Why hire a technically advanced appraiser


Appraisers have benefitted greatly from the technological advancements of the computer age. In the real estate appraisal world, having the proper technology is crucial to performing efficiently. The appraisal process is one that lends itself to the usage of all the tools of technology. And technology has paid significant dividends to those appraisers who have invested in it. These dividends are shared with the appraiser's customers, in the form of shorter turn-around times and a much better valuation report.

Ordering the appraisal: Millions of real estate transactions are processed each year in the United States. Almost all of them require some sort of appraisal. Technology has allowed advanced appraisers to reduce the amount of work their client's need to order, track and receive appraisals. In the past, the primary mode of interaction between an appraiser and his clients was the telephone and fax machine. Clients would send requests via fax, and then often follow it up with a phone call to make sure it was received. Tracking the progress of the appraisal meant more phone calls - a disruption for both the client and the appraiser.

But the modern, technologically advanced appraiser has a better method. Using tools like this web site - complete with the ability to order appraisals on-line - allows clients to shave valuable time off the process of ordering and tracking appraisals. Technologies like "a la mode's" net.X network are advancing this concept even further, giving its users the ability to not only order appraisals, but track their progress all the way until delivery. This cuts down on phone tag.

Data Gathering: The appraisal process is nothing if not a data intensive process. Beyond the inspection of the property and its measurement, appraisers spend a good deal of their time gathering public information about the subject property (tax records, zoning maps, flood maps, etc.)and reserching general data about the local market and developing trends. Technology that is properly utilized has been a useful tool that professional real estate appraisers have come to rely on more and more.

Modern computer programs and data storage tools allow appraisers efficient ways to manage valuable data, appraisal files and market research. Today's digital appraiser has an expanded array of tools that can aid in data collection and appraisal work in general. Indeed, optimized computer assistance is critical to successful appraisal work today. All of this means that the appraiser can enhance the quality of the research, the appraisal analysis and the report, supporting values better than ever; then, complete the report and have it digitally delivered to the client in a timely manner.

The maturation of the Internet has revolutionized the ability of appraisers to get quality data in much less time than it once took. Many manual tasks of the past are now done on the computer. Where once an appraiser would spend hours finding the right location maps and then rubbing on decals, the modern appraiser gets his maps with a few mouse clicks, complete with location markers. And flood maps? Likewise just a few clicks away using services like "a la mode's" FloodSource. Standardized addressing, accurate postal coding, census tract information, are all at their fingertips. This ensures that the final report is as complete and accurate as possible, requiring fewer call-backs and revisions. Properly utilized, technology can be used as never before to both improve and expedite the appraisal process. 

Report delivery: Okay, the appraisal report is complete. Today, the digital appraiser can instantly send the entire appraisal, forms, floor plan sketch, exhibits, pictures, the entire appraisal, directy to the client in Adobe PDF format. The appraiser's investment in technology has greatly  improved the delivery process.  While some client's still require a hard copy, the appraiser's ability to now deliver a complete, multi-page report via e-mail allows for quicker lending decisions and enhanced review. Now, instead of waiting for the daily mail, or paying for expensive courier services, appraisal clients and customers can simply log into their email system and retrieve the appraisal or appraisals sent to them. Since more than one person may need to see the report, the PDF appraisal can be routed to several loan officers at the same time, teh underwriter, the closing attorney and the title company in the blink of an eye. Electrons to the rescue.

Some lenders and client organizations are using "a la mode's" net.X network to not only order appraisals, but also to manage the delivery process. Before an appraisal is ever delivered, this cutting edge technology reviews the report and ensures that it meets certain guidelines. Has the appraiser included all the forms such as the statement of limiting conditions? These items can be checked automatically and the appraiser notified of the deficiency prior to delivery. Now, when the final report is received, the client can be sure the appraisal meets all the basic criteria. Once again, costly follow up and revisions are avoided, lowering everybody's cost of doing business.

Digital Workfile: In  a perfect world, appraisers could complete a report, deliver it and never worry about seeing that document again. But one of the purposes of an appraisal is as a legal document outlining the condition and value of the property at the time of sale. So appraisers must keep their reports for a number of years, allowing them to recall any appraisal at any time. 

The digitally advanced appraiser ends up storing every aspect of the appraisal - sketches, supporting documentation and calculations - along with the appraisal itself, the professional appraiser is able to retrieve that report at any time. Digital storage advances are rapidly leading to offices where physical files and boxes are being supplanted by digital files on the computer and mass storage devices such as external hard drives or off-site storage areas such as "al la mode's" Vault site. 

These are just a few examples of how technologically advanced appraisers are improving the business workflows of their customers, while maintaining quality work products. Investing in high-grade computers, optimized industry software, modern data services, digital cameras, laser measuring devices, gadgets and gizmos allows the appraiser to deliver reports quicker, more efficiently and with higher degrees of accuracy. All of which helps keep the appraiser's costs down, and save his clients time and money.