A Few Suggestions for Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user gets the best information to be had. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Di Cicco & Associates is continuously testing additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Di Cicco & Associates knows that time is important to everyone, below are a few things you can do to hasten the process on any appraisals you order with Di Cicco & Associates.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's 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.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property?: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily delay 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 differ from yours.
Are you letting us know up front any details of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique features add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when ordering your report if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them early on makes your report arrive faster.
Set proper expectations with the occupants.: One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the homeowner. Some homeowners are clearly uneasy with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and take abundant notes. Many commonly think they have to make the place spotless before the inspection, with the notion that will increase the value. And will choose to not schedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming from you -- a person 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 make it more likely their sale will close, and likely go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. I encourage you to point your clients to our website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. They can even 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 as quickly as possible!
Easily verify 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 instantly to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.