5 Steps to Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to ensure the end user is presented with the best data available. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Hill Country Valuations LLC is constantly testing new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Hill Country Valuations LLC knows that time is important to everyone, below are a handful of things you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order from Hill Country Valuations LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to include with the request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct elements.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how differing elements add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: Setting an inspection time and date 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 a stranger looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. Under the belief that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners believe they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing from you -- someone they are working with on their loan -- a little 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 can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has lots of pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Are you using our website as a resource to track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.