5 Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure the end user gets the best data available. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Lyman Appraisal Services, LLC is continuously seeking additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Lyman Appraisal Services, LLC knows that time is important to everyone, here are some things you can do to lessen turn times on any appraisals you order with Lyman Appraisal Services, LLC.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you automatically get 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 order.
Make sure that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's unique characteristics.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing features add 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, 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 as early as possible will likely make your report arrive sooner.
Did you make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect?: Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. It's understandable for a homeowner to be apprehensive with a stranger looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. With the belief that it will make the house appraise for more money, many homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they reschedule the appraisal inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and can decrease the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point your clients to this website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners and others about the appraisal process. Encourage them to 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 as soon as possible!
Use our website to keep track of your report's status.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.