Some Tips for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to guarantee their client has the best data to be had. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, ATP Real Estate Services is always researching additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At ATP Real Estate Services we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some tips you can do to lower turn times on any appraisals you order from ATP Real Estate Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically get 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 we got the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate data 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 pass long with the request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any elements of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details 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 had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive without delay.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be apprehensive with a stranger inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. With the idea that it will increase the value, a few homeowners believe they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection. So they put off the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- the person they have been 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 time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has multiple pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even 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 without delay!
Why not our website as a resource to track the status of your report?: Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers 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.