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

Here at Spencer Appraisal Services, Inc. we seek to be on the forefront of appraisal technology. We use the latest technology available today to bring you high-quality, accurate appraisals.

The appraisal process has vastly evolved in recent years and demands more from appraisers. 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 by adjusting our workflow. In our effort to be the best we've found that using the very latest in new technology allows us to bring you more accurate reports, quicker turnaround times, and the very best in customer service.

Hire an appraiser that takes advantage of the latest technology

Easy online ordering

Years ago, a great deal of orders were ordered via fax and were confirmed with phone calls once we got back to 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. 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.

At Spencer Appraisal Services, Inc. we understand it's all about "cycle time". The less 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 methods

Delivery of appraisals as PDF files through email is definitely the standard these days. 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 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 provide a solution for 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 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.

Advanced data gathering tools

One of the most time consuming parts of an appraisal is gathering the data.. We spend a great deal of time obtaining both specific information about the subject property and general data about the local market and developing trends. Once again, technology has stepped in to help Spencer Appraisal Services, 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. And instead of using an outdated tape measure, more and more appraisers are employing 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, avoiding 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. But one purpose of an appraisal is as a legal document outlining the condition of a property on a specific date. Therefore, appraisers must keep their reports for 5 years in case any disputes or other matters arise regarding the property.

Here again, Spencer Appraisal Services, Inc. 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 exactly what that assignment was about.

We wanted to give you a bit of insight into how we use technology daily. Investing in the right tools, along with the appraisal know-how you expect allows the appraiser to deliver reports more efficiently, with a higher level of accuracy. The goal is to lower costs, and in turn provide you with faster appraisals.