5 Tips for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their data gathering - all to guarantee the end user gets the most useful data. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Redmile Appraisals, Inc. is constantly seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Redmile Appraisals, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to lessen turn times every time you order an appraisal from Redmile Appraisals, Inc.:

Always order your appraisals online. By ordering online, you receive automatic 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 received the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property? There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to include with your assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.


	You're always welcome to call us at 352.597.3833 if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

Are you letting us know up front any elements of the property that might make it unique? It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive earlier.
Did you make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect? One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the current homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an outsider looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. Under the belief that it will increase the value, some homeowners think they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by and will reschedule the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Easily track the status of your report on our website. 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. It's never been easier to track your report's status.