Some Steps to Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to guarantee their client receives the best data possible. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals is constantly seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a handful of things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered from Willamette Valley Appraisal Professionals.

Order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the order.
Make sure that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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 sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique elements 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 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 susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive sooner.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are understandably uncomfortable with the notion a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take numerous notes. Under the impression that it will increase the value, many homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will put off the appointment until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they've 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 decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Encourage them to 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 soon!
Use our website to keep tabs on your report's status.: 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 is instantly available to you online. There's no faster way to keep track of the status of your report.