Some Hints for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their process - all to guarantee the end user gets the best data. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Davidson & Associates is continuously testing additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At Davidson & Associates we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few tips you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered with Davidson & Associates:

Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the order 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 you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is key. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to pass along with your assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.


	You're always welcome to call us at (336) 765-5502 if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Are you letting us know up front any features of the property that might make it distinct? Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details contribute 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive sooner.
Do the occupants know what to expect? One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with a stranger inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. Under the belief that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners think they have to make the place spotless before the inspection . So they delay the appointment until it is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- some information 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. I encourage you to point them to this website, where we have several pages of useful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to keep track of 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. There's no easier or faster way to keep track of your report's status.