A Few Hints for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their research. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user gets the best data. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Hardy Appraisal Service is constantly researching additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since Hardy Appraisal Service knows that time is important to everyone, below are a handful of items you can do to hasten the process whenever you order an appraisal with Hardy Appraisal Service:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you automatically get 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! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the request.

  2. Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete. 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 are helpful data to pass along with the request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. You're always welcome to call us at 334-740-7336 if you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you.

  3. Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive sooner.

  4. Be sure the occupants know the plan. One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Some homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the thought that an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. Thinking that it will increase the value, many homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection . So they delay the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has lots of pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!

  5. Use our website to follow your report's status. Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with 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 to keep track of the status of your report.