Five Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their process - all to ensure their client gets the most useful information that can be achieved. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Hagen Appraisal Services, Inc. is constantly testing new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for more effectively. Since Hagen Appraisal Services, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order from Hagen Appraisal Services, Inc.:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? When you order online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property data is crucial. 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. You're always welcome to call us at 214-529-6254 if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

  3. Be sure to let us know about the property's distinct details. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on will likely make your report arrive more quickly.

  4. Did you make the occupants of the home aware of what to expect? Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. With the idea that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection and will reschedule the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

    Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment soon!

  5. Our website is a great resource for keeping tabs on the status of your report. 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 is available instantly to you online. There's no faster way to keep track of your report's status.