Just like no two homes are alike, no two properties are alike. That’s why lenders need the freedom to create any property classifications they want for pinpoint accuracy on their appraisal orders and assignments.

Your clients can simply create a new classification for Deed Restriction, or Affordable Housing – or whatever classification they might need – then align their appraiser panel accordingly and place orders with increased accuracy. They can set their billing accordingly too. 

As an AMC using Appraisal Firewall, you can work with your clients to create customized property classifications for them, edit appraiser panels, and set appropriate pricing as needed. You can refer to the user training guide below to do this – you would simply login to you Manager account, select the client you want to work with, then follow the same instructions.


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Quick Overview of the Setup Process

Adding new property classifications is a powerful customization tool that, when utilized, helps bring increased accuracy to your residential appraisal order, assignment, and delivery work. Custom property classifications will reduce the time spent reassigning orders and result in higher quality appraisals for any division that uses it.


Adding new property classifications is a 3-step process that involves adding the classifications to the division you want to set up, adding/updating your fixed pricing for the new classifications as needed, and then editing the division’s controlled appraisal rotation to make sure the appraisers that specialize in that type of property are considered in the order assignment process.


Adding New Property Classifications at the Division Level

Start adding new property classifications on a per-division basis.


1. Login as a Manager User, click the Relationships menu option, select a Lender from your list, expand the Lender profile arrow, choose Manage Divisions, and select the division you want to update. Then, click the arrow at left to expand the chosen division, and click Edit Settings.



2. On the Edit Settings view, find and expand the Property Classifications section.



3. Your current Property Classification list that is available on the New Order screen is shown. To modify the property classifications that appear on the New Order screen, un-select the Include All Products checkbox and then select the classifications you would like. Only the selected classifications will appear on the New Order screen. You can even add property classifications that are unique to your company by entering your classification in the Add Classification field and clicking Add. Your new property classification will appear at the bottom of the product list, however once saved, the property classifications will be listed alphabetically.



4. Your new property classification will appear at the bottom of the product list, however once saved, the property classifications will be listed alphabetically.


5. You can add as many property classifications as you like. To make them available on the order screen for users under this division, make sure either the Include All Classifications checkbox is checked, or the corresponding checkbox next to the newly added classification is checked. 


Conversely, you can remove classifications that do not pertain to a particular division or your organization by deselecting the checkbox per classification. For example, if a division does not deal with Manufactured homes, you can uncheck the Manufactured classification from appearing to your users when placing new orders. Additionally, any custom created classifications can be removed via the red 'X', which will remove the classification entirely from the list. Be sure to Save any changes. 



Add Pricing for New Property Classifications on Fixed Pricing

Once you have added new property classifications, you will want to make sure that your fixed pricing is updated so that any new classifications can be added to the total appraisal cost.


1. Continuing with the previous example, in the division settings screen, find and expand the Pricing section.


2. For the coverage areas that you have fixed pricing for, you can expand each, find the newly added property classification, and add the price that should be added to the appraisal price.



3. Save your changes. When a new order is placed, and this property classification is checked, the price for this classification will be added to the total cost of the appraisal.


Enabling Controlled Rotation for Property Classifications

On the Divisions tab, find the division you want to setup or modify for Controlled Rotation, and click the Manage Appraisers button.



The Appraisers screen will then load for this division. You will see the coverage area map, and below the map, the appraiser panel for this division.



Focus on the area below the map - in the Panel section. This lists all the appraisers for the current map view. Find an appraiser that you want to setup for Controlled Rotation and click the arrow at right to expand it.



Find the tabs that are listed, and click the padlock tab.



The padlock tab takes you to the Controlled Rotation information. When you move to this tab, you can implement routing restrictions, override any of the appraiser's coverage areas, or products that they are eligible to perform.



Coverage

You can restrict the types of property classifications an appraiser is eligible to receive by choosing Qualifications and/or determining which Service Areas an appraiser can receive work. These two sections can function on their own, or they can work in conjunction with one another. Click the Coverage arrow to begin.


Qualifications

In the Qualifications section, limit the types of property classifications an appraiser is eligible to receive. From the drop-down menu, you can choose which qualifications you would like the appraiser to receive. These Property Classifications are pulled from the Property Classifications listed within a division's Edit Settings. For example, if you have an appraiser that specializes in Rural and Acreage properties, you can enable these classifications so that appraiser will always be eligible to receive these types of orders. Note that only enabled Property Classifications will be listed under the Qualifications section.



Once you have selected the appropriate qualifications, be sure to click Save Qualifications. This will ensure your control is in place. Please note that all appraisers will always be eligible to receive Single Family order types.


Qualifications by default include 2-4 Unit, 204K, Acreage, Complex, Condo, Construction, FHA, Jumbo, Manufactured, Non-Owner Occupied, Oversized, PUD, Renovation, Rural, USDA, and Waterfront. Any custom Property Classifications added at the division will be included as well. The more qualifications you have enabled, the more eligible an appraiser will be for appraisal orders.


Order Placement with Custom Property Classifications 

Once you have added custom property classifications, users under this division will be able to choose the custom property classifications when placing new residential appraisal orders.


1. Login, click the New Order button, and select Residential.


2. In the Loan section, select the division that was updated with the new property classifications. Then, fill out the new order as you normally would.


3. When you get to the Property section, on the right-side in the Property Is panel, click the Select Property Classifications drop down list. Any classifications you added onto this division will be shown here.



4. Select the property classification you want to help further define the type of property you are ordering the appraisal on. In this example, select Horse Property.


5. Complete the rest of the new order.


6. When you are ready, click the Order button to prompt the system to assign the appraisal to the most qualified appraiser in your panel. The order assignment process will take into account the property classification on this order, and match it to the most-qualified appraiser on the division panel based on controlled rotation settings, proximity to subject property and more.