5 Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their research. All to guarantee their client is presented with the best data available. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Heartland Appraisal Services LLC is continuously seeking new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for quickly. Since Heartland Appraisal Services LLC knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few tips you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals you order from Heartland Appraisal Services LLC.

Order your appraisals electronically.: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements 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 nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial.: 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 helpful information to include with the assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive faster.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient tasks in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. Having the thought that it will increase the value, many homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they put off the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person 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 decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point your clients to this website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment quickly!
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 is available instantly to you online. It's never been faster and easier to track the status of your report.