A Few Tips for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to ensure their client receives the most useful analysis possible. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Atlantic Coast Appraisers & Associates, Inc. is constantly researching additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Atlantic Coast Appraisers & Associates, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a couple of things you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals you order from Atlantic Coast Appraisers & Associates, Inc.:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete. Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to include with your assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — 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 welcome to contact us if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

  3. Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct? It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how details unique to a property add 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive faster.

  4. Did you make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect? One of the most inefficient steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Some homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the idea that an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. Not uncommonly they think they have to make the place spotless before the inspection, with the belief that will increase the appraised value . So they put off the appointment until the house is cleaned.

    Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little information 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 this website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!

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