Some Steps to Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their data gathering - all to ensure their client gets the most useful information possible. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Tri-County Appraisal is always acquiring new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more efficiently. Since Tri-County Appraisal knows that time is important to everyone, below are a couple of items you can do to lessen turn times every time you order an appraisal with Tri-County Appraisal:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the request 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 manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.

  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 add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to pass along with your assignment. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, don't hesitate to call us at 3157882406

  3. Be sure to tell us about the unique details of this property. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive earlier.

  4. Let the occupants know what to expect. Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an unknown person looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making lots of notes. Under the impression that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners believe they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by . So they put off the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Coming directly 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 make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!

  5. Easily track the status of your report on our website. 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 available instantly to you online. There's no faster way to track your report's status.