5 Tips for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to guarantee the end user receives the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc is constantly acquiring new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to reduce turn times whenever you order an appraisal with South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
Make sure 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 great data to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's unique elements.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how elements unique to a property 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive without delay.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be apprehensive with an unknown person looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. With the idea that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming 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 change their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has many pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Use our website 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. There's no easier way to track your report's status.