Five Hints for Shorter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to ensure their client is presented with the best data. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, The McPherson Company, LLC is always acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At The McPherson Company, LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a few things you can do to accelerate the process each time you order an appraisal from The McPherson Company, LLC:

Always order your appraisals electronically. With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail confirmations 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 manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.
Make sure that the subject property information is accurate and complete. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to include with the request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.


	You're always free to contact us if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it unique? Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how characteristics unique to a property contribute 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 features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive sooner.
Be sure the occupants know the plan. One of the most inefficient tasks of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with a stranger looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. Under the impression that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners feel they need to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by and will put off the inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little info 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 our website, where we have multiple pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others regarding the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
Easily follow the status of your report on our website. Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with 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.