Aivre

[alebrewer]

Regorra's 3.6 app is completely free and auto-import is included which everyone else seems to charge for. Not sure of its capabilities yet but I played around a bit and seems very easy to work with

It is, by far, the easiest to use of the apps I've tried. Granted, I haven't tried AIVRE in about a year, but I just can't stomach the price for them.

 

[cashcatz]

Yet most appraisers have been doing exactly that with appraisal software for years now.

Yep, and we've read the stories on Facebook and other places of appraisers losing their entire work file history to a flood or fire because it was only stored on their computer. That is pure incompetence and a violation of USPAP. An appraiser should after an event like that should be able to walk in to a Busy Buy and purchase a new computer, download dropbox or whatever and have their files synced back in a couple hours, tops. It's 2026, this has been a solved problem for 15 years already, and cheap as dirt.

 

[Digger88]

What do you think they will be doing with all that "free" data you provide them, especially the appraisals you bring in that don't originate from their order platform. Check out their recent VC funding news, those coastalist investors expect their payday from the bro-dude who runs that operation - I'm afraid it will be on the backs of appraisers...

yeah, fully aware all of your data is being scraped and sold by everyone all the time. and I wrote a post about it..

Yes. doesn't everyone? Are you going to develope your own then get it XML or whatever GSE certification is needed to send reports in the format they require? Your phone does, every credit card and debit card at any location you shop at does too. Any device in your home either actively or passively listens to all as well. Privacy these days is a cabin in the woods and a good book.

We are here to procreate and die and have as much fun as you can along the way. And don't be a Richard lol

yes, it stores and internally reuses data, but I found no proof that it illegally steals or sells your reports.

• Reggora Forms is separate browser software. It does not install itself or secretly copy TOTAL/ACI files. It is intended to replace those form fillers. Reggora Forms
• Reggora says finalized comps are automatically archived and report actions are logged.
• Reggora CEO Brian Zitin said they “won’t sell the data” but will use it internally “to make our platform better.” That confirms internal reuse, but it is only a Reddit statement, not a binding contract.
• Their privacy policy allows Reggora to use, transfer, sell, and share aggregated anonymous user data. It does not clearly exclude appraisal data from AI training, AVMs, analytics, or other internal uses.
• GSE verification only means the software produces compliant UAD 3.6 files. Freddie Mac specifically says its listing is not an endorsement of the company’s privacy, security, or business practices. Freddie Mac

 

[Fargo1]

I'm trying to wrap my head around the software fees, and IMO, that alone is a big reason to stop doing appraisals.
Think about it... if you do 10 appraisals/month year 'round, 120 appraisals @$20 each for software charge, that's $2400/year with no bells and whistles apparently....

I know everyone's market is different. To some people 10-12 per month is part time. But I am full time and in my market I am only able to complete 8-10 appraisals a month working 50+ hours a week. So yeah, software prices are crazy. How can I spend $2500 per year on software another $3000 on MLS. Then their are the cost handbooks and all the other fees that nible away at your profit. Oh and should I be backing up all my files online too? How much is that per month? I'm just a simple guy with a few hardrives I back up to. The over head for a sole proprieter is getting way out of hand. But I suspect that is what they want. Like so many other areas of life, its easier for 'the powers that be' to control a smaller amount of big businesses. So thats obviously the direction they are pushing. I am about 10 years out from retirement. All these fees make it hard to make a living appraising. At some point its going to be more cost effective to just walk away.

 

[Sadie]

As a former regulator, I have to agree with Danny here. If you entered into the agreement in good faith with a bonafide company then your records retention requirement is likely met.

However, this doesn’t protect you if your workfile data included unique information that would aid your defense. This could be notes on who you talked to (agents, planners, etc) and what they said. It would also be non-static information like MLS where the data, including photographs, get changed either by the agent (or the MLS after a prescribed period after the sale).

Regardless of the agreement you signed, you are still responsible for producing it in the event you are required to do so. Its a no excuses type of thing. And keep it confidential.

 

[cashcatz]

sold by everyone all the time

Wrong, I've written about this ad nauseam everywhere anyone will listen. It's simply not true.

but will use it internally “to make our platform better.

Yes, to replace appraisers with AI/AVMs. You might be training your robot replacement.

 

[cashcatz]

Oh and should I be backing up all my files online too? How much is that per month?

Yes, like $5-10 lol. Price of a good IPA or two. If you are not already doing this, you might be in violation of USPAP. While there's no specific requirement for cloud storage, what would happen if your house burnt down? Would you permanently lose all your workfile history? I always recommend the 3x: your providers storage, 3rd party cloud storage (like dropbox or whatever), and then quarterly backup to external hard drive that goes into a fire and water proof safe (both cheap at Walmart).

 

[JTip]

Think about it... if you do 10 appraisals/month year 'round, 120 appraisals @$20 each for software charge, that's $2400/year with no bells and whistles apparently. If you do 15/month, that's 180 appraisals @$20, that's $3600/year. Plus databases, plus $1030 license renewal fee in Ca, plus CE, plus E&O, not to mention MLS, internet, gas & auto expenses for this job that we can't actually do without having a functional vehicle. Pretty soon you are over $5000/year PLUS appraisal software charges in the $2400-$4800/year range. IMO, that's a mighty big chunk of change (+/-$10,000/yr); so you need to do 2 appraisals a month so as just not to be in the hole!?! and you haven't put a penny in your pocket yet!

The cost of the beer is in the cost of the sandwich.

You are not paying the expenses, the client is. A good businessperson accounts for that and charges accordingly.

 

[Sandra Koutsopoulos]

If we operated in a "free market" where we as individual businesses could go direct to the entities requiring the appraisals, your point would apply better. But now most loan appraisals are funneled to AMCs and we no longer have the flexibility to make ourselves the "best" appraisal option with desirable 'perks', which would encourage a particular lender to choose a particular appraiser and acquiesce to their fees. 'Perks' like always taking every appraisal order, even if some are far a-field, or including 'extras' like graphs, or being the local super-knowledgeable person in the area for some peculiarity of the assignment, or being particularly liked by the borrowers/agents/sellers etc. It's not a free marketplace, because what makes each of us 'special', means nothing. All that matters 90% of the time is fee and turn-time.

So, as individual appraisers, we have next to no control over what the client will accept, and sometimes being a good businessperson would actually require abbreviated inspections, shallow reports (which could thus be misleading), or on the other hand, quoting an actual fee that enables us to be good business people, meaning we would get very few appraisal orders, and that's certainly not good for business!

 

[ddnma]

Yes, like $5-10 lol. Price of a good IPA or two. If you are not already doing this, you might be in violation of USPAP. While there's no specific requirement for cloud storage, what would happen if your house burnt down? Would you permanently lose all your workfile history? I always recommend the 3x: your providers storage, 3rd party cloud storage (like dropbox or whatever), and then quarterly backup to external hard drive that goes into a fire and water proof safe (both cheap at Walmart).

Me thinks you have never read USPAP, the AO's or the FAQ's