Five Tips for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their process. All to ensure the end user has the best data possible. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Cooper Associates is constantly seeking additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Cooper Associates we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of tips you can do to lower turn times on any appraisals you order with Cooper Associates.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the request 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 you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Verify that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to 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 area sales is welcome — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's distinct characteristics.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique features 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 elements 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 will find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive quicker.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uncomfortable with an unknown person looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making numerous notes. With the idea that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners feel they have to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will put off the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person they have been working with on their loan -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your clients to this website, where we have multiple pages of useful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Our website is a great resource for verifying the status of your report.: No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.