A Few Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply additional information or have steps added to their research - all to ensure the end user receives the most useful analysis possible. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Concra Appraisal Associates is continuously acquiring new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. Since Concra Appraisal Associates knows that time is important to everyone, here are a few things you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals you order from Concra Appraisal Associates:

  1. Always order your appraisals electronically. When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements 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 retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property information is key. 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 be different from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, you're always free to contact us

  3. Are you letting us know up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique? It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how differing features 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive sooner.

  4. Does the homeowner know what to expect? Setting an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient tasks in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are understandably uncomfortable with the idea that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. A common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, under the impression that will increase the appraised value . So they delay the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little information about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. I encourage you to point them to our website, where we have multiple pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!

  5. Use our website to track 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier and faster to track the status of your report.