Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc utilizes the latest in appraisal technology

At Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc, technology is the name of the game. We have the latest devices that help us get the job done faster than ever. We use the latest technology at our disposal to bring you high-quality, accurate appraisals.

These days, appraisals are more difficult and require a different approach. We put quality first but we know that speed is a big concern in the Appraisal industry and we've found that the best place to save time is in our our workflow. The appraisers that have continually embraced new technology have been the ones able to consistently satisfy their customers with more accurate reports, better customer service and faster turnaround times.

Work with someone who uses technology to their advantage

Simple online ordering

Way back when, the majority of orders were ordered via fax and were confirmed with phone calls once we arrived at the office. In this scenario, it might of taken quite a while to hear back to see if the order could be taken. Things are quite a bit different different now. These days, when orders are entered on the website, we receive a mobile 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.

At Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc we understand it's all about "cycle time". We utilize our resources 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.

Secure appraisal delivery

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 more efficient than previously, before the days of email. But,we've even been able to innovate how you receive your report with this website.

Everyone knows how frustrating it is to lose a file. Or have you ever had an attachment blocked because of the file size? We provide a solution for those problems, too. When we deliver an appraisal through our website, the client receives a link via email to retrieve the PDF. By bypassing email completely we get around any problems caused by file size. Best of all, the file is hosted on our site for 90 days. So if anything happens to 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.

Innovative technology in the field

The appraisal process is nothing if not a demanding procedure. We spend a great deal of time collecting 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.

We've learned that taking notes the standard way, 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, a large percentage appraisers are utilizing accurate laser measuring devices, making even hard to reach areas accesible.

We combine all of these different technologies to ensure the final report is complete and accurate, requiring fewer 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 never have to think about an appraisal again after submitting it to the client. But one purpose of an appraisal is as a legal document outlining the condition of a property on a specific 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.

Here again, Michael Smith Appraisals, Inc uses all the technology at our disposal 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're able to retrieve that report at any time and recall precisely what that job 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 deliver reports more efficiently, with a higher level of accuracy. All of which helps keep our costs down, and ultimately save you, our cilent, time and money.