A Few Hints for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their process. All to guarantee their client receives the best data possible. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals is constantly researching additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals knows that time is important to everyone, here are a handful of items you can do to decrease turn times every time you order an appraisal with Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique elements of this property.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique details 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 prone to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive sooner.
Did you make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. Some current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the idea a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. With the idea that it will increase the value, some homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your customers to this website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment soon!
Easily track 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no easier or faster way to track your report's status.