Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, 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 receives the best information to be had. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Harper Certified Appraisals, LLC is always testing new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since Harper Certified Appraisals, LLC knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a handful of things you can do to hasten the process when you order an appraisal from Harper Certified Appraisals, LLC.

Order your appraisals electronically.: With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really 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. 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.
Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing characteristics contribute 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Some homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. Many commonly think they should make the place spotless before the inspection, with the belief that will increase the appraised value. So they reschedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has several pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Advise them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Use our website to follow 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been faster and easier to track the status of your report.