5 Tips for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their process. All to guarantee their client receives the best information available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Grantham Appraisal & Realty, Inc. is always testing new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Grantham Appraisal & Realty, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a handful of things you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals you order with Grantham Appraisal & Realty, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online 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 information about the subject property?: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really 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 assignment. 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 may be different from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's unique elements.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique details 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive without delay.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with an unknown person inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. With the notion that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection. So they choose to not schedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little bit 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. I encourage you to point them to this website, where we have many pages of helpful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Easily verify the status of your report on our website.: 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no easier or faster way to keep track of the status of your report.