A Few Steps to Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to supply more information or have steps added to their research. All of this is to guarantee their client receives the best data possible. In order to keep up with the always changing requirements, Burnham Real Estate Appraisals, Inc is continuously researching new tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for in less time. At Burnham Real Estate Appraisals, Inc we know that time is important to everybody, so here are some tips you can do to trim turn times when you order an appraisal with Burnham Real Estate Appraisals, Inc.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: By ordering online, you receive automatic e-mail confirmations 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 manually enter information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.
Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property?: There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to pass long with your request. We even welcome lists of recent sales from the area — remember, however, that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Tell us up front of the property's unique elements.: Cookie-cutter homes are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. While these are things that we'll find out on our own, knowing them early on is likely to make your report arrive quicker.
Let the homeowner know what to expect.: One of the most tedious tasks of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the homeowner. Some homeowners are justifiably uncomfortable with the notion a stranger wants to come in their house, look around, and make copious notes. With the belief that it will make the house appraise higher, a few homeowners think they have to make the place spotless before the inspection. So they put off the inspection until it is cleaned.

Hearing it directly from you -- someone they are 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 them to this website, where we have lots of pages of relevant information for homeowners as well as others about the appraisal process. Have them call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. Remind them it's in their interest to set the appointment without delay!
Our website is a great resource for tracking the status of your report.: 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. There's no faster way to keep track of the status of your report.