Five Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to ensure their client is presented with the best information available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Mears Appraisals, Inc. is constantly researching additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. Since Mears Appraisals, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, below are some items you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered from Mears Appraisals, Inc..

Always order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the order 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 you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
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 are great data to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent area sales 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.
Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing elements contribute 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive without delay.
Did you make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the current homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an outsider looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. Not uncommonly they think they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the idea that will increase the appraised value. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Tell them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Easily track the status of your report on our website.: 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. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.