5 Steps to Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to ensure their client receives the best information possible. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, WalshStreet Inc. is continuously acquiring additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At WalshStreet Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a few tips you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals ordered with WalshStreet Inc.:

Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment 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 the order was received.
Make sure that the subject property information is accurate and complete. Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to 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. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.


	You're always welcome to call us at 323-936-9970 if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct characteristics. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how details unique to a property 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Set proper expectations with the occupants. One of the most inefficient parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. Some current homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the notion that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. One common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection, with the idea that will increase the appraised value and will delay the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has many pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment quickly!
Our website is a great resource for following 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. There's no easier or faster way to track the status of your report.