A Few Steps to Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this additional work to ensure the end user receives the best analysis that can be achieved. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Appraisals by Tom is always acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. Since Appraisals by Tom knows that time is important to everyone, here are some tips you can do to speed up the process every time you order an appraisal from Appraisals by Tom:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? When you order online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property? There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. Feel free to call us at 540-455-9007 if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

  3. Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features contribute 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 details 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. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive quicker.

  4. What are you doing to make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect? Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the notion that a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take numerous notes. With the Notion that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the inspection . So they delay the appointment until they have cleaned.

    Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point your customers to our website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!

  5. Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website. 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 is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier and faster to track the status of your report.