A Few Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to guarantee the end user receives the most useful analysis that can be achieved. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, The Kirton Group, LLC is continuously seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At The Kirton Group, LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a handful of things you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals you order from The Kirton Group, LLC:

  1. Order your appraisals online. By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering 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 we received the order.

  2. 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 in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you, feel free to contact us

  3. Let us know up front of the property's unique elements. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing elements 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed 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 faster.

  4. Are you making the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect? One of the most time consuming steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the current homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an unknown person inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Many commonly think they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the belief that will increase the appraised value and will delay the appointment until it is cleaned.

    Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. 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. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment soon!

  5. Easily follow 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.