Some Tips for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to include additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to ensure their client is presented with the best information possible. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Filson's Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc. is continuously seeking new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since Filson's Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals you order with Filson's Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc..

Always order your appraisals on the Internet.: By ordering online, you get automatic 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 retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily delay 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 — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the unique features of this property.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how characteristics unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique features 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 would find out on our own, knowing them early on makes your report arrive earlier.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. Many current homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make numerous notes. One common belief is that they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, having the thought that will increase the appraised value. So they delay the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- some info 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. Please feel free to point them to this website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Easily keep tabs on 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.