Five Hints for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their research. They do this extra work to guarantee their client is presented with the best information possible. To keep up with the always changing requirements, Duncan Appraisals is always testing additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Duncan Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some things you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals ordered from Duncan Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the request 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 retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.

Complete and accurate subject property data 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 is great information to pass long with the request. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

You're always free to call us at if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property.

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive faster.

Set proper expectations with the occupants.

One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the homeowner. Many homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take abundant notes. Some think they have to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the notion that will increase the value. So they reschedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing 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 affect their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have multiple pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment without delay!

Use our website to keep track of your report's status.

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 is available instantly to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.