Your measuring and sketching process

[Mike Ault]

I like your thoughts. I must ponder in this and see what I can use. Hubby just bought a new iPad for me to use at work so I won’t be switching to a MS tablet soon. But my laptop is 5 year old lenovo with detachable keyboard. I do want a better way to make the field work integrate better with the office work so as to cut down on waste time and energy.

If I'm not mistaken, you can install OneNote on your iPad and at least have all your assignments accessible & get your fieldnotes synced back to your Windows desktop. I'm sure there is a similar cloud sync solution to get your sketches transferred back automatically as well. You can always email them from your iPad if nothing else. Photographs taken in the field are the big issue to get back home, I use a 35mm camera and download them via USB cable back at the office although it does have a Wi-Fi option as well that I've been too lazy to set up. That's why I have never used an "appraisal app" for filling out the URAR in the field, the few times I tried taking photographs with my tablet I was disappointed with the awkwardness of it all. I prefer a nice camera that I can hold in one hand and zoom out through my passenger window when taking comp pictures. Don't like using my phone for that and hated the tablet so old school camera for me. If I import the comparable addresses that I chose in the field into the URAR directly from the MLS, then I can automatically add the correct address labels when I read those photographs into the database and I almost never end up having to type an address that way. A weird workaround but preferable to trying to stick a tablet out the window for a photograph in the hood.
.

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

Approximately 50% of loans are secondary market or government backed. they use forms. They are limited to residential for the most part. The other 50% of called non-conforming loans or are agricultural loans - some require a form and some don't. Most commercial work is not a form, rather is a narrative. Ditto the best court, IRS and private appraisals are going to be written and not talk in codes. You will need a Bachelors Degree to start

If you want to make the big bucks, I suggest you get your CG and use a narrative. There are narrative software packages that are based on Excel/Wood templates, or you can take a class or two in a local trade school and create your own, which is what I did. And I can write a report in much the same time you can write a report on a form.

Oh yeah, I'm always nailing down the big bucks narratives with my hard earned CG. Go to work for one of the big commercial firms or State Government ROW if you want to write narratives and make good money. Fannie/Freddie don't enter into the equation. You will need a Bachelors Degree for CG to start.

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

If I'm not mistaken, you can install OneNote on your iPad and at least have all your assignments accessible & get your fieldnotes synced back to your Windows desktop. I'm sure there is a similar cloud sync solution to get your sketches transferred back automatically as well. You can always email them from your iPad if nothing else. Photographs taken in the field are the big issue to get back home, I use a 35mm camera and download them via USB cable back at the office although it does have a Wi-Fi option as well that I've been too lazy to set up. That's why I have never used an "appraisal app" for filling out the URAR in the field, the few times I tried taking photographs with my tablet I was disappointed with the awkwardness of it all. I prefer a nice camera that I can hold in one hand and zoom out through my passenger window when taking comp pictures. Don't like using my phone for that and hated the tablet so old school camera for me. If I import the comparable addresses that I chose in the field into the URAR directly from the MLS, then I can automatically add the correct address labels when I read those photographs into the database and I almost never end up having to type an address that way. A weird workaround but preferable to trying to stick a tablet out the window for a photograph in the hood.
.

OMG, Inspects Alot makes all photos so easy. I don't use it like they want. I only download the photos I need for each report and out in rural counties, I take many photos, even if I don't need them, if I'm by there anyway. Then they're in the Apple cloud all I want for 99 cents a month. I just look at my IPad for specific dated and photos and can email them to myself if I need them on another report and easy to find.

 

[CenCoastApr]

Approximately 50% of loans are secondary market or government backed. they use forms. They are limited to residential for the most part. The other 50% of called non-conforming loans or are agricultural loans - some require a form and some don't. Most commercial work is not a form, rather is a narrative. Ditto the best court, IRS and private appraisals are going to be written and not talk in codes.

If you want to make the big bucks, I suggest you get your CG and use a narrative. There are narrative software packages that are based on Excel/Wood templates, or you can take a class or two in a local trade school and create your own, which is what I did. And I can write a report in much the same time you can write a report on a form.

I am not opposed to getting CG at some point. ( I do have an Econ degree for what little it is worth) Though, My mentor is CR and our work has been at a virtual standstill the last three and a half months. I did a LITTLE ag/commercial as a tax appraiser, but not to the level of detail required in the fee appraisal world.
Are the narrative software packs separate from the standard issue stuff in alamode or ACI?

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

I am not opposed to getting CG at some point. ( I do have an Econ degree for what little it is worth) Though, My mentor is CR and our work has been at a virtual standstill the last three and a half months. I did a LITTLE ag/commercial as a tax appraiser, but not to the level of detail required in the fee appraisal world.
Are the narrative software packs separate from the standard issue stuff in alamode or ACI?

I have never had narrative software, just used Word and Excel. Just offer to do appeal work if you're working for an assessor, I promise you'll get all the experience you need and then some. Economics Degree is great for CG.

 

[TerryRohrer]

If I'm not mistaken, you can install OneNote on your iPad and at least have all your assignments accessible & get your fieldnotes synced back to your Windows desktop. I'm sure there is a similar cloud sync solution to get your sketches transferred back automatically as well. You can always email them from your iPad if nothing else. Photographs taken in the field are the big issue to get back home, I use a 35mm camera and download them via USB cable back at the office although it does have a Wi-Fi option as well that I've been too lazy to set up. That's why I have never used an "appraisal app" for filling out the URAR in the field, the few times I tried taking photographs with my tablet I was disappointed with the awkwardness of it all. I prefer a nice camera that I can hold in one hand and zoom out through my passenger window when taking comp pictures. Don't like using my phone for that and hated the tablet so old school camera for me. If I import the comparable addresses that I chose in the field into the URAR directly from the MLS, then I can automatically add the correct address labels when I read those photographs into the database and I almost never end up having to type an address that way. A weird workaround but preferable to trying to stick a tablet out the window for a photograph in the hood.
.

So what are you using for your forms software? Does Apex integrate with it, or do you create an image of the sketch and insert it into your report? I gave up Apex when alacommode added another charge to integrate the sketch into the report.

 

[NC Appraising]

Microsoft Surface Go 2 tablet running the latest version of Apex, 100-foot tape measure and whatever Disto I have charged up & handy. I generally default to the 330i version because it's smaller than all of them and still able to Bluetooth measurements to Apex although doesn't handle direct sunlight as well as the X4 or the 810. I never did get used to the 810 due to the touchscreen which was too easy to hit with my fat fingers and get it into some sort of weird measuring mode. I use Microsoft "OneNote" to take all field notes and saving everything to "OneDrive" makes sure it is synced automatically back to my desktop before I even get back to the office. An added bonus with OneNote is you can have all your current orders with you in the field along with all the notes associated with them. If a client calls while you're shooting pictures or something you can give them all the information you have gathered so far on their assignment as far as scheduling attempts, additional documentation needed, etc. It took me a while for me to transition from the clipboard, but I wouldn't ever go back at this point (although I do keep it handy just in case I have a technology failure of some sort).

You can turn off the touch screen. I never use it. You can do everything with the push buttons.

I like the D810 large screen and shows multiple prior shots.

 

[Mike Ault]

You can turn off the touch screen. I never use it. You can do everything with the push buttons.

I like the D810 large screen and shows multiple prior shots.

That never occurred to me! Thanks for passing that along, I may start using it again this winter when I'm wearing coats with big pockets. I always felt pretty stupid for spending that much money on it and just using it as a backup device.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I'm always nailing down the big bucks narratives with my hard earned CG.

If you have a niche you should be getting good fees. I rarely do a poultry farm but I know 2 appraisers who do them for regional banks and both get $4,000 plus per assignment. After you do a few you tend to have a lot of data too so "comps" are pretty easy. I can usually write a report including inspection in 2 days. That is the same for airports and airport hangars, malls, C stores or whatever you specialize in. So the lowest priced assignments may be land (bare) or owner occupied retail, steel building owner-occupied (welding shop, garage, etc.) I am doing a vet clinic - what kind of fee would you charge?

 

[Artemis Fowl]

Blank paper or old sketch if a review. Pencil. Tape and Disto.

But more often nowadays...