Some Steps to Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their appraisal process - all to ensure the end user is presented with the best information possible. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Compass Appraisal is constantly researching new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Compass Appraisal we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a handful of things you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order from Compass Appraisal:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property data is crucial. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. 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 might differ from yours.

    3. Feel free to call us at 850-445-7988 if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

  3. Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features add 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 put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive sooner.

  4. Be sure the homeowner knows the plan. Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the notion that an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. Some think they must make the place spotless before the inspection, under the impression that will increase the value . So they choose to not schedule the appointment until they have cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little 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. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment soon!

  5. Use our website to keep tabs on 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. There's no faster way to track the status of your report.