In the relatively new business known as Appraisal Management, there are few differences between management companies.  The main differences that set Appraisal Logistics apart from the competition are customer service and price.  It is very difficult to measure the differences on paper.  These measurements are best calculated by encounter.

We are very customer service oriented.  Our services are tailored to suit your individual needs. It is our goal to focus on the areas of the processes that concern you the most.  In working with Appraisal Logistics, you will discover we are readily accessible and user friendly.  We work with you to understand your problems, needs and concerns.  With this information, we build a platform to provide the quality of service you demand.  When given the opportunity to sit down and discuss your immediate concerns and goals as well as long term issues, we’re sure you will be convinced that Appraisal Logistics is the precise industry partner you can trust to handle all of your appraisal management needs.  At Appraisal Logistics, we excel to meet the demanding deadlines known to the mortgage industry.  Our team works diligently to stay ahead of the demand curve as outlined by our Clients.

Appraisal Quality - One of the largest hurdles in today’s lending environment is maintaining a high level of appraisal quality.  The team at Appraisal Logistics is made up of appraisal and mortgage industry experts.  Our dedicated staff has the precise combination of industry knowledge and practical experience that our Clients rely on.  The foundation of our expertise is cultivated from but not limited to; D.E Underwriters, Loan Processors and Certified Real Estate Appraisers.  The team at Appraisal Logistics fully understands your needs and problems from direct experience.  Our industry knowledge is unmatched in the business of appraisal management.

All of the Appraisal Reports delivered to our Clients automatically go through a two step quality assurance process.  First, the Reports are run through an Automated Review System (ARS).  The ARS Review Report and Summary are forwarded to the Client along with the Appraisal Report to aid in the processing and or underwriting of the Report.  Additionally, all Appraisal Reports go through a hands on Quality Assurance process by our qualified staff to ensure all of the elements are in place, i.e. comparable photos, signature(s), sketch, maps etc.  We offer a full suite of additional review options if more stringent review services are needed.  These options range from an Underwriter Review all the way up to a Field Review.  We have full time Appraisers and DE Underwriters on staff to meet the stringent demands of our Clients.  We firmly believe that high quality service and reports lead to lower processing costs and higher efficiency.

Approved Appraiser Panel – Appraisal Logistics is one of the few nationwide AMC’s that permit the Client to provide and manage an exclusive Approved Appraiser Panel.  You provide the Appraisers that you have established relationships with.  We will only work with Appraisers on your list.  We will not under any circumstances blend in outside Appraisers unless instructed to do so by your management team.  You maintain and set the limits of your Approved Appraisal Panel with the ability to limit their coverage areas.  Appraisal Logistics understands the significance in maintaining the long lasting relationships with the Appraisers that you have become accustomed.

Appraiser Network – We have a unique approach to the business of appraisal management.  Many of our Clients bring their Approved Appraiser Panels to us to manage.  This gives us the luxury of working with Appraisers that have established relationships with many of our Clients.  Additionally, this gives us the opportunity to test drive the Appraisers prior to introduction to our Clients that may not have an approved Appraiser Panel.  Appraisers must consistently perform at a minimum standard to earn the privilege to work with our other Clients.  We score the Appraisers on their quality of service and the quality of their reports.

The scores are reconciled and the Appraiser(s) are placed into one of four categories;

Level #4 – Consistently provides quality reports while meeting or exceeding deadlines

Level #3 - Consistently provides quality reports while typically meeting deadlines

Level #2 – Typically provides quality reports and typically meets deadlines

Level #1 – Needs improvement in all areas of the process

Appraisal Logistics will only recommend Level #4 and Level #3 Appraisers to our Clients.

Given the above referenced information, we have a network of Appraisers in excess of 12,000.  Approximately 3,200 of the 12,000 are Level #4 and Level #3 Appraisers.  The Level #4 and Level #3 Appraisers are concentrated primarily in all of the major metropolitan areas.  If additional Appraisers are needed, we make use of the Appraisal Institute Member list of Appraisers which has is in excess of 15,000 Member Appraisers.  All our recommended Appraisers qualifying experience and documents are scrubbed and measured against the minimum standards set by our Clients.  The geographic dispersion of the Appraisers is determined by the Client.  We have the ability to limit the coverage of the Appraisers via county, zip code or distance in miles.

Appraisal Fees / Pricing - Appraisal Logistics fees are among the lowest in the industry.  The cost savings is passed on to the Appraiser.  It is a fact that higher fees to the Appraiser will result in higher quality reports and reliable service.  Additionally, the appraisal fee may be crucial in the selling process of a loan product.  HUD-1 fees can be a breaking point in negotiating a loan for a Borrower. You know your market and Borrowers better than anyone.  This is why we work closely with you to determine the fees to be charged to the Borrower.  We have the ability to implement a variety of market specific pricing schedules for the many different regions throughout the country.  We will tailor a price schedule that best suits your needs.

Payment Processing - We manage the collection and disbursement of the appraisal fees, thus eliminating potential post-closing issues while reducing your bookkeeping costs.  Upon request, payment processing may be completed at the time of appraisal order entry via credit card ensuring a seamless financial transaction process.  Appraisal Logistics will disburse payments for services rendered to the Appraisers within thirty days of appraisal report completion.  One of the value added benefits that our Clients quickly realize is the simplicity of appraisal fee management.  Many organizations have a lengthy review process for approving appraisal fees and disbursements.  One of the most common praises we receive from our Clients is the time saved by management due to our fee collection and customized invoicing processes and procedures.

Training – Our Account Executives and Operations Team are available to provide training to your Representatives face to face and via webinars.  Appraisal Logistics personnel are always accessible.

Web Site Integration – Many of our Clients have found it useful to place an imbedded log-in button on their web site for quick access to our order management platform.  Our Development Team is readily available for direction and integration.

Turnaround times – Appraisal Logistics does not have a specific policy on turnaround times.  The individual or company ordering the report specifies a due date / turn-time.  We do however have a strict policy on meeting due dates.  Our Processors will begin notifying the Appraiser as the due dates approach to identify any issues that may be delaying the completion of the report.  The Processing team is relentless on overdue Reports.  Additionally, the processors inform the individual that ordered the Report of any and all delays in the process.

Client and Appraiser Communication – Our Processing Department constantly monitors the communications to and from the Appraiser to assure your Appraiser Independence Requirements (AIR) compliance.  If we notice a request or demand that will jeopardize the loan file and expose you to non compliance, a Processor will contact the necessary party(s) to extinguish the inappropriate communications.  We will confer with the party making the inappropriate request to communicate a similar message in an AIR compliant manner.  This is an example of a differentiating characteristic of Appraisal Logistics that you can depend on.

Appraisal Logistics has the industry experience and low-cost technological tools to be the ideal partner for your organization.  Our proven effective process, coupled with our dedication to quality and Client satisfaction, makes us an outstanding business partner.  Appraisal Logistics will be your preferred partner in the appraisal management process.