Some Hints for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their research. They do this extra work to ensure their client is presented with the best information available. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Associate Appraisers of America is constantly acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. At Associate Appraisers of America we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some items you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals ordered with Associate Appraisers of America.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.

Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.

Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to pass long with your assignment. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

Feel free to call us at if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

Let us know up front of the property's distinct features.

It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how differing elements contribute 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive without delay.

Does the homeowner know what to expect?

Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are clearly uneasy with the fact a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. Thinking that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners believe they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will delay the inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little 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 likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your customers to our website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Tell them to 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 promptly!

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. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.