Some Tips for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their process - all to guarantee their client gets the most useful data. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Dentex Professional Appraisals LLC is constantly seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Dentex Professional Appraisals LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some things you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered from Dentex Professional Appraisals LLC:

  1. Always order your appraisals electronically. When you order online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property? There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass along with your request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.

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

  3. Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique? Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details add 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 characteristics 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 susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive without delay.

  4. Set proper expectations with the homeowner. One of the most time consuming parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with a stranger inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. With the idea that it will make the house appraise higher, many homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by . So they put off the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- some information 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 multiple pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Advise them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as soon as possible!

  5. Use our website to verify 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 instantly to you online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of your report's status.