CAS Blog

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Coronavirus or COVID-19

In light of the national health experts recommending that the public limit contact with others, there have been some borrower concerns regarding appraisal inspections. To complete a full appraisal, an appraiser must enter the home and make a visual inspection which may or may not include the attic space.  The appraiser may also need to measure the rooms in the home using their personal equipment; however, most of the measurements are done on the exterior of the home.  Inspections require very little contact with surfaces and appraisers will make every effort to avoid doing so.  The appraiser may be wearing gloves, a mask, or ask our borrowers if they have had a known exposure to the Corona virus. This level of precaution and communication is essential to the task at hand and public safety. 

There are things a borrower can do as well. 

• Prior to the inspection appointment, ask the appraiser if they have had any known exposure. 
• Ask the appraiser if attic access is needed.  If yes, have the access open prior to the appraiser’s arrival.  Appraisers will have and utilize their own ladder.
• Right before the inspection, have doors to all rooms open and unobstructed.  This way the appraiser can move freely though the house.
• Turn on all lights in all rooms so the appraiser can avoid touching light switches.
• When the appraiser arrives, offer hand sanitizer or gloves if the appraiser is not already wearing them. 
• Homeowners and tenants should vacate the home or maintain a 6-foot distance from the appraiser.
• Be the appraiser’s hands during the inspection while remaining at a distance.  Appraisers may need to see the stove working, a toilet flushed or water turned on.  The borrower can do these things for the appraiser so the appraiser does not have to touch these surfaces.

 Rest assured that appraisers are being advised to self-quarantine if symptoms are present and to establish safety protocol for interior inspections which may include discussing potential exposure with the borrower, refraining from touching surfaces, thoroughly washing hands before and after inspections, use protective gloves and masks (if available), etc.

CDC Link “How to Protect Yourself” page which has comprehensive information:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention.html

Have a wonderful 2020!

Honoring Veterans Always

All the Best to You for the Coming New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Inside Your Home

• Have your furnace system serviced to ensure it's working efficiently and not emitting carbon monoxide.
• Clean permanent furnace filters and replace paper or disposable filters.
• Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• If you have a wood stove or fireplace, have your chimney swept thoroughly. It should be cleaned before the soot build up reaches one-fourth inch thickness inside the chimney flue.
• Check your hot water heater for leaks and maintain proper temperature setting (120 degrees recommended by Department of Energy). On older water heaters with less insulation, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower the temperature, you save 6 percent of your water heating energy.
• Check the attic to see if insulation needs to be added or replaced. This is the most significant area of heat loss in many homes, so it is also important to see that it has proper ventilation. Inadequate ventilation could lead to premature deterioration of the insulation materials. You may also need to check insulation in exterior walls, crawl spaces and along foundation walls.
• Check all windows and doors for air leaks. Install storm windows and putty, caulk or add weather stripping as needed.
• Check basement and cellars for seal cracks or leaks in walls and floor.
• Make sure all vents are clean and operating properly.
• Clean and vacuum baseboard heaters, heating ducts and vents.
• Remove or winterize air conditioning units.

Outside Your Home

• Store or cover outdoor furniture, toys and grill.
• Purchase rock salt for melting snow and a shovel or snow blower if you don't already have one. Make sure you have the right kind of gas and oil on hand for your snow blower in the case of an unexpected snowstorm.
• Caulk joints and minor cracks on exterior walls and siding.
• Look for deteriorating finishes. Minor problems can be patched to preserve the wood. Put bigger jobs, such as scraping and refinishing painted or stained areas, on the calendar for next spring or early summer.
• Drain and shut off sprinkler systems and other exterior water lines to avoid frozen and broken pipes. Leave all taps slightly open.
• Insulate exterior spigots and other pipes that are subject to freezing but can't be drained or shut off.
• Rake and compost leaves and garden debris, or put out for yard-waste pickup.
• Clean storm drains, gutters and other drain pipes.
• Check the foundation for proper drainage. To do this, spray yard with a hose to see if water runs away from the house. A little shoveling to reshape the earth next to the house may make the water run away from the foundation.
• Make sure dirt or piles of wood don't come into contact with or touch siding, inviting termites and carpenter ants into the house.
• Seal driveway and walkway cracks, if needed, before ground freezes regularly.
• Inspect the roof for loose, damaged or missing pieces.