Some Hints for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure their client gets the best information possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, R.M. Rose is constantly acquiring new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since R.M. Rose knows that time is important to everyone, here are some things you can do to reduce turn times whenever you order an appraisal with R.M. Rose.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you receive automatic 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 you don't have to 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. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass long with your assignment. 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.
Let us know up front of the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how elements unique to a property contribute 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive quicker.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. Some current homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make numerous notes. One common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, under the impression that will increase the value. And will put off the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has lots of pages of useful 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 familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Our website is a great resource for keeping tabs on the status of your report.: 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.