Chuck Smith, SIRs CEO, was able to attend the CFS conference this week with the approval of our membership. During the conference Chuck met with Countrywide officers and staff, HUD representative Richard Dunne, representatives of First Preston and Golden Feather (HUD Prime M&M contractors), East Point Systems representatives, various SIRs members, and other contractor company representatives to discuss various directions that the industry and SIRs may take in the near and far future as well as SIRs new Property Preservation Certification Program and the qualifying training presently available to the entire industry.

Key Speakers of the conference included Countrywide Field Services and Countrywide Home Loans officers and staff. Other speakers were Richard Dunne of HUD who spoke of the new interactive HUD website and upcoming Mortgagee Letters to be released shortly. A local California City official presented on the importance of knowing local city ordinances to remain in compliance with the City itself. John Ward (NAMFS) discussed industry trends and how the industry has over the years moved from small localized servicing firms to larger nationwide servicing firms. (A note to all: Chuck Smith was able to inquire of John Ward regarding his presentation and Mr. Ward stated he would be happy to provide his notes for the asking. John Ward's e-mail address is johnwardtbsi@earthlink.net). Kevin Cooke (NAMFS) discussed issues of background checks being performed on inspectors, contractors, and whole companies to ensure dangerous criminals or disreputable companies were weeded out of the industry.

The conference broke to discussion groups each day, one for preservation and one for inspections. One topic was the common belief that a tarp can be placed to merely cover the damaged area. This was confirmed as a misconception by Richard Dunne. When the question was presented as to how to properly tarp a damaged roof, Mr. Dunne replied that there was an industry organization that provided photographic depiction and very detailed information for correct application and to check with the organizations for guidance. Mold itself was discussed and HUD's position on mold infested properties. The M&M may accept mold damaged properties at conveyance (again possibly citing mortgagee neglect if appropriate). Another issue discussed was wet heat winterizations being performed to the ML 2000-26 specifications. HUD was very clear that these specifications were obsolete and that winterizing to any obsolete specification was not acceptable to HUD. (* editor note: it is the Business Ventures Consulting, Inc. training program for property preservation that has the detailed information available on roof tarping along with photography of how a tarp should appear when installed correctly.)

Tuesday afternoon was filled with games and prize winnings. Contractors and inspectors were given a chance to win prizes based on their respective field knowledge and ability to complete "services" directives. All games were based on some type of service, players had to correctly answer a knowledge question and then complete a task at hand. Various tasks included pretend phone calls to report first time vacants, placing plastic grass clippings in wagons and suiting up in "protective gear" to find objects in slime.

The conference was both informative and fun filled for attendees including a magic show on Monday night. Countrywide Field Services along with many generous sponsors presented the conference free of charge to CFS vendors and should be worth the attendance for next year by all CFS vendors. Countrywide presented all attendees with a Compliance Guidelines booklet which outlines the various guarantor guidelines as well as examples of some interesting city guidelines; a resource of obvious invaluable information to assist all contractors and inspectors in knowing and keeping compliance in their service rendering.

A major announcement for Countrywide was their in-progress IT project which will allow interface between Countrywide and the field servicer using EastPoint Systems, Excel and other software programs. The data bridge will enhance the ability of field communication to and from Countrywide and is a leap in the technological advances of the industry.

This year, as last, an overall theme of the conference was documentation-documentation-documentation. Many thanks to the SIRs Membership which made SIRs representation possible. SIRs would like to stress the importance of all industry conferences as potential sources of information possibly not gained elsewhere as well as a source of networking opportunity of face-to-face meetings between clients, guarantors and their representatives, key contacts, and field representatives.

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Special Virus and E-Mail Spoof Alert

It has come to SIRs attention that there are several computer virus and worms attacking field service companies. Some of these virus spoof email addresses and cause the receiver to believe the virus is coming from email addresses which may be familiar to them. Several of these virus are being received with @sirs4quality.org domain addresses. We would like to assure all that SIRs is not sending virus. All of our email systems are scanned for both incoming and outgoing email and our systems are protected with anti-virus software.

Additionally, it appears our Introduction letter is being sent out with an email address of UnknownSender@UnknownDomain. All email from SIRs will have the @sirs4quality.org domain clearly showing. We do not know who is sending email with the UnknownSender@UnknownDomain address.

If you are receiving any of this email, you can forward the complete email to SIRs as we will investigate these issues and pursue legal actions as appropriate. Please forward suspected email messages to Thank you.

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 1-9-2004

Society of Independent Representatives will be in attendance at the Countrywide Contractor Conference February 8 through 10. Chuck Smith, SIRs CEO will be in attendance representing SIRs. If you will be attending the conference, feel free to discuss any questions you may have regarding SIRs or our new Property Preservation Certification Examination. If you would like to make a specific appointment for a guaranteed one-on-one conversation, you can contact Chuck Smith at . Chuck will be arriving on Saturday February 7 and will be available Saturday evening or Sunday morning as well as Tuesday February 10 in the evening.

SIRs would like to thank the generosity of our membership for making SIRs attendance possible.

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 1-8-2004

HUD notified their REAC inspectors today of changes in their program, including a possible decrease in the number of REAC inspections to be anticipated for 2004. The notification states ..."All HUD Inspectors Certified in the use of the Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) inspection protocol....the number of inspections conducted in the near future will decrease. This decrease ...is the result of the continuing budget resolution, which will result in a delay in the funding of 2004 inspections."

Several years ago, there was a big push to become REAC certified to diversify field reps income base. As with all programs, adding several different market areas to your service ability is the wise choice. No single market will remain steady or provide any "guaranty" of income.

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 1-1-2004

Start your New Year off by getting Certified! SIRs has spent all of 2003 preparing this extensive examination which is now available for ALL property preservation mechanics. Regardless of your affiliation to or membership in SIRs, you are eligible to take our certification examination. Scheduling may be submitted at http://sirs4quality.org/unique/certreqpub.htm

Common questions you may have are answered at http://sirs4quality.org/exm/examinfo.htm This exam is only $40.00. If you know it - you should show it! If you are listed in our Independent Field Service Industry Directory and pass this examination, your designation will be listed next to your name.

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"SIRs Represents Independent Contractors"

An article title published by Mortgage Servicing News in their print copy of the November 2003 issue. A great thank you to The Thomson Corporation and National Mortgage News and Mortgage Servicing News editor/reporter Ted Cornwell.

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HUD Approves September 9 Meeting Details

The following is HUD's approved recap of the September 9 industry meeting in Washington DC. SIRs Government Liaison John Cahill was in attendance representing SIRs.

Inspections:

At issue was the cost allowable for FTV's which is $25.00 and when is this to be paid. This fee is chargeable by the inspector who reports the property as vacant. Subsequent inspections on vacant properties with respect to the baseline report allowable will be looked at due to a change in the form. HUD indicated that they may be changing the allowable on photos.

Debris Removal and Supporting Documentation:

The need is to try to eliminate the illegal dumping that takes place. HUD will accept dump receipts made by specific companies so long as the receipts contain the information required by HUD regulations.

With respect to second bids HUD looks at the cost and content of the bid. HUD only approves the cost.

Industry Concerns:

A meeting member recommended that the process of cost allowable should be made more scientific as to allow for more accurate allowables. HUD stated that a process of gathering cost information is currently underway and the results of their findings will be published on a new website.

The concern also raised was the time line of when properties are first found vacant to the time the preservation is ordered. HUD was surprised to hear in some cases is not within the 30 day window. HUD would like examples of when these are occurring. HUD will also be addressing this with the Lenders.

Richard Dunne addressed the issue of his attendance at industry conferences by stating his attendance is budget driven. The fact that HUD has been able to attend some meetings and not others is strictly a matter of budget and should not reflect on the meeting itself.

Full details and comments have been published for Members in SIRs Quarterly Newsletter which is available only to SIRs Members.

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Coming Soon!

At our June 2003 Convention, Society of Independent Representatives announced that a certification program was being developed. SIRs is proud to announce that the Property Preservation Certification Examination is in the final stages of development and testing. A new concept in the field service industry, the Property Preservation Certification Examination will extensively test the skills knowledge to assist in identifying a preservation mechanics' capability to secure and protect vacant properties in accordance with recognized guidelines from both HUD and the VA. The examination will also measure a preservation mechanics knowledge of sound safety practices as set forth by OSHA; general industry knowledge; guarantor knowledge; plumbing and winterization knowledge; as well as standardized building code knowledge. The concept of certification for both preservation mechanics and inspectors who service the lending industry has been one of the founding concepts of SIRs. Training has been available to SIRs members free of charge since SIRs inception in 2001. SIRs Field Manual, developed in 2000, through cooperative measures with industry representatives, has been provided to all SIRs Members in their membership package.

Due to the extensive nature of the upcoming Certification Program, Business Ventures Consulting, Inc. has expanded their training course, which has been the basis of SIRs free training for members, to include all aspects of the certification exam. Similar to the certification examinations offered by other organizations such as the IICRC and ASHI, SIRs will not offer the classes or course materials which will prepare test takers for the examination. Any interested party may offer courses and training. Additionally, to benefit preservation contractors who have extensive experience, training is not required but is strongly recommended. Examinations through SIRs will be available to the entire industry. SIRs anticipates full release of the examination for January 1, 2004. Business Ventures Consulting, Inc. anticipates public release of industry wide available training for mid-November 2003.

SIRs, in their continuing effort to provide the free Independent Field Service Industry Directory will identify all preservation mechanics who have taken the examination and received a minimum of 70% score as a SIRs Certified Preservation Mechanic regardless of their membership or lack of membership in SIRs.

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All Lender and Servicer Alert

As winter creeps upon us in the northern climates, SIRs would like to remind you how important it is to properly winterize your vacant properties. Last winter was fierce and freeze damage was rampant. This winter promises even colder temperatures. Please review your portfolios for vacant properties to ensure those at risk of freeze are protected. Any area that may realize temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit should be winterized. Our photographic depiction of last winters findings can be viewed at http://sirs4quality.org/unique/w03/freeze.htm

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Industry representatives became upset when notice was given that feces were to be removed from toilets as a part of the winterization allowable fee. Richard Dunne of HUD made a statement on Monday, October 6, saying that if feces could be flushed they should be. However if the commodes are full of feces and the feces must be removed to complete winterization that feces should be removed as a health and safety hazard as defined in Attachment 5, Page 1 of ML 02-10.

However, on October 7, Richard Dunne reversed his first statement and now stands on the note that feces are to be removed as a part of the winterization process because "toilets must be cleaned before winterization materials are used"

Traditionally, preservation contractors have bid to remove human feces left in vacant properties where there is no water available to flush the feces into the sewage systems. Carrying water and sanitization materials as a ritual to perform winterizations generally is not feasible to the contractor, especially one who is using an open pick-up truck (considering water will freeze in exposed containers during winter months where winterization is required).

SIRs would like to remind all that feces, in particular human feces, are laden with disease carrying bacteria and safety precautions need implemented according to OSHA standards for human waste disposal when feces removal is necessary. Preservation contractor companies that hire employees need reminded that those employees that may be exposed to human waste will need to be immunized for Hepatitis B and PPE should be supplied to all crews who may be exposed to this fecal matter left by the unknown previous occupants of vacant properties.

SIRs is attempting to have this requirement changed due to the associated health risks of handling human fecal matter not being justly compensated in the present winterization allowables. Contractors are urged to contact HUD directly as well.

HUD - Contractors - Lenders - National Field Servicers - if you aren't sure what the poop scoop is about - click here to see for yourself.

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