Quality: A Measure of Our Excellence

Every single appraisal report is hand reviewed by a licensed appraiser before delivery to ensure quality and efficiency.

We create a custom review checklist based on your standards and requirements. Our quality control department works directly with appraisers to ensure your reporting requirements are followed and avoid costly delays. In fact, we have consistently outperformed the competition. We have maintained a conditioning percentage at an average of 15%. That means for every one appraisal that needs a correction, we have NINE that can go straight to closing with no further revisions. This is just another reason why first choice is the right choice for your appraisal management needs.

Who are First Choice Appraisers?

Selecting a highly qualified appraiser is probably the most important aspect of our job.

The First Choice Appraiser Panel is composed of highly qualified independent fee appraisers with a minimum of 5 years experience in the local markets to which they are qualified to appraise. 

Each panel appraiser is highly screened prior to First Choice approval. The First Choice approach to developing its appraiser panel is unique in the industry for several reasons:

• To be considered, appraisers must have five years of experience and must be certified license holders.
• Once the application package is received, documents are carefully screened and licensed history is checked with the state licensing board to ensure good standing.
• Appraisers must provide two recent work samples for review by our chief appraiser.
• An approved Panel Appraiser's service level and work product are carefully screened on not just their first order, but every order

Highly qualified appraisers who truly know their unique market is what sets First Choice apart from the competition. We score our appraisers on every request based on professionalism, timeliness, courtesy, and quality of the service they provide. After all, we recognize that our role in the transaction can greatly impact the lives of several people, and we take great pride in that role. Another key to the ranking system is communication. We limit our selection to appraisers that maintain open communication during the process so we can keep all parties up to date on the progress. This includes everything from answering phone calls and emails to updating the status of their reports on the website. Appraisers new to First Choice are under very close scrutiny during their first few orders until we are confident that they are qualified to receive a higher ranking.

Appraiser Independence Requirments

The Appraiser Independence requirements maintain the spirit and intent of the HVCC and continue to provide important protections for mortgage investors, home buyers, and the housing market. This legislation has caused significant waves across the industry necessitating major protocol and procedural changes for lenders and appraisers alike. Simply put: for many, it's a logistical headache.

First Choice Northwest will make your life a whole lot easier- offering a completely AIR compliant valuation solution. In fact, we have been adhering to strict quality control and ethical guidelines for years.