5 Steps to Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to guarantee their client gets the best data possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, MacDonnell Appraisals is constantly seeking additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since MacDonnell Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals you order with MacDonnell Appraisals.

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to 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 — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how elements unique to a property 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive faster.
Are you making the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. Many commonly think they must make the place spotless before the inspection, with the belief that will increase the value. And will choose to not schedule the inspection until it is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Tell 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 soon!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep track of 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. There's no faster way to keep track of your report's status.