Five Hints for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user receives the best data available. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, New Jersey Real Estate Appraisal Group is always researching new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. Since New Jersey Real Estate Appraisal Group knows that time is important to everyone, below are some tips you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals you order with New Jersey Real Estate Appraisal Group.

Order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Being just one number off 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 is good information to pass long with your request. Even a list of recent area sales 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.
Be sure to tell us about the property's distinct details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique 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 recently had an addition put 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 will likely make your report arrive without delay.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. Many homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the thought an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make abundant notes. One common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the inspection, believing that will increase the appraised value. And will delay the inspection until it is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they have been 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 can 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. I encourage you to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment without delay!
Easily follow the status of your report on our website.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are 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.