Five Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their research. All to ensure the end user gets the best data to be had. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, GZ Appraisal Services is always testing additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. Since GZ Appraisal Services knows that time is important to everyone, below are a few items you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals ordered with GZ Appraisal Services.

Always order your appraisals online.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
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 include with your assignment. 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 might differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive earlier.
What are you doing to make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect?: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming tasks in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making copious notes. One common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, thinking that will increase the appraised value. And will reschedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has lots of pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment soon!
Why not our website as a resource to track 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.