5 Tips for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their research. They do this additional work to guarantee the end user is presented with the best data available. To keep up with the always changing requirements, RWA Appraisals is continuously testing additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At RWA Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some tips you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals you order from RWA Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the assignment 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 you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Confirm 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. 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique features 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 features 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. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive earlier.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. Some homeowners are justifiably uneasy with the idea a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make abundant notes. Many commonly think they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, thinking that will increase the appraised value. So they delay the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and can go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners and others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!
Use our website to verify your report's status.: 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. There's no faster or easier way to track the status of your report.