Five Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to guarantee their client has the best information to be had. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Norman Haas, Jr. is always testing additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. At Norman Haas, Jr. we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to speed up the process every time you order an appraisal with Norman Haas, Jr..

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: When you order online, 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 you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate data 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, 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 property's distinct features.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how features unique to a property contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. Some current homeowners are understandably uncomfortable with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. Under the belief that it will make the house appraise higher, many homeowners think they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will put off the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can shorten the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have multiple pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!
Use our website to follow your report's status.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.