Some Tips for Quicker Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving at all times. Each year, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply extra information or have steps added to their process. All to ensure their client has the best information available. To keep up with the continuously changing requirements, Flight Appraisal is constantly researching new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At Flight Appraisal we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to reduce turn times on any appraisals ordered with Flight Appraisal.

Always order your appraisals electronically.: With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail acknowledgements that the request 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 re-key information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the request.
Confirm that the subject property data is accurate and complete.: Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is good information to include with the request. 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.
Are you letting us know up front any features of the property that might make it unique?: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique characteristics contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order 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 would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible is likely to make your report arrive faster.
Do the occupants know what to expect?: One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the current homeowner. Many current homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the fact an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and take numerous notes. With the belief that it will make the house appraise for more money, many homeowners think they need to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will delay the inspection until they have cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they've been working with on their loan -- some knowledge 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 shorten the appraisal inspection time. Please feel free to point them to our website, where we have several pages of helpful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!
Easily track the status of your report on our website.: Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is available to you online. There's no easier way to track your report's status.