Some Tips for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user is presented with the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Diversified Real Estate Activities Inc. (805) 388-5507 is constantly researching new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Diversified Real Estate Activities Inc. (805) 388-5507 knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered with Diversified Real Estate Activities Inc. (805) 388-5507.

Always order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone 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.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. 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 may be different from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any details of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how features unique to a property contribute 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive faster.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the thought a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. Not uncommonly they think they need to make the place spotless before the inspection, believing that will increase the appraised value. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly 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 likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Tell them to 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 soon!
Are you using our website as a resource to track your report's status?: 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 faster to keep track of your report's status.