Some Steps to Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to guarantee the end user gets the best information possible. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Arizona Desert Appraisal is always acquiring additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Arizona Desert Appraisal knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to decrease turn times every time you order an appraisal from Arizona Desert Appraisal:

  1. Always order your appraisals electronically. When you order online, you receive automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property? Being just one number off 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 in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you, don't hesitate to contact us

  3. Be sure to tell us about the unique elements of this property. Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner makes your report arrive more quickly.

  4. Let the homeowner know what to expect. Setting an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient parts in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the idea that an outsider wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. Having the thought that it will increase the value, many homeowners feel they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection and will delay the appraisal inspection until it is cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. Please feel free to point them to this website, where we have lots of pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!

  5. 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.