5 Hints for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to present additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to guarantee the end user gets the best information available. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Sazima Appraisals is always researching additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Sazima Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of items you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals you order from Sazima Appraisals.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment 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 the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt 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 are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Let us know up front of the property's unique features.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details contribute 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive sooner.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. Thinking that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will reschedule the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- the 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 affect their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your customers to this website, where we have many pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!
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. There's no easier or faster way to track the status of your report.