5 Tips for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user gets the best information that can be achieved. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, MEF Appraisal Group is always seeking additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. At MEF Appraisal Group we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a few items you can do to accelerate the process when you order an appraisal with MEF Appraisal Group:

  1. Always order your appraisals online. By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.

  2. Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily delay 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 — however, remember that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, you're always welcome to contact us

  3. Are you letting us know up front any details of the property that might make it unique? It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how features unique to a property 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive quicker.

  4. Let the homeowner know what to expect. Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. A common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, under the impression that will increase the value and will reschedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has multiple pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Advise 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!

  5. Easily track the status of your report on our website. 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 easier to keep track of the status of your report.