A Few Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to ensure their client receives the best information to be had. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, The August Group Inc. is always researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At The August Group Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a couple of things you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals you order from The August Group Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail notifications 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 retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really 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 telling us up front any elements of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique characteristics add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering 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, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive sooner.
Did you make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the current homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an outsider looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. Under the belief that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection. So they choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- some info 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 decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Advise them to call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Are you using our website as a resource to verify your report's status?: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. There's no easier way to track the status of your report.