 Tips for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to ensure the end user receives the best data to be had. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals is continuously seeking additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals you order with Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals.

Order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily delay 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 from the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements add 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 recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive sooner.
Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the homeowner. Many current homeowners are justifiably uneasy with the thought an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. Under the belief that it will make the house appraise higher, some homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the inspection. So they put off the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- a short explanation 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 appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. Encourage them to call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Easily track the status of your report on our website.: 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been faster to track the status of your report.