A Few Steps to Faster Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee the end user gets the best data available. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Lyman Appraisal Services, LLC is always testing new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Lyman Appraisal Services, LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals ordered with Lyman Appraisal Services, LLC.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. Even a list of recent sales from 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.
Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how features unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know 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 predisposed to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive sooner.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming steps in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the fact a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make copious notes. Some think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the belief that will make the house appraise higher. And will choose to not schedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- some info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has several pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Our website is a great resource for keeping tabs on your report's status.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with 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 and faster to keep track of the status of your report.