Alacrity's Organization and Staffing

     Alacrity is open six days per week, Monday through Saturday, from 8 AM to 6 PM. On Saturdays, the clerical and administrative staff are off, but the appraisers are in and out of the office all day. Weekend appointments are generally available, including Sundays.

     Alacrity has an answering machine available when staff is not present (that is, 24 hours a day, excluding Monday through Friday 8 AM to 6 PM).

     The phone system is a direct response roll over system with twelve lines. there are two fax machines, which are also set up with roll-over capability, thus eliminating the potential for busy signals. Response is "live" not automated, except for off hours, when the answering machine is utilized.

     Alacrity is also set up with a PC network system, which consist of eight terminals. In addition, there is a dedicated system hooked up to the internet via modem, which is also utilized to access Multiple Listing Services (MLS). Customized tracking software allows for immediate response to status inquiries. We utilize ACI appraisal software, and Excell for commercial assignments not handled by ACI. For those clients set up for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), we communicate our appraisals electronically utilizing built-in security non-editing safeguards.

     Our Market, Cost and Data Sources include: Marshall and Swift Residential Cost Handbook, Internal Office Data Bank, The Redbook (Market Data Center), MLS Computer Central Database, Comps, Inc. weekly updated internet sales recordings, Yale Robbins Sales Report, On-Line Residential Data (olr.com), Real Estate Board N.Y. (REBNY.com), Select Register, Flood Maps (on-line and paper), various Town and Country zoning maps and resolutions.

   

Procedures and Other Information

We offer Real Estate Appraisals for all purposes, to include:
* Mortgages
* Bankruptcies
* Divorces
* Estates
* Tax Grievance

     Our company utilizes approximately ten appraisers, all state licensed or certified. Most of our appraisers are local residents of the areas they cover. Several of our appraisers are on the HUD roster (for FHA work).

Typical turn-around time is as follows:
      *Within 48 to 72 hours from the inspection, the client receives a copy of the report, typically via EDI, or faxed if requested.

  In an attempt to better meet the turn-around time and quality requirements of our clients as regards to the Review Appraisal Process, we have implemented several changes to our internal review order assignment procedures. Namely,

  1. The initiation of a time expediency improvement process, the goal of which is to reduce our overall turn-around time by 50%.
  2. Increasing our hours of office coverage and our use of computer related enhancement services in order to assist in the improvement of time-delivery processes.
  3. Implementing an internal personnel training program geared specifically to the appraisal review process.

     In order to assist with the efficiency and quality of our review appraisal assignment completion, we would ask that review assignment requests include as much of the following as is possible:

Provide us with full appraisal reports to include the actual report and all photos and map/sketch addenda.
Sales contract where appropriate.
Copy of all leases, income and expense statements, and DHCRs where appropriate.

 

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