A Few Steps to Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their appraisal process - all to guarantee their client is presented with the best data that can be achieved. In order to stay current with the constantly changing requirements, James M. Hanson Associates, Inc. is continuously researching additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for faster. At James M. Hanson Associates, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a couple of things you can do to hasten the process when you order an appraisal from James M. Hanson Associates, Inc.:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property information is essential. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. 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.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, feel free to contact us

  3. Are you letting us know up front any features of the property that might make it unique? Cookie-cutter houses 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. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive without delay.

  4. Be sure the homeowner knows the plan. Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with a stranger inspecting every corner of their home, taking photos, and making abundant notes. Having the thought that it will increase the value, some homeowners believe they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by . So they reschedule the appointment until the house is cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point your clients to our website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!

  5. Use our website to track your report's status. 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 instantly available to you online. It's never been faster and easier to track the status of your report.