5 Hints for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is an always changing profession. Every year, it seems, appraisers are asked to present extra information or have steps added to their research. All to guarantee the end user gets the best data possible. In order to keep up with the continuously changing requirements, BBH & Associates is continuously seeking new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At BBH & Associates we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed a handful of things you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered from BBH & Associates.

Order your appraisals on the Internet.: By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.
Complete and accurate subject property data is crucial.: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily interrupt 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 from 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.
Let us know up front of the property's distinct elements.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how differing details 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 characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive earlier.
Be sure the homeowner knows the the plan.: One of the most time consuming tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the homeowner. We understand that a homeowner may be apprehensive with an outsider looking in every corner of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Not uncommonly they think they must make the place spotless before the inspection, under the impression that will increase the value. And will choose to not schedule the inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing 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 can go a long way toward trimming the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has multiple pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your customers. 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 promptly!
Use our website to follow 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 is instantly available to you online. There's no faster or easier way to keep track of the status of your report.