A Few Tips for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to ensure the end user is presented with the best information to be had. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Valicity LLC is continuously testing new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Valicity LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to trim turn times when you order an appraisal from Valicity LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really 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. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's unique features.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how details unique to a property 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 recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive earlier.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Many current homeowners are clearly uneasy with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and take numerous notes. With the belief that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will put off the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- some information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase 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. I encourage you to share it with your customers. They can even 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!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: 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 faster to track the status of your report.