Some Steps to Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their research - all to ensure their client is presented with the best information. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, Beaufort Appraisal is constantly seeking new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At Beaufort Appraisal we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some items you can do to speed up the process whenever you order an appraisal with Beaufort Appraisal:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Online ordering is 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 we received the request.

  2. Are you providing complete and accurate data about the subject property? There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to 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. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. You're always welcome to call us at 843-575-5855 if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.

  3. Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. 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 features 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 susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'd find out on our own, knowing them sooner makes your report arrive more quickly.

  4. Be sure the occupants know the plan. One of the most tedious parts of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the current homeowner. Many homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the idea that a stranger wants to come in their home, look around, and make abundant notes. Having the thought that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners feel they should make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection and will delay the inspection until they have cleaned.

    Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they are already working -- a little 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 your customers to our website, where we have lots of pages of useful information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to meet our staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's to their advantage to set the appointment quickly!

  5. Use our website to verify 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 can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of the status of your report.