A Few Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to guarantee their client gets the best data available. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, CTF Appraisals is always acquiring new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At CTF Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some items you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal from CTF Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to include with the assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct details.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing features 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive more quickly.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient tasks in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are understandably uneasy with the thought an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. Having the thought that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they choose to not schedule the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little information 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 numerous pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to meet our 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 follow 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 easier or faster way to keep track of your report's status.