Spencer Appraisal Services, Inc.: Using technology to improve your customer experience

At Spencer Appraisal Services, Inc., technology is the name of the game. We have the latest devices that help us get the job done faster than ever. 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 215.657.5577 for appraisal orders in Montgomery County!

These days, appraisals are more critical than they ever have been . We put quality first but we know that speed is when ordering an appraisal and we've found that the best place to save time is in our our workflow. The appraisers that have regularly adopted new technology have been the ones able to bring their customers more accurate reports, better customer service and faster turnaround times.

Hire an appraiser that takes advantage of the latest technology

Enhancing the ordering experience

Way back when, a lot of our orders came in via fax and were confirmed with phone calls once we got back into the office. In this scenario, it might of taken hours 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 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.

At Spencer Appraisal Services, 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.

Report delivery

The majority of our appraisals are delivered through email as PDF documents. Generally our clients are most comfortable with receiving PDFs attached to their email. It's much more efficient than when everything was on paper. But,we've even been able to improve report delivery with this website.

Everyone knows how frustrating it is to lose a file. Or have you ever had problems sending or receiving an email because it was too big? We provide a solution for those problems, too. When we send an appraisal, the client receives a link via email 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 anything happens to the file, you can log back into our site and retrieve it without having to wait on us to send it again.

Efficient data gathering

The appraisal process is nothing if not a detail-oriented routine. We spend quite a bit of time collecting the facts on the subject property, as well as the local market data and trends. Spencer Appraisal Services, Inc. employs technology to close the gap once again.

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 a program for our phone that allows us to sketch a floorplan right on site. Rather than using a clumsy, old tape measure, more and more appraisers are employing laser measuring devices that are quicker, more accurate, and can get into places that a normal tape measure can't.

We combine all of these different technologies to ensure the final report is complete and accurate, requiring fewer call-backs and revisions. This can be a real money saver for busy appraisal clients.

Enhanced digital work files

It would be great if appraisers could never have to think about an appraisal again after submitting it to the client. However, appraisals are used to show the condition of a property on the inspection date. Therefore, appraisers are obligated to 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, Spencer Appraisal Services, Inc. uses all the technology available to us to improve service. We store every part 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 just what that assignment was about.

These are just a few examples of how we use technology daily. Investing in the right tools, along with the appraisal know-how you expect 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.