A Few Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their research. All to guarantee their client receives the best data to be had. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Ballew & Company is constantly testing new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. Since Ballew & Company knows that time is important to everyone, here are a few items you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals you order with Ballew & Company.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: Having just one number incorrect 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the property's unique characteristics.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. What takes time is analyzing how unique elements 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive without delay.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the occupants of the home. Many current homeowners are understandably uneasy with the idea a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and take copious notes. Believing that it will increase the value, some homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection. So they reschedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point them to this website, where we have lots of pages of helpful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Easily track 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. It's never been faster and easier to keep track of your report's status.