A Few Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to guarantee their client gets the best data. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Nordquist Appraisal is continuously researching new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Nordquist Appraisal we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some things you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals ordered with Nordquist Appraisal:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property data is essential. 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 is great information to include with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, feel free to call us at 412-758-0898

  3. Tell us up front of the property's distinct details. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive faster.

  4. Are you making the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect? One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. A common belief is that they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the belief that will increase the appraised value . So they put off the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

    Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge 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 your clients to this website, where we have several pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as quickly as possible!

  5. Our website is a great resource for following the status of your report. 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 can be viewed instantly online. There's no easier way to track your report's status.