Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to ensure their client has the best data to be had. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Duncan Appraisals is continuously researching new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Duncan Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, below are a few tips you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals ordered with Duncan Appraisals.

Order your appraisals online.

By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications 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 re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the order.

Complete and accurate subject property information is crucial.

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 is good information to include with the request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

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

Be sure to tell us about the unique characteristics of this property.

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how features unique to a property 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 elements 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 would find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive without delay.

Let the occupants know what to expect.

Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with a stranger inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. A common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, thinking that will increase the appraised value. And will delay the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little bit 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 decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has multiple pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Tell them to call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!

Easily track the status of your report on our website.

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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.