Some Suggestions for Shorter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving constantly. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their data gathering. All of this is to guarantee the end user has the best data available. In order to stay current with the always changing requirements, NorthStar Realty Services is continuously acquiring additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since NorthStar Realty Services knows that time is important to everyone, below are a couple of things you can do to trim turn times whenever you order an appraisal from NorthStar Realty Services.

Are you ordering appraisals online?

When you order online, you get automatic e-mail confirmations that the request was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to re-key information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether we got the order.

Confirm 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 great information to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, 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 call us at if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

Are you telling us up front any characteristics of the property that might make it distinct?

Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how characteristics unique to a property contribute 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 elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we will find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive earlier.

Does the homeowner know what to expect?

Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most inefficient steps in the appraisal process. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an outsider looking in every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making lots of notes. One common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the idea that will increase the appraised value. So they delay the inspection until they have cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they are working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one little bit, and can shorten the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has lots of pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. Encourage them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment without delay!

Are you using our website as a resource to follow the status of your report?

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.