03/23/2020
Message from the President Regarding COVID-19
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The Appraisal Institute of Canada wants you to stay safe and help others to do the same as we join together to stop the spread of COVID 19.
We’re all feeling the gravity of the situation. Children are being kept home from school, businesses are closing their doors, and Canadians are waking up each morning wondering what the day will bring.
These are unsettling times and you may be facing some challenges related to the impact of COVID 19. AIC is doing its utmost to help.
AIC National staff and Executive are in regular communication with AMCs, lenders and mortgage insurers to ensure that Members are not being asked or expected to contravene Public Health Authority (PHA) directives.
Governments are asking Canadians not to leave their homes for anything other than essential reasons. Given these directives, AIC is strongly advising members to minimize or avoid on-site inspections. Instead, Members should be considering completing full appraisals without on-site inspections, drive-by reports, desktop reports, and/or consulting or other assignments that do not require leaving your home.
If you are asked to complete an on-site inspection by an AMC/lender/Client:
1. Inform them of this Communiqué and PHA directives in your area.
2. Inform them what types of assignments you have decided are safe and appropriate to complete at this time
3. Inform AIC
Any assignments completed during this time should include limiting conditions and assumptions which specifically address the COVID-19 outbreak and its potential effect on markets and values. Further limiting conditions and assumptions must be used if a full appraisal without on-site inspection is being completed.
If you are completing assignments from your home, we urge you to consult the AIC COVID-19 Member Resource Page for the latest advice and examples of language for you to include in your assignments. The page also contains links to federal government resources that could help you through this difficult time. The Members’ COVID-19 page is updated regularly so please check back often.
Some of the efforts we’re taking to help flatten the curve of the COVID 19 outbreak may impact the way we serve you. Along with most other organizations, we’ve temporarily closed the National Office. However, all National staff are continuing to work from home and have full access to all AIC resources. The best way to reach them is by email.
These are trying times. But we can all take comfort in the expertise of our public health officials, the coordinated response of our municipal, provincial and federal governments and the strength of our financial system.
The AIC is here for you and will continue to be in the days and weeks ahead. We are committed to doing all that we can to help Members get through this as we all continue to do everything we can to adhere to Public Health Authorities’ directives to help in the fight to slow the spread of COVID-19.
We will continue to update you on important information as the situation evolves. In the meantime, please be safe and continue to protect yourself and your families, as well as your community members.
Sincerely,
Thomas Fox, AACI, P. App.
President, Appraisal Institute of Canada
