Five Hints for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to ensure their client is presented with the best information possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, MAK Appraisal Group, Inc is constantly acquiring new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At MAK Appraisal Group, Inc we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a few items you can do to hasten the process every time you order an appraisal from MAK Appraisal Group, Inc.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property information is key.: 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. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — remember, however, 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.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how details unique to a property contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive quicker.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Many current homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the thought a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. With the notion that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. And will put off the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little 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 likely go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has several pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Advise them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep track of your report's status?: 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 faster and easier to track the status of your report.