Per use fee for Nighthawk

[MRL]

Did anyone else notice this Nighthhawk update from Bradford? A per use fee? No thanks! Looks like it's time to find a new software provider.

Pricing: Many have asked about pricing. The fee for Nighthawk will be on a per use basis. We are still negotiating deals on the data and services. Once this is finalized, we will be able to announce a fee. For those of you that are cost conscience about per usage fees, keep in mind that in 2026, NightHawk may be free during the initial rollout phases. This will allow you to test and determine its true value to your business.

 

[Non Sequitur]

The days of relatively cheap appraisal software are quickly coming to an end.

 

[cashcatz]

Did anyone else notice this Nighthhawk update from Bradford? A per use fee? No thanks! Looks like it's time to find a new software provider.

Pricing: Many have asked about pricing. The fee for Nighthawk will be on a per use basis. We are still negotiating deals on the data and services. Once this is finalized, we will be able to announce a fee. For those of you that are cost conscience about per usage fees, keep in mind that in 2026, NightHawk may be free during the initial rollout phases. This will allow you to test and determine its true value to your business.

If Nighthawk works as advertised, the per usage pricing might be worth it (time savings alone). Of course there must be a reasonable per usage fee. Ironically, appraisers can be really poor at valuing their own time and will go out of their way to do things the hard time wasting way to "save" 5 cents.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

If Nighthawk works as advertised, the per usage pricing might be worth it (time savings alone). Of course there must be a reasonable per usage fee. Ironically, appraisers can be really poor at valuing their own time and will go out of their way to do things the hard time wasting way to "save" 5 cents.

I don't mind doing things to save time. My concern would be if you give an inch they take a mile. Having an option is different then switching.

 

[TerryRohrer]

Ironically, appraisers can be really poor at valuing their own time and will go out of their way to do things the hard time wasting way to "save" 5 cents.

Just as ironically, software providers presume to know the value of the time of every one of their prospective customers to each of those customers (as if they were all identical to one another as dictated by said software provider). It seems that when what they are selling can't stand on its own merits, all other possibilities and options must be denigrated and falsely maligned to overcome their product's inherent lack of value.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

(time savings alone

With so many appraisers having time on their hands, the choice is pay and then twiddle your thumbs, or do it slower and get a bit more money as a result. What is the value of the marginal cost of Nighthawk? Do I pocket that money by taking a bit more time or not? Only if you are maxed out with work would it truly be valuable.

 

[Alsie35]

(time savings alone).

or ... you can do what the Bradford video narrator sounds like he's doing - freebase some crack then go out with your old system and -BOOM- you're 100% faster!!!

SPOILER: every single provider of software is going to go to a per use fee, in addition to an annual fee, route, once the Abomination hits. That's about the time that I will send ACI a certified letter canceling my subscription, and warning them against trying anything funny like automatic renewal, which I have never done with them.

 

[Non Sequitur]

If Nighthawk works as advertised, the per usage pricing might be worth it (time savings alone). Of course there must be a reasonable per usage fee. Ironically, appraisers can be really poor at valuing their own time and will go out of their way to do things the hard time wasting way to "save" 5 cents.

I'm not knocking your point but let's pencil it out. How many times have you read appraisers claiming their time is worth $100 per hour or they bill that much when asked? More times than I can count. Whether it's Nighhawk, AIVRE, etc. all claim hours per report saved. See where I'm going? Pricing appraisal software based on that is a lead balloon.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I've been warning about what's coming since I went to the AMC Expo in Vegas. And there's another layer that no one is talking about: Those price per use fees don't include the inevitable addons or third-party portal fees. Cha-ching!

Only one potential software provider has published a price scheduled, and let's be honest, he's not a player. There's a reason the real players haven't even given a range, and it's not because appraisers are going to jump for joy when announced. My guess: All will try to retain or gain market share by offering free trials through mandatory 3.6 delivery date (now set for Nov 25). None are going to risk losing market share by showing their hand early. If the 3.6 release schedule holds I predict the pricing axe will fall in late Q1 2027.

 

[Surf Cat]

The problem that I see with this model is that the appraiser is not going to be able to pass on the "per use" cost of the 3.6 to the AMC's. Many appraisers will try to raise their fees but the AMCs won't budge or will only offer another 25 bucks.....putting the appraiser further in the hole.

Couple this with appraisers being spineless and collectively not taking a stand....just further continues the race to the bottom....

Can you imagine winning an assignment, paying for a 3.6 report, pre-filling it out the night before and the next morning on the way to the subject, having the rug pulled out from under your feet because the AMC found a cheaper appraiser? It's going to be worse than it already is.

 

[TerryRohrer]

Behind the scenes, where independent fee appraisers are not allowed, I am sure there will be "volume" pricing deals where an AMC or large "appraisal" firm can pay a licensing fee to the software provider that allows all of their "appraiser" employees use at a price per report far below that offered to appraisers.