Five Tips for Faster Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to provide additional information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to guarantee their client is presented with the best data available. To keep up with the always changing requirements, CaliHaus Appraisals, Inc. is continuously acquiring additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since CaliHaus Appraisals, Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, here are some things you can do to trim turn times when you order an appraisal from CaliHaus Appraisals, Inc..

Are you ordering appraisals online?

With online ordering, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! No longer do we have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the request.

Confirm that the subject property information is accurate and complete.

There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to include with your assignment. 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.

You're always free to call us at if you have any questions about your property or a job we're working on for you.

Let us know up front of the property's distinct elements.

Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how unique elements add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. At the time you order your report, be sure to 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, it's predisposed to flooding. While these are things that we will find out on our own, knowing them sooner will likely make your report arrive quicker.

Let the occupants know what to expect.

One of the most inefficient steps of the appraisal process is setting an inspection date with the homeowner. Some homeowners are understandably apprehensive with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and take lots of notes. Believing that it will increase the appraised value, a few homeowners believe they must make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by. And will put off the appointment until it is cleaned.

Coming from you -- the person they've been working with on their loan -- a little 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 likely decrease the time it takes to inspect a home. Our website has several pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it benefits them to set the appointment promptly!

Our website is a great resource for keeping tabs on the status of your report.

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. There's no faster way to track the status of your report.