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31 » VISIT US ONLINE @ DSNEWS.COM As we begin the New Year with a fresh start and a new administration, it's time to develop a different perspective on property preservation. Community blight is a key discussion in the property-preservation industry, and executives are discovering innovative methods to better serve areas immersed in harsh conditions. e industry's usage of plywood is dwin- dling, and as companies incorporate polycar- bonate clearboard into their offerings, it's time to say goodbye to the old and embrace the new. In November, Fannie Mae announced that all vacant Fannie Mae-owned properties, whether in pre- or post-foreclosure state or REO, were granted an allowable to use an alternative to plywood to secure vacant homes. "In addition to using polycarbonate window coverings, Safeguard is seeing the industry come together to implement new standards of preservation, including extended efforts for pre-sale properties that mirror those in REO," said Alan Jaffa, CEO of Safeguard Properties. Safeguard Properties specializes in the inspection and preservation of vacant and foreclosed properties across the country. Head- quartered in Ohio, Safeguard provides the highest-quality service to clients by leveraging technology and developing industry best prac- tices and quality control procedures. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard began as a regional mortgage field services company and has since grown nationally. In 2010, Klein passed the torch to then- COO Jaffa to succeed him as CEO. Klein assumed the role of founder and chairman and remains a vital part of the industry today. Under Jaffa's visionary leadership, Safeguard continues to grow through expanded services, technology investments, and strategic acquisi- tion. Klein, who also is chairman and founder of Community Blight Solutions, noticed the change in appearance and began using it on residential properties. "It made a vast differ- ence and we were able to sell the property," Klein said. "I thought, if we can do this on a commercial property, why can't we used it on a residential property? We did it and it was very successful." THE SAFEGUARD DIFFERENCE e philosophy Customer Service = Resolu- tion® has been the foundation of the company's success. is is more than just a motto; it's a promise to deliver the highest level of quality service. Safeguard leads the industry in the development of technologies to ensure compli- ance with local, state, and federal regulations, and is proactive in developing systems to assure the highest rate of clean audit findings. "Mobile technology has been a game changer for the property-preservation indus- try," said Jaffa. "Property results can been transmitted in almost real-time from the field. Safeguard continues to leverage this technology and the latest advances in geo-location technol- ogy, GPS, and smart scripting to ensure clients are given a comprehensive report of a property's condition." Safeguard is vigilant about protecting the security of information, supporting clients' regulatory and internal compliance require- ments, and quantifying the quality of the company's performance. Safeguard has identi- fied critical issues within the industry, convened national discussions, and led working groups with representation from the mortgage industry, the field services industry, and the government to find resolutions. In addition, Safeguard hosts the annual National Property Preserva- tion Conference, bringing together industry leaders to discuss current issues and to develop solutions. ADDED VALUE Safeguard has built strong relationships and partnerships with local communities and key industry members. Safeguard reaches out at the community level to city officials and code enforcement officers to provide education and assistance. Safeguard has long been in the forefront of bringing creative thinking to the industry. By critically looking at current issues and those on the horizon, Safeguard provides solutions to minimize risks to clients and properties. KEYS TO SUCCESS Safeguard's success and reputation are built on a fundamental commitment to customer service, a sense of responsibility for the work performed, and a clear and comprehensive understanding of the investor and insurer com- pliance issues that affect the mortgage industry. Klein's vision was to create a company focused on client satisfaction through busi- ness partnership. Safeguard is committed to building and sharing industry best practices to protect the integrity and value of the nation's housing stock, to deliver the most-efficient and cost-effective services in the industry, and to work on behalf of its clients to comply with all regulatory requirements. "Safeguard remains committed to our motto of Customer Service = Resolution, and will continue to develop innovative solutions for combating blight in communities across the country," said Jaffa. EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Safeguard's executive team is as follows: Robert Klein, Founder and Chairman; Alan Jaffa, CEO; Greg Robinson, CFO and EVP; Linda Erkkila, General Counsel and EVP; George Mehok, CIO; Michael Greenbaum, COO. Safeguard has approximately 1,500 employees and a network of 5,000 vendors and contractors. SERVICES Safeguard offers property inspections, property preservation, REO maintenance, esti- mates and repairs, code-violation management, property registration, and MapAlert®. SPONSORED STORY HOW SAFEGUARD PROPERTIES IS COMBATING COMMUNITY BLIGHT

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