A Few Steps to Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to ensure their client has the best data available. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Cantus Appraisal Services is constantly seeking new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. At Cantus Appraisal Services we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few items you can do to decrease turn times on any appraisals you order from Cantus Appraisal Services.

Always order your appraisals online.: With online ordering, you receive automatic 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 the order was received.
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. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you telling us up front any details of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing features add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive more quickly.
Be sure the occupants know the the plan.: Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the idea an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take lots of notes. Not uncommonly they think they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the belief that will increase the appraised value. So they put off the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- some info 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 go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
Our website is a great resource for verifying your report's status.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available instantly to you online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of your report's status.