5 Steps to Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their data gathering - all to guarantee the end user receives the most useful data that can be achieved. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Timothy Allaire is constantly testing additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Timothy Allaire we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered with Timothy Allaire:

  1. Order your appraisals on the Internet. By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations 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 nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property? 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 your assignment. 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.

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

  3. Tell us up front of the property's unique details. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how details unique to a property 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive faster.

  4. Let the occupants know what to expect. Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are justifiably uneasy with the thought that a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. One common belief is that they have to make the place spotless before the inspection, with the belief that will increase the appraised value . So they put off the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a short explanation 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. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment soon!

  5. 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of the status of your report.