Apex Appraisal Service (Apex), an appraisal management company (AMC) that services all 50 states, has a new strategic partnership with Opteon, Australia and New Zealand’s largest independent property advisory firm, to be the exclusive provider of their proprietary property valuation software in the U.S. market, Apex announced in a release.
“Being a part of Opteon will result in many exciting changes for our company, our customers, and for the appraisal industry as a whole,” Apex CEO Gabriel Hern said in the release. “It will also provide long-term stability and growth opportunities for our people.”
Although Apex now will reside under the Opteon umbrella, Apex customers should not expect to see any immediate changes, the company said. It will continue operating as Apex Appraisal Service, maintain full operational control in the Americas, and will retain all existing leadership and key personnel including Apex’s Chief Operating Officer, Greg Bernstein.
“When Apex and Value Trend Solutions merged last year, we promised our combined company would bring innovation to our industry,” Bernstein said. “Aligning our efforts with Opteon is our way of making good on that promise.”
According to the release, the two companies will work together to develop better alternatives to prevailing solutions.
“Apex has been looking for ways to address these challenges,” Hern said. “Now that we are teamed with Opteon, we can finally see the future of the appraisal industry in the U.S. While other companies are investing in technology that brings a virtual property to a desk appraiser, we want to bring a virtual desk to the appraiser at the property. This solution will reduce turn times, produce reports that are completed solely by qualified appraisers, and reduce liability and risk to our lending partners and homeowners.”
Opteon has revolutionized the appraisal industry in Australia and New Zealand over the past 14 years, offering final reports in less than one hour from the time of inspection.
“We are excited to have chosen Apex Appraisal Service to help bring technology-driven appraisal solutions to the United States,” Opteon CEO Chris Knight said. “Apex’s infrastructure, systems, and understanding of the market make them an optimal partner.”
Apex will keep its office in Northern California and move its headquarters to the company’s other office in Phoenix, Arizona.