A Few Steps to Quicker Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. All of this is to guarantee their client is presented with the best data possible. In order to stay current with the continuously changing requirements, H.M. Hoffman & Company is continuously testing additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. At H.M. Hoffman & Company we know that time is important to everybody, so we've listed some things you can do to hasten the process every time you order an appraisal with H.M. Hoffman & Company.

Order your appraisals electronically.: When you order online, you automatically get e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't 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 key.: Having just one number incorrect on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are great data to include with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales in the area — though be advised that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.
Be sure to tell us about the unique features of this property.: Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features 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 put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.
Let the occupants know what to expect.: One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. It's understandable for a homeowner to be uneasy with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking photos, and making numerous notes. Believing that it will make the house appraise for more money, some homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection. So they delay the appraisal inspection until the house is cleaned.

Coming directly from you -- the person they have been working with on their loan -- a little info about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one little bit, and can decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Please feel free to point your customers to this website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners and others describing the appraisal process. They can even call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. Remind them it's to their advantage to set the appointment promptly!
Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website.: 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 the status of your report.