A Few Hints for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer additional information or have steps added to their data gathering. They do this additional work to guarantee their client is presented with the best analysis. In order to keep up with the constantly changing requirements, Meade & Associates is continuously seeking new tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. At Meade & Associates we know that time is important to everybody, so below are a handful of items you can do to lessen turn times when you order an appraisal from Meade & Associates:

Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail notifications that the order 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 you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.
Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property? 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 helpful information to pass along with the 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 may be different from yours.


	Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

Are you telling us up front any features of the property that might make it distinct? Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing 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 constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive more quickly.
Does the homeowner know what to expect? One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Many homeowners are justifiably apprehensive with the notion that an unknown persons wants to come in their home, look around, and take copious notes. Thinking that it will increase the value, many homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection . So they reschedule the appointment until the house is cleaned.

Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge 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. I encourage you to point them to this website, where we have many pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others describing the appraisal process. Tell them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment as quickly as possible!
Use our website to track your report's status. No more phone and fax tag. Up-to-the-minute status updates are 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 and faster to track the status of your report.