CEI Right of Way Agents provided appraisal and acquisition services in support of this federally-funded roadway widening project. Since the individual values of each of the acquisitions were determined to be less than $25,000, CEI received permission from the Town and FHWA to provide Restricted Use Appraisals in lieu of full appraisals. This resulted in a huge cost savings for the Town as well as accelerated the project schedule. The scope included 50 Restricted Use Appraisals and acquisition of 50 permanent fee interests and/or utility easements.

This project proved to be highly complex for several reasons: many of the properties were mortgaged and often made it difficult for CEI’s ROW Agents to obtain releases or consents to the acquisition of permanent fee interest or easements from the lenders; several of the property owners lived in other states and towns and were difficult to locate and contact; and there was a significant design change implemented midway through the project which required our Agents to revise offers to the property owners.

CEI’s ROW Agents drafted all conveying documents and presented 49 of the 50 offers in person; therefore, a significant amount of coordination was required due to the many project stakeholders.

Other project tasks completed by CEI’s ROW Agents included facilitation of Town Hall meetings with the community members to ensure that the project goals, scope, timeline and impacts were understood by all; review of title reports; coordination with the Title company on all escrow processes; as well as management of all communications with property owners.