ACI is offline again.

[NJ Valuator]

I purchased a Total license this week but prefer ACI due to the learning curve. Just trying to meet deadlines with clients whose borrower's are needing to get into their homes before the end of the month. This problem could not have happened at a worse time for lenders and borrowers who are depending upon all of us to get those reports in to the underwriters.

So you purchased TOTAL and was in the midst of learning the program; then when ACI came back up you ditched TOTAL and went back to ACI. It is so frustrating.

 

[NJ Valuator]

I am very stressed today about this. Although I have Total I am needing to get rush reports off my desk so that some very nice people can get into their homes. Right now I am having to move everything to Total from ACI that I have worked on last night and this morning thinking that ACI was online. I finished three and were ready to upload them all upon discovering ACI is offline. Now I am having to retype them all into Total. I don't mind doing that but I am feeling really down about it all. It' has finally got to me after being under lots of stress this week trying to meet deadlines.

I am down too. Holiday is ruined. Just sucks.

How difficult is TOTAL? Is it cumbersome? Are you using the same computer that ACI is on? I do not need all of the bells and whistles of TOTAL so just thinking of my options.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Well, speaking only personally... I would buy either Clickforms or SFREP. And I would not waste my time trying to convert anything. I'd just start over and if possible, to cut and paste any narrative, then run both the report and the new software and just "get 'er done" and never use ACI again. If intending to stick with ACI, then I'd buy HomePuter which is cheap and use as an insurance policy. If ACI goes down again, do the report in HomePuter.

I am not sure how everyone does their reports these days, but I see a lot of newer appraisers who don't even know how to create their own Comp Maps, or even know how to use a separate sketching program to import into a report. I think (while not particularly useful at this stage of the game) a whole lot of folks need to learn some computer basics, like how to navigate the file tree. They just hit generate or whatever and the map appears. And most sketchers can be integrated into the software or used separately from the software.

As a narrative user, I have to create my own maps, my own sketches, and exhibits. Honestly, it is pretty easy to do. But I have a cheapo photo editing tool that not only will edit my photos, but any other jpg. And Adobe has a function that allows you to save a pdf as a jpg. So, say you have a pdf of a survey, then convert it to jpg and import to the report.

This is a disaster for ACI. And, in part, their (First Amer) own making. Were Appraisers Choice still a small independent company, a big time hacker like Black Cat probably would never F with ACI in the first place. Can't get blood out of a turnip. I suspect ACI will see its market share collapse after this and the other vendors benefit with a host of new users.

And again speaking only from my own POV, I would avoid Total simply for being owned by a much bigger company and therefore, that company being a far bigger target for someone like Black Cat to focus on. Nothing to do with the software, and everything to do with the vulnerability of the website. That would leave me with either Clickforms or SFREP and I've used both and both are relatively easy to use, especially compared to Total.

 

[alavalue]

I am down too. Holiday is ruined. Just sucks.

How difficult is TOTAL? Is it cumbersome? Are you using the same computer that ACI is on? I do not need all of the bells and whistles of TOTAL so just thinking of my options.

Actually, once I master the learning curve I believe Total will be far more functional for residential work. I had no problem producing two UAD compliant reports for two different clients and uploaded xml files to each. Thus, it wasn't that much of a learning curve. But I have spent a lot of time learning how to use the software. It is best to use their tutorials before starting a new report. Makes it much more efficient to know which menus to use. I am keeping both programs on my machine but prefer ACI because it is easier for me to use at this point. I spent a lot of money this week. Almost $1400 for Total plus a Apex license to go with it. I see the benefit of a tax write off here at the end of the year but it still smarts to have to spend that much money this month when I have so many other needs for it.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Total will buy out your current contract

See all the ways a la mode can help your appraisal business

No matter what your office is like, our tools will make you more efficient and profitable. Plus, everything is backed by our 100-day, money-back guarantee, so you've got nothing to lose.

www.alamode.com

SFREP will give you a six month trial

 

[Chris Thompson]

I am very stressed today about this. Although I have Total I am needing to get rush reports off my desk so that some very nice people can get into their homes. Right now I am having to move everything to Total from ACI that I have worked on last night and this morning thinking that ACI was online. I finished three and were ready to upload them all upon discovering ACI is offline. Now I am having to retype them all into Total. I don't mind doing that but I am feeling really down about it all. It' has finally got to me after being under lots of stress this week trying to meet deadlines.

I'd call total not positive but pretty sure they can import/extract the ACI info directly from your ACI report into total report-- may eliminate a complete re-write

 

[NJ Valuator]

Actually, once I master the learning curve I believe Total will be far more functional for residential work. I had no problem producing two UAD compliant reports for two different clients and uploaded xml files to each. Thus, it wasn't that much of a learning curve. But I have spent a lot of time learning how to use the software. It is best to use their tutorials before starting a new report. Makes it much more efficient to know which menus to use. I am keeping both programs on my machine but prefer ACI because it is easier for me to use at this point. I spent a lot of money this week. Almost $1400 for Total plus a Apex license to go with it. I see the benefit of a tax write off here at the end of the year but it still smarts to have to spend that much money this month when I have so many other needs for it.

Are you using the same computer that ACI is on?

 

[NJ Valuator]

Well, speaking only personally... I would buy either Clickforms or SFREP. And I would not waste my time trying to convert anything. I'd just start over and if possible, to cut and paste any narrative, then run both the report and the new software and just "get 'er done" and never use ACI again. If intending to stick with ACI, then I'd buy HomePuter which is cheap and use as an insurance policy. If ACI goes down again, do the report in HomePuter.

I am not sure how everyone does their reports these days, but I see a lot of newer appraisers who don't even know how to create their own Comp Maps, or even know how to use a separate sketching program to import into a report. I think (while not particularly useful at this stage of the game) a whole lot of folks need to learn some computer basics, like how to navigate the file tree. They just hit generate or whatever and the map appears. And most sketchers can be integrated into the software or used separately from the software.

As a narrative user, I have to create my own maps, my own sketches, and exhibits. Honestly, it is pretty easy to do. But I have a cheapo photo editing tool that not only will edit my photos, but any other jpg. And Adobe has a function that allows you to save a pdf as a jpg. So, say you have a pdf of a survey, then convert it to jpg and import to the report.

This is a disaster for ACI. And, in part, their (First Amer) own making. Were Appraisers Choice still a small independent company, a big time hacker like Black Cat probably would never F with ACI in the first place. Can't get blood out of a turnip. I suspect ACI will see its market share collapse after this and the other vendors benefit with a host of new users.

And again speaking only from my own POV, I would avoid Total simply for being owned by a much bigger company and therefore, that company being a far bigger target for someone like Black Cat to focus on. Nothing to do with the software, and everything to do with the vulnerability of the website. That would leave me with either Clickforms or SFREP and I've used both and both are relatively easy to use, especially compared to Total.

I totally agree with not wasting time trying to convert. The ACI files will always be there; will just do a lot of copying and pasting.

 

[NJ Valuator]

View attachment 83297
View attachment 83298
Total will buy out your current contract

See all the ways a la mode can help your appraisal business

No matter what your office is like, our tools will make you more efficient and profitable. Plus, everything is backed by our 100-day, money-back guarantee, so you've got nothing to lose.

www.alamode.com

SFREP will give you a six month trial
View attachment 83300

I just want the most basic non frills program. I would assume that it is Homeputer which I actually used the DOS version when I first starting appraising in the mid 90's.

 

[Surf Cat]

Here's the bottom line in my opinion. I'm not an ACI user however, these AMC's could have extended all of your due dates till after Christmas. That's the least they could have done in light of the situation.

Have you or have you not been dedicated to providing appraisal services as a reliable partner to your clients? To kick you all to the curb, reassign your orders, and post that they would not be accepting assignments from users of ACI, PLUS......from what I understand thus far, not compensate you is just bottom of the barrel business tactics.

As for ACI, they deserve to lose appraisers business due to their lack of communication.

Here's hoping ACI appraisers have a great holiday with your family and friends.