Five Tips for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to ensure their client receives the best data possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Crescent Appraisal Group, Inc. is continuously seeking new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Crescent Appraisal Group, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered from Crescent Appraisal Group, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you get 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 retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Verify that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: 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 is great information to include with your assignment. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct elements.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how features unique to a property contribute 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 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 sooner makes your report arrive sooner.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the idea an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make numerous notes. With the belief that it will make the house appraise for more money, a few homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will put off the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- some info 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. I encourage you to point them to this website, where we have multiple pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment quickly!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep track of the status of your report?: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with 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 track your report's status.