A Few Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user is presented with the best data possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Personal Service Realty's Residential Valuation Group is always testing additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Personal Service Realty's Residential Valuation Group knows that time is important to everyone, here are a handful of things you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals ordered with Personal Service Realty's Residential Valuation Group:

Always order your appraisals on the Internet. With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request 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 we got the request.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to pass along with the request. Even a list of recent area sales 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.


	If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, don't hesitate to call us at 904 563-3063

Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct features. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing details 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive without delay.
Let the homeowner know what to expect. Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be apprehensive with an outsider looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Some think they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, under the impression that will make the house appraise for more money and will choose to not schedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming 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 increase their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point your customers to our website, where we have many pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment without delay!
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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of your report's status.