Some Steps to Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. On a regular basis, it seems, appraisers are asked to offer extra information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to ensure the end user receives the most useful analysis that can be achieved. To stay current with the always changing requirements, Newlin-Johnson Co. Inc. is always seeking new tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our customers. Since Newlin-Johnson Co. Inc. knows that time is important to everyone, below are some tips you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals you order from Newlin-Johnson Co. Inc.:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? By ordering online, you automatically get e-mail notifications 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! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got 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. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is helpful information to include with the request. Even a list of recent sales in the area is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, don't hesitate to call us at 812-234-3746

  3. Tell us up front of the property's unique elements. Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. What takes time is analyzing how differing details 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 details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. While these are things that we would find out on our own, knowing them as soon as possible makes your report arrive faster.

  4. Does the homeowner know what to expect? Confirming an appointment with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious steps in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are justifiably apprehensive with the fact that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and take copious notes. Believing that it will increase the appraised value, many homeowners feel they must make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection and will choose to not schedule the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Hearing it directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't affect their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has numerous pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. Tell them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with the staff and our services. And tell them it benefits them to set the appointment as soon as possible!

  5. Why not use our website as a resource to track 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 each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is instantly available to you online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.