TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
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28 | TH E M R EP O RT FEATURE MCS Valuations is committed to providing the best possible service and most reliable value to our clients. Backed by industry-leading data and experts with decades of experience, MCS Valuations is your trusted resource for all of your valuation needs. 8 0 0 . 7 9 1 . 7 1 4 5 | M C S V A L U A T I O N S . C O M | I N F O @ M C S V A L U A T I O N S . C O M and secure them in place, and those steel panels stay in place until the property is sold or conveyed to the investor. Then the company comes by and removes the steel panels without leaving anything in place to even suggest a wall of steel was once there. Remember, though, that steel casings are not always the ideal solution, depending on the commu - nity. Some communities would very much rather not see any houses look as if no one is living there, even if the security system in place is extremely hard to get through. An Eye Toward Aesthetics with Polycarbonate I n these areas, another poten- tial solution is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a clear plastic that, similar to plywood, is available in large sheets. Property preservation companies looking to preserve the image that a property is still inhab - ited are more often using polycar- bonate to replace glass in windows. There are multiple providers of polycarbonate around the country. The material comes in large sheets that installers cut to size and install, and then if the eventual new own - ers want to keep them in, they can. The intention is to make the property look as if someone lives there, thus deterring break-ins before they cross anyone's mind. Since the polycarbonate looks more like traditional windows, this solution also helps to retain neighborhood property values. Polycarbonate can also help agents and brokers show vacant homes, as potential buyers can bet - ter envision themselves in the prop- erty when plywood isn't interfering with the look of the home. Due to the ability to see into and of the home, polycarbonate is also becoming favored among law enforcement officials, who appreci - ate being able check for potential hazards before entering. The point, of course, is that there are far better solutions for securing a property than plywood and that there's a right fit for solu - tions like steel and polycarbonate. It's just a matter of getting the word out about these alternatives to plywood. A lot of mortgage servicers and property preserva - tion companies just don't realize there are good solutions that everyone from the bank to the investors to the neighbors in our communities will support. Neighbors and code enforcement officers in communities where steel and polycarbonate systems have been put in place are extremely appreciative of the efforts to move away from the big red X of plywood. They appreciate know - ing someone is looking out for the property and ensuring it is safe and livable. When a property is well maintained, it has a positive effect on the rest of the community. CHAD MOSLEY is the Chief Operating Officer for Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS) Solutions, a nationwide provider of property valuations, settlement services, title, and other mortgage-related services. Mosley joined MCS in summer 2008 as AVP of business development and with over 15 years in the industry he now assumes executive responsibility for MCS Valuations, MCS Title, and Vacant Property Security (VPS).