Five Steps to Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their process. They do this additional work to guarantee their client is presented with the best information available. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Luke Calamari Appraisal Services is constantly seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Luke Calamari Appraisal Services we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some tips you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered with Luke Calamari Appraisal Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily delay 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. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct characteristics.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing characteristics 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive faster.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Having the thought that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners believe they should make the place spotless before the inspection. And will reschedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little information 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 time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has numerous pages of useful 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 promptly!
Easily keep tabs on 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 way to track the status of your report.