Five Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client gets the best information possible. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, Race Appraisal Services, LLC is constantly acquiring new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Race Appraisal Services, LLC knows that time is important to everyone, here are some tips you can do to trim turn times each time you order an appraisal from Race Appraisal Services, LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

Complete and accurate subject property information is key.

There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to pass long with the request. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, feel free to call us at

Tell us up front of the property's distinct characteristics.

Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive sooner.

Let the homeowner know what to expect.

One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Not uncommonly they think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the idea that will increase the appraised value. And will choose to not schedule the appointment until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a little bit 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 appraisal inspection time. Our website has several 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 familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment quickly!

Easily track the status of your report on our website.

No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.