Five Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client is presented with the best data possible. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Integrated Assets is continuously researching new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Integrated Assets knows that time is important to everyone, below are a couple of tips you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals ordered from Integrated Assets.

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order 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 you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
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. 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 area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's unique details.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique characteristics 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 recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. Some think they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, having the thought that will increase the appraised value. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has many pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Encourage them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Are you using our website as a resource to verify the status of your report?: 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been faster to track your report's status.