Some Suggestions for Swifter Turn Times

Appraising is a constantly changing profession. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to include more information or have steps added to their process. All of this is to guarantee the end user gets the most useful information possible. To stay current with the continuously changing requirements, ProQuest Group is constantly acquiring additional tools and improving processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since ProQuest Group knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed some things you can do to speed up the process on any appraisals ordered with ProQuest Group:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? By ordering online, you get automatic e-mail acknowledgements 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 retype information from a fax, and nor will you wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property information is key. Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is great information to include with your request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — however, remember that professional appraisers must always do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours might differ from yours.

  3. You're always free to call us at 281-676-4501 if you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you.

  4. Be sure to let us know about the unique details of this property. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. 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. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's prone to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible will likely make your report arrive faster.

  5. Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect? One of the most time consuming parts of the appraisal process is confirming an inspection date with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uneasy with an outsider inspecting every square foot of their home, taking pictures, and making copious notes. One common belief is that they have to make the place spotless before the inspection, having the thought that will make the house appraise higher . So they delay the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Coming from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little information 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. Our website has numerous pages of useful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. Encourage them to call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment promptly!


  6. Easily keep tabs on the status of your report on our website. 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 can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster way to keep track of the status of your report.