Privacy Policy

1. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy describes the information practices of AREA Management Company, LLC, referred to in this policy as “AREA MC,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” in connection with the public website at areamc.llc.

This policy applies to information collected through the public website, ordinary email, telephone communications, and other direct communications with AREA MC.

This policy does not replace the privacy notices, terms, security practices, or contractual requirements of AppraisalScope, Squarespace, lenders, financial institutions, government agencies, professional service providers, or other third-party platforms and organizations.

2. Information We May Collect

The information AREA MC receives depends on how you use the website and how you communicate with us.

Information You Provide Directly

• Name and professional title
• Company or organization name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Property address or general property location
• Property type and assignment description
• Requested appraisal service
• Intended use or purpose of an appraisal
• Requested effective date or completion timing
• Information included in emails or telephone messages
• Appraiser qualifications, licensing, coverage, or panel information
• Other information voluntarily provided to AREA MC

The public website is primarily informational and directs clients and appraisers to separate AppraisalScope registration and login pages. AREA MC does not request that highly sensitive personal or financial information be sent through ordinary email.

3. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit areamc.llc, Squarespace and related website technologies may automatically receive technical and usage information.

• Internet Protocol address
• Browser type and browser settings
• Device type and operating system
• Approximate geographic region derived from technical information
• Pages viewed and links selected
• Date, time, and duration of a visit
• Referring website or traffic source
• Website-performance and diagnostic information
• Cookie identifiers and similar technical data

This information may be used to operate the website, maintain security, understand general website traffic, diagnose technical problems, and improve website content and usability.

4. Cookies and Analytics

Cookies are small data files that a website may store on a visitor’s device. This website is hosted by Squarespace, which may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site and provide website services.

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies may support core website functions, security, navigation, system performance, and visitor preferences.

Analytics and Performance Cookies

Squarespace analytics and performance technologies may collect information about how visitors reach and use the website. This information may include traffic sources, page views, device information, and general interaction data.

Cookie availability and consent options may depend on the website’s Squarespace settings, the visitor’s browser, geographic location, and applicable law. Visitors may also manage cookies through their browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect website functionality.

5. How Information May Be Used

AREA MC may use information for legitimate business, operational, security, communication, compliance, and appraisal-management purposes.

• Responding to questions and requests
• Providing information about appraisal services
• Evaluating property location, assignment type, access, complexity, fee, and coverage
• Creating or supporting client and appraiser relationships
• Coordinating appraisal orders and assignment communication
• Selecting an independent appraiser with appropriate qualifications and competency
• Communicating with property contacts and other authorized participants
• Processing and documenting business communications
• Maintaining website security and functionality
• Understanding website use and improving content
• Preventing fraud, misuse, spam, or unauthorized activity
• Maintaining business and assignment records
• Complying with contracts, professional requirements, legal obligations, and regulatory requests
• Establishing, exercising, or defending legal rights

AREA MC does not use public website information to direct an appraiser toward a predetermined opinion of value.

6. When Information May Be Shared

AREA MC may share information when reasonably necessary to respond to a request, coordinate an appraisal assignment, operate the business, use service providers, protect security, or comply with legal obligations.

Assignment Participants

Relevant information may be shared with the client, assigned appraiser, property contact, authorized representative, lender, attorney, fiduciary, agency, or other authorized assignment participant.

Service Providers

Information may be processed by companies that provide website hosting, appraisal-management technology, email, communications, payment processing, document storage, information technology, security, accounting, legal, or other business services.

Legal and Safety Requirements

Information may be disclosed when AREA MC reasonably believes disclosure is required by law, regulation, subpoena, court order, governmental request, professional obligation, contractual requirement, security concern, or the need to protect legal rights.

Business Changes

Information may be transferred as part of a merger, reorganization, financing, sale, transfer of assets, or similar business transaction, subject to applicable legal and contractual requirements.

Sale of Personal Information

AREA MC does not sell personal information collected directly through the public website in exchange for monetary payment.

7. AppraisalScope and Other Third-Party Services

AREA MC uses AppraisalScope as its secure appraisal-management portal. The public website may link visitors to AppraisalScope for client registration, appraiser registration, login, ordering, payment, document submission, assignment communication, and report delivery.

When you leave areamc.llc and use AppraisalScope or another third-party website, that service may collect and process information under its own privacy notices, terms, security practices, and contractual arrangements.

AREA MC does not control every cookie, security feature, data-processing method, or privacy practice used independently by a third-party service.

8. Information Security

AREA MC uses administrative, technical, and operational measures intended to protect information against unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, loss, or disclosure.

No website, email system, internet transmission, storage platform, or security method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Visitors and users are responsible for using appropriate care when transmitting information, protecting passwords, maintaining account security, and notifying AREA MC of suspected unauthorized activity.

Confidential appraisal documents and sensitive assignment information should be transmitted through AppraisalScope rather than ordinary email whenever possible.

9. Information Retention

AREA MC may retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and for related business, professional, contractual, accounting, security, recordkeeping, dispute-resolution, insurance, regulatory, and legal purposes.

Retention periods may vary based on the type of information, the appraisal assignment, the client relationship, applicable law, contractual obligations, professional standards, platform settings, and legitimate business needs.

Some information may remain in backups, archived communications, assignment records, or third-party systems after it is no longer actively used.

10. Your Choices

Depending on your relationship with AREA MC and applicable law, you may contact us to ask about personal information you have directly provided, request correction of inaccurate contact information, or request that certain information be deleted.

AREA MC may need to retain information when required for appraisal records, contracts, accounting, fraud prevention, security, dispute resolution, professional obligations, legal compliance, or other legitimate purposes.

Cookie Choices

Visitors may manage cookies through available website consent controls and browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect website performance or functionality.

Email Choices

You may ask AREA MC to stop sending nonessential promotional communications. Transactional, assignment-related, security, legal, or service communications may still be sent when appropriate.

11. External Links

The website may link to AppraisalScope, government agencies, educational institutions, regulatory resources, and other third-party websites.

AREA MC provides external links for convenience or informational purposes. A link does not mean AREA MC controls or accepts responsibility for the third party’s privacy, security, availability, accuracy, or content.

Review the privacy policy and terms of each third-party website before submitting information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

AREA MC may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in the website, business operations, technology, services, legal requirements, or privacy practices.

The revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the website after an update constitutes use of the website under the revised policy.