Five Steps to Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to ensure their client receives the best information available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Greater Orlando Appraisal Assoc., Inc. is continuously researching additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Greater Orlando Appraisal Assoc., Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, here are some tips you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal with Greater Orlando Appraisal Assoc., Inc..

Order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily delay 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 — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct details.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing features add 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 recently had an addition constructed, 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 is likely to make your report arrive without delay.
Are you making the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the current homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an outsider looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. With the belief that it will make the house appraise higher, many homeowners feel they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they put off the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has several pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Tell them to call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Easily track the status of your report on our website.: 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 is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.