Five Hints for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Often, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their data gathering - all to ensure the end user is presented with the most useful data that can be achieved. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Las Vegas Appraisal Service, Inc. is continuously researching new tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. At Las Vegas Appraisal Service, Inc. we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a few things you can do to trim turn times whenever you order an appraisal with Las Vegas Appraisal Service, Inc.:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.

  2. Make sure that the subject property data is accurate and complete. There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to pass along with the assignment. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers must always 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 assignment we're working on for you, you're always welcome to call us at 702-505-4713

  3. Tell us up front of the property's distinct elements. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics 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 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. These are things we'll find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.

  4. Does the homeowner know what to expect? One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an outsider looking in every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. One common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, with the belief that will increase the appraised value . So they put off the appointment until the house is cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a short explanation about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has several pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!

  5. Use our website to follow your report's status. No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are 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 keep track of the status of your report.