Some Hints for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee their client receives the best information available. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Signature Appraisals, Inc. is constantly testing new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Signature Appraisals, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some items you can do to hasten the process whenever you order an appraisal with Signature Appraisals, Inc..

Always order your appraisals electronically. By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete. 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 are great data to include with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.


	If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, feel free to contact us

Be sure to let us know about the property's unique characteristics. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how features 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 predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner. One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an unknown person looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. One common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the idea that will increase the appraised value. And will reschedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Why not use our website as a resource to follow 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster or easier way to track the status of your report.