If I'm feeling lazy, is it ok to.

[CANative]

... include a web link instead of typing out a long description of a particular city?

I haven't done an appraisal in Santa Rosa in a couple of years and I don't feel like spending the next hour or two crafting a detailed description of the area. I know what it's like... I go there all the time. But it's all in my head.

I put in a detailed description of the subject's neighborhood (a rural area outside the city limits) and a brief description of Santa Rosa but I found a really good description on Wikipedia. What does the forum think of something like "For a more detailed description including demographics, climate, history, etc. use this link to the Wikipedia link for Santa Rosa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa,_California"

Does anyone use internet links in appraisal reports?

 

[Mztk1]

Wikipedia changes at a user's whim. If it is important to you to include a long description, may be you can cut and past the Wiki entry on a supplement addendum with the date is was taken, and just give the site credit as your source.

 

[c w d]

I use web links for historic districts after quoting and crediting a portion of the text. Why re-invent the wheel.....

 

[Couch Potato]

I often include links that provide more detailed information. I do make sure a sufficient summary is in the report, but add a link when I think it will help the client understand.

 

[Ray Miller]

I use web links for historic districts after quoting and crediting a portion of the text. Why re-invent the wheel.....

Same here........................................................

 

[Mike Boyd]

I often include links that provide more detailed information. I do make sure a sufficient summary is in the report, but add a link when I think it will help the client understand.

I kinda agree with Couch. BUT WHY< WHY< WHY do you need a detailed description of the city? This is a SUMMARY report. Are you creating some kind of collection of reports for a future after you are too old to appraise? LOL.

"Santa Rosa is the largest city and the county seat of Sonoma County. It has a population of approximately 200,000 and is located 50 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It features several full service shopping centers, a complete school system, a community college. Sonoma State University is located 8 miles south."

That's enough and lots more than I include in my reports. SHEESH!!!

 

[CANative]

Stating:

"Santa Rosa is the largest city and the county seat of Sonoma County. It has a population of approximately 200,000 and is located 50 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It features several full service shopping centers, a complete school system, a community college. Sonoma State University is located 8 miles south."

Summarizing:

Neighborhood boundaries and description:
The subject property is located in a low density, unincorporated area southeast of the city limits of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Nearby communities include Rohnert Park to the west and Cotati and Penngrove, a few miles southwest. Suburban to semi-rural area of mixed uses and diverse lot and improvement characteristics. These types of areas do not have specific neighborhood boundaries and buyers would consider similar types of property throughout the general area. Santa Rosa can be seen as divided into four quadrants: Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest. Highway 101 runs roughly north and south through the city, and divides it into east and west sides. State Highway 12 runs roughly east and west, and divides the city into north and south sides. For purposes of analysis and reporting the market area is defined as Southeast Santa Rosa and boundaries are roughly south of Highway 12, east of Highway 101, north of Adobe Road and eastward into the foothills. Primary focus is along Petaluma Hill Road between Highway 12 and Adobe Road. This area of southeast Santa Rosa has rural like characteristics and much of the land is under agricultural uses such as small cattle ranches and wine grape vineyards as well as large lot residential homesites suitable for keeping horses. Highway 101 is the main north/south corridor through the western portions of Northern California and becomes very congested during peak commuting hours. Petaluma Hill Road is used by many as an alternate route between Santa Rosa and Petaluma during the commuting hours resulting in high levels of noise from the increased traffic.

Located along Highway 101 about 55 miles north of San Francisco, Santa Rosa is the Sonoma County Seat and site of county administrative offices as well as a number of regional State and Federal offices. Now a center of trade for Northern California, Santa Rosa's economic base is dominated by high-technology manufacturing, retailing and services. Sonoma County has become one of the most important wine regions in the world and is highly tourist oriented. As of January 1, 2007, the population of Santa Rosa was approximately 157,985 residents. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont. Santa Rosa's Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 466,891, making it the 12th largest in California and the 104th largest in the United States.

 

[Mike Boyd]

Stating:


Summarizing:

That's not a summary, that's a Chamber of Commerce promo. Too much information for a summary report.

 

[CANative]

that's a Chamber of Commerce promo.

Yeah. You're right, some of it sounds promo fill. I'm still noodling around with it.

 

[Michigan CG]

That's not a summary, that's a Chamber of Commerce promo. Too much information for a summary report.

My regional and City analysis run 10-20 pages....but I am winded.