Five Steps to Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is constantly evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer more information or have steps added to their data gathering. All to ensure their client has the best information to be had. To keep up with the always changing requirements, MJP Appraisal Group is constantly seeking new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since MJP Appraisal Group knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some tips you can do to hasten the process each time you order an appraisal with MJP Appraisal Group.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: 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 — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any elements of the property that might make it distinct?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, 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 susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive without delay.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Many current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the thought an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. One common belief is that they ought to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, believing that will increase the appraised value. And will choose to not schedule the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point them to this website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment as soon as possible!
Use our website to keep tabs on your report's status.: 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 instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to track the status of your report.