Automate Data Entry?

[TerryRohrer]

You are a breath of fresh air in a profession where the average age is over 50. I am looking for a similar solution. If you figure it out please share.

But to the topic at hand, develop the process I suggested on Post #16, above, and I will happily adopt your solution! Never too old to learn and adapt.

 

[azbassman21]

god help us, another person trying to do it faster -we're supposed to think as we do a report, not just input stuff and sign.

And this attitude is why FNMA is trying to omit us from the process completely. The ancient way of doing appraisals is why we're being cut out. You should be able to enter data faster, thus getting the report to the client in a timely manner.

 

[NC Appraising]

I search for my own comps, (or my mentor does) which we have in pdf form, and then parse out the data I need for the grid (as pictured above). I'm not suggesting that the software choose comps and then fill in the data for me. Hope that clears things up...

I realize that, you search your on comps. Just trying to understand what you are actually looking for?

There are 4 ways to get comps into your report (feel free to expand)
1. Start from scratch and manually input the comps.
2. Import the comps from a MLS text file (shown above).
3. Use Alamodes smartexchange.
4. Use a data base that suggests the comps and import them into the grid.

I use # 3. Search my comps in the MLS, use the export feature in my MLS (not all MLS have this feature....) Then I use Alamode to import the comps into the grid. If you are looking for something that TOTALLY fills in everything, it does not exist to the best of my knowledge. In my above example, 80% is filled out. Which is pretty good. You could do more, such as garages, patios, decks, etc., but in my experience, it causes more trouble than it is worth.

 

[hvgcs]

You are a breath of fresh air in a profession where the average age is over 50. I am looking for a similar solution. If you figure it out please share.

Sorry to disappoint, but I too am over 50. But I love me some technology and I am here for it! My mentor is younger than me if that helps. :-D, but thanks for the compliment and if I do find something I will share it!

 

[hvgcs]

I realize that, you search your on comps. Just trying to understand what you are actually looking for?

There are 4 ways to get comps into your report (feel free to expand)
1. Start from scratch and manually input the comps.
2. Import the comps from a MLS text file (shown above).
3. Use Alamodes smartexchange.
4. Use a data base that suggests the comps and import them into the grid.

I use # 3. Search my comps in the MLS, use the export feature in my MLS (not all MLS have this feature....) Then I use Alamode to import the comps into the grid. If you are looking for something that TOTALLY fills in everything, it does not exist to the best of my knowledge. In my above example, 80% is filled out. Which is pretty good. You could do more, such as garages, patios, decks, etc., but in my experience, it causes more trouble than it is worth.

Oh ok, I see what you mean. I don't see smart exchange. Is that a separate add on? Maybe I should play with the export features in the MLS I use...

 

[azbassman21]

Hi, I am a lowly appraiser assistant (working toward my license). We use TOTAL to enter the data into our reports. I know that the software can fill in the comp data in the grid if that comp has been previously used in another report, however, I still have to tediously enter the MLS info into the grid by hand most of the time. Does anyone have a better system (free or cheap)? I've tried converting the MLS pdfs into Excel but it's wonky and I still have to enter the data manually anyway. Thanks for any help.

Use Spark. It should enter a lot of what you need, just verify the data. I have seen it to be very accurate, with just a prior transaction missing here or there on very rare occasion.

The responses to your inquiry are why the appraisal profession is a dinosaur on the brink of extinction. Yes, it's not just a form filling data entry job, but we also don't need to sit on reports for 10 days putting unnecessary BS into the report to validate our prestige. If you're smart and employ common sense, the reports seem to go smoother. Explain yourself, be thorough, but utilize the technology and tools which make it easier for you to be more efficient. I've always wanted to work smarter, not harder. Seems there are a lot of people that need to retire in this profession.

 

[TerryRohrer]

I realize that, you search your on comps. Just trying to understand what you are actually looking for?

There are 4 ways to get comps into your report (feel free to expand)
1. Start from scratch and manually input the comps.
2. Import the comps from a MLS text file (shown above).
3. Use Alamodes smartexchange.
4. Use a data base that suggests the comps and import them into the grid.

I use # 3. Search my comps in the MLS, use the export feature in my MLS (not all MLS have this feature....) Then I use Alamode to import the comps into the grid. If you are looking for something that TOTALLY fills in everything, it does not exist to the best of my knowledge. In my above example, 80% is filled out. Which is pretty good. You could do more, such as garages, patios, decks, etc., but in my experience, it causes more trouble than it is worth.

As I noted above, if you were not doing that as of last fall sometime, that option is no longer available. Only plausible reason is to force the subscription angle.

 

[azbassman21]

Some old dummies survived this long by learning what it takes to survive and what works. There is always room for advancement, but many younger folks seem to consider every existing process too antiquated to function. Much of the "appraisal process" has developed as a systematic means by which to gain understanding of the appraisal problem in order to develop a viable solution. AVMs, hybrids, and CU prove that an "answer" can be generated automatically, but those results haven't improved much in the past 30 years except in the simplest cases. The need for appraisal services going forward will be filled by those with an understanding that goes deeper than efficiently populating a form.

True, but I've seen appraisers take 10 days to turn a file in my area with a lot of homogeneous housing. Their reports are 60+ pages long chock full of useless graphs and analysis, only to arrive at a conclusion that should have probably been developed in a couple of hours. No way the end user reads all that commentary, maybe with the exception of some rural, farm, complex, and commercial assignments not intended for a bank.

We are supposed to gain understanding of a problem in order to solve it, but part of the problem is is how do we do that more efficiently? What's worked in the past doesn't work now. This isn't 1992 anymore and data technology and access to information is at your fingertips.

I think some wish we would still be writing long narrative reports on paper and glue sticking the polaroid comp photos.

 

[TerryRohrer]

Seems there are a lot of people that need to retire in this profession.

This is the usual conclusion I see from the pipsqeaks who can't compete with the dinosaurs!

 

[azbassman21]

This is the usual conclusion I see from the pipsqeaks who can't compete with the dinosaurs!

Just be thankful we're not in the same market area.