Michigan Appraising: Saving time with cutting-edge appraisal technology

At Michigan Appraising, technology is the name of the game. We always research the latest in high-tech appraisal gadgets. From smart phones and tablets to laser measuring and GPS devices, we are always looking to find better, faster methods for appraising. Call us geeks. Call us nerds. Call us what you will, but by all means, call us at 231-499-9900 for appraisal orders in Leelanau County!

If you ask the average appraiser, most will agree that much has changed with nearly every aspect of the appraisal business. Since cutting corners on analysis isn't an option for an ethical appraiser, we've found that the best place to save time is in our our workflow. The appraisers that have continuously adopted new technology have been the ones able to bring their customers more accurate reports, better customer service and faster turnaround times.

Experience the difference a tech savvy appraiser can make

Contact Michigan Appraising

Easy online ordering

In the past, most of our orders were delivered via fax and were confirmed with phone calls once we got back into the office. It might be hours before a client even knew if we could do the order. Things are quite a bit different different now. When an order is placed on the site, we get a digital notification. We often log into our site from the field and send back an email confirmation – including the time and date for the inspection if we've been able to talk to the occupant.

Michigan Appraising understands that real estate is all about speed. We aim to reduce the waiting between communications and the faster we can get things done directly effects your bottom-line. By utilizing our website we can reduce the time it takes to finish your appraisal.

Multiple report delivery options

At the least, you can expect us to deliver your final report electronically as a PDF. Generally our clients are most familiar with receiving PDFs attached to their email. It's much better than previously, before the days of email. But,we've even been able to improve how you receive your report with this website.

Ever lost a file that was sent to you? Or have you ever had problems sending or receiving an email because of the file size? We have the technology to overcome those problems, too. When we send an appraisal, the client is emailed a link to retrieve the PDF. At that point, it doesn't matter if all the extra photos and maps in the report result in too big an attachment. The download link is even good for a full 90 days. So if you lose the file, you can log back into our site and retrieve it - saving you time, since we won't even need re-send the report.

Advanced data gathering tools

Gathering the data for an appraisal is an intensive process.. We spend much of our time collecting both specific information about the subject property and general data about the local market and developing trends. Michigan Appraising employs technology to close the gap once again.

We've learned that taking notes traditionally, using pencil and paper, generally takes longer since we have to enter everything back in at the office. Don't be surprised to see us with a tablet or collecting data using an app for our phone that allows us to sketch a floorplan right on site. Rather than using a clumsy, outdated tape measure, more and more appraisers are utilizing laser measuring devices that are quicker, more accurate, and can get into places that a normal tape measure can't.

All of this technology ensures the final report is as complete and accurate as possible, avoiding call-backs and revisions. This can be a real money saver for busy appraisal clients.

Digital work file technology

It would be much easier if appraisers could complete an assignment, deliver it, and never worry about revisiting that report again. However, appraisals are created to show the condition of a property on the inspection date. Therefore, appraisers must retain their reports for 5 years, allowing them to recall any appraisal at any time to defend the valuation or to be used in legal proceedings.

To sum it all up, Michigan Appraising leverages our investment in to improve service. By storing every aspect of the appraisal - notes, sketches, supporting documentation, and calculations - along with an electronic copy of the appraisal, we can pull up the entire file whenever it's needed and recall just what that job was about.

These are just a few examples of how we use technology daily. Employing the right software, gadgets, and a high level of customer service allows the appraiser to collect the right data and finish the report quickly and more accurately. The goal is to lower costs, and in turn provide you with faster appraisals.