5 Hints for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their data gathering - all to ensure the end user receives the most useful data. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Faulkner Appraisal Services, Inc. is always seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At Faulkner Appraisal Services, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to speed up the process when you order an appraisal with Faulkner Appraisal Services, Inc.:

Order your appraisals online. By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
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. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.


	You're always welcome to call us at 919-412-3319 if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features add 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 recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive sooner.
Does the homeowner know what to expect? Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the fact that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take abundant notes. Some think they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the belief that will make the house appraise higher and will delay the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has many pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to keep tabs on 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 is available instantly to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.