Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc leads the pack in advanced appraisal technology

Here at Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc we strive to be on the forefront of appraisal technology. We use the latest technology around to complete your appraisal without sacrificing quality or accuracy.

If you ask an appraiser, most will agree that much has changed with nearly every aspect of the appraisal business. We offer the highest quality appraisals and cutting corners has never been an option for us — the logical place to save time is in our daily workflow. The appraisers that have persistently embraced new technology have been the ones able to provide their customers with more accurate reports, better customer service and faster turnaround times.

Experience the difference a tech savvy appraiser can make

Innovating the ordering experience

Years ago, a lot of our orders came in 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. These days, when orders are entered on the website, we receive a digital notification. We can even log into this 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.

When you order from Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc you can expect us to be concerned about your deadlines. The less waiting between communications and the faster we can get things done directly effects your bottom-line. This website definitely reduces cycle time for us and our clients by enhancing our communications.

Multiple report delivery methods

Delivery of appraisals as PDF files through email is definitely the standard these days. Generally our clients are most familiar with receiving PDFs attached to their email. It's much faster than when everything was on paper. But,we've even been able to enhance report delivery with this website.

Everyone knows how frustrating it is to lose a file. Or have you ever had an attachment blocked because it was too big? We provide a solution for those problems, too. When we send an appraisal, the client is emailed a link to retrieve the PDF. By bypassing email completely we get around any problems caused by file size. 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 quite a bit of time obtaining the facts on the subject property, as well as the local market data and trends. Once again, technology has stepped in to help Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc.

Instead of using paper forms and pencils and then re-keying all the information at the computer, don't be surprised to see us with a tablet or collecting data using a program for our phone that allows us to sketch a floorplan right on site. And instead of using an old tape measure, more and more appraisers are adopting accurate laser measuring devices, making even hard to reach areas accesible.

All of this technology ensures the final report is as complete and accurate as possible, avoiding call-backs and revisions. Our goal is to save you time and money.

Enhanced digital work files

It would be much easier if appraisers could complete an appraisal, deliver it, and never worry about seeing that report again. However, appraisals are created to demonstrate the condition of a property on the inspection date. Therefore, appraisers are obligated to keep their reports for 5 years in case any disputes or other matters arise regarding the property.

Here again, Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc uses all the technology available to us 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 assignment was about.

We wanted to give you a bit of insight into how we use technology daily. Investing in 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. All of which helps keep our costs down, and in turn provide you with faster appraisals.