Classless Valuation Buys Data Master

[ZZGAMAZZ]

how much is it per montI

how much is it per month?

I think that unlimited in about $50 per month.

 

[sunster]

i told myself id never leave DM. so what am i missing not using spark?

Well for starters, it is so much quicker to populate the comps in the grid with Spark. As I recall with Datamaster, I had to manually enter the MLS number and then the AP number for each comp I wanted to put in the report. That was a bit tedious and time consuming. With Spark it is so much easier. From your MLS search, just select the comps you want to use and then click the Export button to create a .csv file. Drop the file in Spark and WALA! Its populated! Rental comps and Form 1004MC are entered the same way -- drag and drop.

Spark also has a user friendly Cost Approach feature that populates with DwellingCost.com cost figures.

My biggest pet peeve with Datamaster was their periodic software updates. The problem was that it would sometimes mess up my settings. Then I'd have to go back and reconfigure the setup which is no easy task with DM. I like the fact that Spark is a website. It is not a program that gets installed on your hard drive. The setup was easy. I configured my own personal settings one time when I first trial tested the program and I have NEVER had to mess with it ever since. It works flawlessly.

The price is so much better too. IIRC, I was paying DM about $90 a month or $6 per report, whatever was lower. Spark is $49/month for unlimited usage. Heck, with your volume Digger, that would be like $0.25 per report, right?

 

[Digger88]

Well for starters, it is so much quicker to populate the comps in the grid with Spark. As I recall with Datamaster, I had to manually enter the MLS number and then the AP number for each comp I wanted to put in the report. That was a bit tedious and time consuming. With Spark it is so much easier. From your MLS search, just select the comps you want to use and then click the Export button to create a .csv file. Drop the file in Spark and WALA! Its populated! Rental comps and Form 1004MC are entered the same way -- drag and drop.

Spark also has a user friendly Cost Approach feature that populates with DwellingCost.com cost figures.

My biggest pet peeve with Datamaster was their periodic software updates. The problem was that it would sometimes mess up my settings. Then I'd have to go back and reconfigure the setup which is no easy task with DM. I like the fact that Spark is a website. It is not a program that gets installed on your hard drive. The setup was easy. I configured my own personal settings one time when I first trial tested the program and I have NEVER had to mess with it ever since. It works flawlessly.

The price is so much better too. IIRC, I was paying DM about $90 a month or $6 per report, whatever was lower. Spark is $49/month for unlimited usage. Heck, with your volume Digger, that would be like $0.25 per report, right?

hmmmmm, now you got me thinking... i think i will give it a trial shot.

 

[Ash]

Spark is awesome. Been using it for a over a year now love it. And the new Synapse by spark is awesome also.

PS: I do a lot of work for Class Val. There actually not a bad company. Just raise your fee.

 

[Stantheman]

Datamaster has been harassing us lately, trying to put the hard sell on. I read him some of the comments on this site about Spark and he was speechless. I think I will give Spark a try.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I guess I have to ask not having software for six years...How long did it take you to fill out the grid in the first place? Are you all one-finger Columbus typers? (find a Key and land on it)

With drop down menus I didn't spend but a few minutes filling out the grid - geez. And if dumping data from a public source or MLS, what about having to retype erroneous data or do you just leave it in? I frequently have to choose between the assessor and the MLS's room count and sq. footage. Is it choosing for me or what?

 

[Stantheman]

I guess I have to ask not having software for six years...How long did it take you to fill out the grid in the first place? Are you all one-finger Columbus typers? (find a Key and land on it)

With drop down menus I didn't spend but a few minutes filling out the grid - geez. And if dumping data from a public source or MLS, what about having to retype erroneous data or do you just leave it in? I frequently have to choose between the assessor and the MLS's room count and sq. footage. Is it choosing for me or what?

We have our son working with us helping type up reports. We still look over everything. Every appraisal that leaves our office is looked at by 2 Certified Appraisers before it goes out. Even then there are a few mistakes, it's crazy but we try.
I don't like the UAD's it takes longer to go through the grid for me with the mouse pop-downs and keyboard strokes. I get you with the data issue, some say on here their productivity really goes up, so it seems to work for some.

 

[Ash]

Yeah, me too. I used Datamaster for 6-7 years until I found out about Spark here on AF. I tried out Spark with the free trial offer and never looked back. This was two years ago. Spark blows Datamaster out of the water.

Spark is the best & GO LAKERS!!!

 

[Joe Flacco]

Spark is wack. Spark is like datamaster for dummies.

 

[Joe Flacco]

The only reason people like Spark is because it doesn't give the choices of where to get the data from. They choose where the data comes from for you.