A Few Hints for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure their client is presented with the best data possible. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Harman Appraisal Group, LLC / OR & WA is continuously testing additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. Since Harman Appraisal Group, LLC / OR & WA knows that time is important to everyone, below are some items you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals you order from Harman Appraisal Group, LLC / OR & WA:

Are you ordering appraisals online? By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Make sure that the subject property data is accurate and complete. Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. 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.


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

Are you letting us know up front any features 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 unique characteristics contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the occupants. Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient tasks in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the notion that an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. A common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, under the impression that will increase the value . So they reschedule the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge 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. Our website has multiple pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Tell them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Easily verify 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.