Five Steps to Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to ensure their client receives the best data possible. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Montalvo Group LLC is always seeking new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Montalvo Group LLC we know that time is important to everybody, so below are some items you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals you order with Montalvo Group LLC.

Order your appraisals electronically.: With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the request 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.
Complete and accurate subject property data is crucial.: 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. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any features of the property that might make it unique?: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how details unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to let us know if there are unique features 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. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible will likely make your report arrive faster.
Does the homeowner know what to expect?: Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious tasks in the appraisal process. Some current homeowners are clearly uncomfortable with the fact an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and take lots of notes. With the notion that it will increase the value, a few homeowners feel they must make the place spotless before the inspection. So they delay the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make it more likely their sale will close, and likely decrease the appraisal inspection time. Our website has multiple pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Have them call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Why not our website as a resource to keep track of 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 we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to track your report's status.