A Few Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure their client is presented with the best data to be had. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Pippen Appraisals is always researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. Since Pippen Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a handful of things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals you order from Pippen Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically get 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 manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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 — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's unique features.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. 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. 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. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the current homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an outsider looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. A common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the inspection, with the notion that will make the house appraise for more money. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple 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 meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment quickly!
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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is instantly available to you online. There's no easier or faster way to track your report's status.