5 Hints for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee the end user has the best information to be had. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Duncan Appraisals is always acquiring new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more efficiently. Since Duncan Appraisals knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals ordered with Duncan Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.

Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?

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 helpful information to include 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.

If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, you're always welcome to call us at

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

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive earlier.

Do the occupants know what to expect?

Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an unknown person looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. A common belief is that they need to make the place spotless before the inspection, thinking that will increase the value. And will delay the appointment until it is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have multiple pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it benefits them 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.