5 Steps to Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to guarantee their client has the best data to be had. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Race Appraisal Services, LLC is constantly seeking additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Race Appraisal Services, LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few items you can do to lower turn times when you order an appraisal from Race Appraisal Services, LLC.

Order your appraisals on the Internet.

By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements 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 nor will you wonder whether we received the order.

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

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 — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

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

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

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique characteristics contribute 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive without delay.

Set proper expectations with the occupants.

One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the current homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be apprehensive with an unknown person looking in every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Believing that it will increase the appraised value, some homeowners believe they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will choose to not schedule the appointment until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- a little information 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 time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Advise them to 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 as quickly as possible!

Easily verify the status of your report on our website.

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. There's no easier way to track the status of your report.