Five Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to ensure the end user receives the best information available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, H.M. Hoffman & Company is constantly seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At H.M. Hoffman & Company we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some things you can do to lessen turn times when you order an appraisal from H.M. Hoffman & Company.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically receive 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 we got the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: 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 in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's distinct details.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details add 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 had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive more quickly.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are justifiably uneasy with the idea an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. Some think they need to make the place spotless before the inspection, believing that will increase the appraised value. So they choose to not schedule the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has multiple pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Tell them to call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to verify 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.