5 Tips for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their process - all to ensure the end user gets the best analysis. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, J DeMars Real Estate Appraisal is constantly testing new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. Since J DeMars Real Estate Appraisal knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to reduce turn times when you order an appraisal with J DeMars Real Estate Appraisal:

Always order your appraisals electronically. When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Make sure that the subject property data is accurate and complete. Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to pass along with your 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 might differ from yours.


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

Be sure to tell us about the property's distinct characteristics. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how unique features add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive faster.
Did you make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect? Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with a stranger inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. A common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, under the impression that will increase the value . So they reschedule the appointment until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little bit 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 clients to this website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment soon!
Our website is a great resource for tracking your report's status. No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are 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 faster to keep track of your report's status.