Alamode/corelogic/smartexchange - You Have A Right To Be Paranoid

[Evincere]

Makes me want to do up a bunch of dummy reports. I am not sure how to do it and keep my license though.

Some people might call them “Demos”

 

[Doug in NC]

Doug in NC wrote in an earlier post that he spoke with alamode and requested a written opt-out agreement. He was expecting it by the end of the day

Houston, we have a problem. AlaComode did not respond with a confirmation of my opt out. I suspect they never anticipated that appraisers would ever choose to opt out. Suggests that this SmartScrape program was not thought out with the least bit of concern for their existing customer base before they implemented this new data mining plan. Alternate appraisal software providers may be the ones who end up capitalizing on this critical misstep by Corelogic/alamode!

If this isn't addressed quickly and appropriately, I'm going to take a serous look at switching. I used a simpler and faster program in the past, it's been so long ago now that I don't even know why I ever started using Total in the first place (other than almost everyone else was using it).

 

[Non Sequitur]

Not long ago appraisers were screaming that they wanted to see CU peer data, this isn’t CU but it’s close.

 

[Carnivore]

Houston, we have a problem. AlaComode

If this isn't addressed quickly and appropriately, I'm going to take a serous look at switching. I used a simpler and faster program in the past, it's been so long ago now that I don't even know why I ever started using Total in the first place (other than almost everyone else was using it).

I am thinking the same thing. After decades with Alamode seems like a good enough reason to change. i don't need a lot of Bells n Whistles to perform my work. Transition won't be that hard for me.

 

[Evincere]

Houston, we have a problem. AlaComode did not respond with a confirmation of my opt out..

I surmised that If (Opt-Out) wasn't in the products TOS there isn't one. Unless or until they meet with their legal department to engineer one because it was probably inconceivable to them that an appraiser would find the Agreement objectionable, resist continued participation or show a lack interest and enthusiasm in their great, new, extraordinary, magical time saver.

There are many TOS Agreements whereby potential user is lured with the Free trial Carrot Stick. People see Free Trial and think what the heck. If these types of agreements are not read carefully or if the consequences of changing ones mind are not considered, in many cases you can consider yourself stuck.

It may be the case that not enough Appraisers click(ed) the Opt-In - in which case it’s not feasible for them to offer a complete Opt-Out.

The problem is that once the program is baked into an update is there any real way of verifying thus knowing with certainty that the data you haven't agreed to giving up, is not being scrubbed.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

PUT IT IN WRITING! CONNECT THE DOTS FOR

Dustin might like to keep his job. He isn't going to buck the party line. Transparency will have to come from above....suspect it will be a long wait.

Not long ago appraisers were screaming that they wanted to see CU peer data, this isn’t CU but it’s close.

Don't think anyone wanted to pay for their own data, however.

 

[Dustin Moore]

Thanks CompsCheck and all the other posters here. As I told CompsCheck in a private message, we make it a rule not to get engaged publicly here. We think this should be a place for appraisers to have discussion and debate without others trying to influence things.

I'll start off with the post that prompted me to message CompCheck. In post #100 on this thread CompCheck said, "In fact, it happened on the last update.. Not the opt in." This indicates that data would be uploaded to SmartExchange without explicitly opting in. This statement is absolutely false.

You only upload data from TOTAL when you check a box agreeing to the terms and click the opt in button.

Now, for the other questions you've posed.

1 - Tell us when the data is scraped.
SmartExchange is populated in two ways. First, by TOTAL users which I addressed above. Data is uploaded from TOTAL to SmartExchange when an appraiser explicitly opts in to the service.

Second, SmartExchange receives peer data from other CoreLogic data sources that were obtained through their existing business relationships. This is why some appraisers are seeing properties that weren't contributed via TOTAL.

2 - Where is it going?
The data is added to SmartExchange servers which facilitate the sharing of comparable property data among SmartExchange members (other appraisers who've opted in). It's important to note that the terms of SmartExchange are clear on this. The data in SmartExchange is only shared among members of the service.

3 - What are we doing?
We're trying to help appraisers do their work more quickly and with less hassle. We think that typing data -- especially data that's already widely available from other sources -- is a fairly low-value effort. Your time is much better spent analyzing, questioning, and validating the data and drawing conclusions.

Additionally, we know how much appraisers hate spending time on questions from reviewers when their comp characteristics don't align with another appraiser's. SmartExchange shows you how other appraisers have used the comp characteristics before, so you can either proactively explain differences or do more research to understand if other appraisers might know something that you hadn't yet uncovered.

Ever since Collateral Underwriter was introduced, appraisers have been upset that everyone EXCEPT appraisers had access to this type of data. SmartExchange is a tremendous step forward in helping appraisers solve this specific issue.

I appreciate everyone's comments here. These conversations are a great way for us to learn what you all are thinking and develop solutions that solve your problems. And we respect everyone's decision on whether or not to join SmartExchange. No technology is a perfect fit for everyone and SmartExchange is no different.

Hopefully this post clears things up.

Signing off….

Dustin Moore
Operating Officer
a la mode

 

[Meandering]

Thanks CompsCheck and all the other posters here. As I told CompsCheck in a private message, we make it a rule not to get engaged publicly here. We think this should be a place for appraisers to have discussion and debate without others trying to influence things.

I'll start off with the post that prompted me to message CompCheck. In post #100 on this thread CompCheck said, "In fact, it happened on the last update.. Not the opt in." This indicates that data would be uploaded to SmartExchange without explicitly opting in. This statement is absolutely false.

You only upload data from TOTAL when you check a box agreeing to the terms and click the opt in button.

Now, for the other questions you've posed.

1 - Tell us when the data is scraped.
SmartExchange is populated in two ways. First, by TOTAL users which I addressed above. Data is uploaded from TOTAL to SmartExchange when an appraiser explicitly opts in to the service.

Second, SmartExchange receives peer data from other CoreLogic data sources that were obtained through their existing business relationships. This is why some appraisers are seeing properties that weren't contributed via TOTAL.

2 - Where is it going?
The data is added to SmartExchange servers which facilitate the sharing of comparable property data among SmartExchange members (other appraisers who've opted in). It's important to note that the terms of SmartExchange are clear on this. The data in SmartExchange is only shared among members of the service.

3 - What are we doing?
We're trying to help appraisers do their work more quickly and with less hassle. We think that typing data -- especially data that's already widely available from other sources -- is a fairly low-value effort. Your time is much better spent analyzing, questioning, and validating the data and drawing conclusions.

Additionally, we know how much appraisers hate spending time on questions from reviewers when their comp characteristics don't align with another appraiser's. SmartExchange shows you how other appraisers have used the comp characteristics before, so you can either proactively explain differences or do more research to understand if other appraisers might know something that you hadn't yet uncovered.

Ever since Collateral Underwriter was introduced, appraisers have been upset that everyone EXCEPT appraisers had access to this type of data. SmartExchange is a tremendous step forward in helping appraisers solve this specific issue.

I appreciate everyone's comments here. These conversations are a great way for us to learn what you all are thinking and develop solutions that solve your problems. And we respect everyone's decision on whether or not to join SmartExchange. No technology is a perfect fit for everyone and SmartExchange is no different.

Hopefully this post clears things up.

Signing off….

Dustin Moore
Operating Officer
a la mode

Wait,

I have a question.

Appraisers have to pay you, to get their own comps back into their other reports?

And, only if you know,

How much are other entities paying CU to get comp data?

Thanks.

.

 

[Doug in NC]

You only upload data from TOTAL when you check a box agreeing to the terms and click the opt in button.

So how do we opt out of this system Dustin? (Short of cancelling my subscription to Total and switching to a new appraisal program provider) Without giving it enough thought, I regretfully opted in on a whim because I just wanted to see a comp previously used by an appraiser who works for me (while I was in the middle of completing an appraisal report). I called Alamode yesterday and told the rep that I wanted opted out, and specifically requested written confirmation that my wishes would be complied with. Since I didn't receive that confirmation, I now fear that Alamode cannot or is unwilling to opt me out of this system. I'm also afraid Alamode has already extracted data from every one of my reports already since I unwittingly opted in on a "free trial" basis.

 

[Evincere]

So how do we opt out of this system Dustin? (Short of cancelling my subscription to Total and switching to a new appraisal program provider) Without giving it enough thought, I regretfully opted in on a whim because I just wanted to see a comp previously used by an appraiser who works for me (while I was in the middle of completing an appraisal report). I called Alamode yesterday and told the rep that I wanted opted out, and specifically requested written confirmation that my wishes would be complied with. Since I didn't receive that confirmation, I now fear that Alamode cannot or is unwilling to opt me out of this system. I'm also afraid Alamode has already extracted data from every one of my reports already since I unwittingly opted in on a "free trial" basis.

Um...I don’t think he’s going be back Doug. Poor guy, I feel sorry for him if he’s their main PR man.

One of the major concerns and questions throughout this entire thread which if he read, has been the ability to OPT-OUT - it was skirted over and Never addressed. .

Having heard from their rep directly addressing the questions he could answer - is it reasonable to conclude that once data scraping consent is given and agreed too - there is NO OPT-OUT option?

Sure looks that way