Some Tips for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure their client receives the best information possible. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc is constantly seeking additional 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 we've listed a couple of tips you can do to trim turn times whenever you order an appraisal with South Shore Realty Advisors, Inc.

Always order your appraisals online.: With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
Verify that the subject property data 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. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's unique characteristics.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing characteristics 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive sooner.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most inefficient steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Many homeowners are justifiably uneasy with the idea an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make lots of notes. A common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the notion that will increase the value. So they put off the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your clients to this website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Use our website to keep track of your report's status.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been faster to keep track of your report's status.