5 Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All to guarantee their client is presented with the best data available. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Birchwood & Leaf Appraisals is always acquiring additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Birchwood & Leaf Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a couple of items you can do to speed up the process when you order an appraisal with Birchwood & Leaf Appraisals.

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements 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 re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — 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 features.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements 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 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 predisposed to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive earlier.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the fact an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. With the idea that it will make the house appraise higher, some homeowners believe they should make the place spotless before the inspection. So they put off the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has numerous pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Use our website to follow your report's status.: 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 to track your report's status.