Some Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to ensure their client gets the most useful data that can be achieved. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Rodgers Appraisal is always researching additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Rodgers Appraisal we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some items you can do to reduce turn times every time you order an appraisal from Rodgers Appraisal:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the order.

  2. Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property? 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 in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, you're always free to contact us

  3. Let us know up front of the property's unique characteristics. Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique features add 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 had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive faster.

  4. Set proper expectations with the occupants. One of the most inefficient steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Many homeowners are understandably uneasy with the idea that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take abundant notes. Having the thought that it will make the house appraise for more money, some homeowners think they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by . So they put off the appointment until it is cleaned.

    Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!

  5. Why not use our website as a resource to follow the status of your report? 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 easier to keep track of the status of your report.