A Few Hints for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is continuously evolving. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide extra information or have steps added to their process. They do this extra work to guarantee the end user receives the most useful analysis possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, Zim Appraisals is constantly seeking additional tools and tweaking processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Zim Appraisals we know that time is important to everybody, so here are a few things you can do to reduce turn times every time you order an appraisal with Zim Appraisals:

Order your appraisals on the Internet. By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential. Having just one number incorrect 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 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.


	If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, feel free to call us at (815)541-3227

Tell us up front of the property's unique features. Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how unique characteristics add 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition built on, 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 earlier.
Does the homeowner know what to expect? Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most time consuming parts in the appraisal process. Some homeowners are justifiably uneasy with the thought that a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make numerous notes. A common belief is that they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, believing that will increase the appraised value . So they choose to not schedule the inspection until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little bit 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. Our website has multiple pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. Encourage them to call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!
Our website is a great resource for verifying your report's status. No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available to you online. There's no faster or easier way to keep track of your report's status.