Inspection scheduling madness

[Joe Flacco]

Sales 101, I'm available Tue at 2 or Thur at 10. They have 2 choices, that's it. They need you, you don't need them.

I give them one option that works best for me. If that doesn't work then I let them tell me what date and time because it makes no difference to me at that point.

 

[Vermonter]

Sales 101, I'm available Tue at 2 or Thur at 10. They have 2 choices, that's it.

Yes! Learned this early on.

Day ONE with my mentor I listened to him go back and forth with people trying to work around their schedule and getting nowhere. I gave him 2 hours before asking "what the eff are you doing?"

Also prefer email to text/showtime. Easier to keep correspondence for the workfile.

 

[CGinMN]

I don't know that it needs to be a 'them vs me' thing. It's just a tool to help both parties. If appraisers find it easier to just push a button rather than having to actually talk to someone - great. If they don't find it easier, they continue to use the 'old' way. I personally think it's pretty cool. But then again - I don't like calling folks.

Yeah, I like talking on the phone. If you don't like talking, send a text or email with your times. To me, that feature is all about the lender controlling the appraiser, putting our schedules below their customer's needs. I can't imagine not being able to give them my inspection times or try to stack inspections for efficiency. Geez they're saying 8am or 5:30pm on Friday or Saturday at noon. As a lender, I would rather not give the customer the impression that they get to pick times, because eventually they're going to get disappointed. I vote no on this feature.

 

[Elliott]

First appointment is noon till finished. Hate afternoons because of school buses and tykes wondering around. If they "work" and can't make a mid-day appointment then I move it out a week (then they usually figure out a way).

 

[alebrewer]

Yeah, I like talking on the phone. If you don't like talking, send a text or email with your times. To me, that feature is all about the lender controlling the appraiser, putting our schedules below their customer's needs. I can't imagine not being able to give them my inspection times or try to stack inspections for efficiency. Geez they're saying 8am or 5:30pm on Friday or Saturday at noon. As a lender, I would rather not give the customer the impression that they get to pick times, because eventually they're going to get disappointed. I vote no on this feature.

I think you're jaded. Look on the bright side, my friend. It's a tool. Like it - use it. Don't like it - don't use it.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

Yes! Learned this early on.

Day ONE with my mentor I listened to him go back and forth with people trying to work around their schedule and getting nowhere. I gave him 2 hours before asking "what the eff are you doing?"

Also prefer email to text/showtime. Easier to keep correspondence for the workfile.

Or you can do what some other professions do. I'll be there between 9 and 5, and then show up at 6.

 

[alebrewer]

Not sure how that evolved.... if an appraiser is 5 minutes late, they've called the FBI. But if the AC guy is 3 hours late - no problem.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

Not sure how that evolved.... if an appraiser is 5 minutes late, they've called the FBI. But if the AC guy is 3 hours late - no problem.

Love the South Park with the cable guy, he gets the call to service cable, then on his way he goes shopping, goes bowling, gets lunch etc.

 

[cpursley]

I appreciate all the responses, really helpful. I've been kicking some ideas around for how to possibly improve this process.

Would y'all use a simple scheduling tool that texts the borrower with a couple options from your available time slots (which you set) and all they just have to do is respond with a choice? Example (SMS chat):

Appraiser Scheduling Bot:

Hi, this is Shrubbery with Shrubbery Valuation, I was asked to appraise the property located at 123 Main Street. Amazing Bank shared your contact information with me as the person to meet with for the property inspection, which will take around 45mins.

Which of the following upcoming times work for you:

- Tue April 4 between 8am-10am or 2:30pm-4:30pm
- Wed April 5 between 10am-12pm or 5pm-7pm

Borrower:

I can't do Tuesday but what about 4pm on Wednesday?

Appraiser Scheduling Bot:

Unfortunately 4pm isn't' available but I can do 5pm. Please let me know and I'll go ahead and schedule it.

Borrower:

Yes, I can make that work.

Appraiser Scheduling Bot:

Great, we have you down for this Wed April 5 at 5pm-7pm. We'll send you a confirmation here in a moment so that you can save it to your calendar.

<think they click to add date to own calendar>

That's obviously a very happy-path scenario, but it could be tuned to go off script, etc and handle various situations including letting appraiser manually intervene.

Thoughts?

 

[Terry Caldwell]

I use Link to Phone on my desktop. I have a template I copy to the app identifying the purpose of the communication and the lender
as well as two days I am available, ie 8-10 Monday or Tues. Then my name, company name, and email address. Its quick and easy.
Most of my work is new const.so its not a problem.