5 Steps to Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee their client is presented with the best data available. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Maria Storti is always researching new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since Maria Storti knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a handful of things you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals ordered with Maria Storti.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the request 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 re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we received the request.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are good data to include with the assignment. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's unique features.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how unique details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive more quickly.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making lots of notes. Under the impression that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. So they delay the appointment until they have cleaned.

Hearing from you -- someone they have been working with on their loan -- some 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 appraisal inspection time. 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. Advise them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!
Use our website to follow 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 available to you online. There's no faster way to track the status of your report.