Five Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure their client gets the most useful information that can be achieved. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, WalshStreet Inc. is constantly testing new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. Since WalshStreet Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, here are some items you can do to reduce turn times each time you order an appraisal with WalshStreet Inc.:

Order your appraisals online. When you order online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key 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. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily delay an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass along with the 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.


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

Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct? Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique characteristics add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know 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, and it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive quicker.
Let the homeowner know what to expect. One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. Some homeowners are clearly uneasy with the thought that a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. One common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the notion that will make the house appraise for more money . So they choose to not schedule 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 info 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 numerous pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment without delay!
Our website is a great resource for tracking 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. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.