5 Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to guarantee the end user is presented with the best analysis that can be achieved. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Miller Appraisals is always acquiring additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Miller Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals you order with Miller Appraisals:

  1. Order your appraisals electronically. When you order online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This 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 received the order.

  2. 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. Even a list of recent sales in 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. You're always free to contact us if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

  3. Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct details. Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique elements add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.

  4. Does the homeowner know what to expect? One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Many current homeowners are understandably uneasy with the fact that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. Under the impression that it will make the house appraise higher, some homeowners think they have to make the place spotless before the inspection and will reschedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have many pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!

  5. Are you using our website as a resource to track your report's status? Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates 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 to track your report's status.