Hand drawn sketches

[Joe Birrell (NY)]

You're not alone, I love the stone age - handrawn sketches all the way. Don't pay any attention to the techno geeks. I'll challenge anybody using computer sketches - I'll do it faster and just as neat and presentable.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Austin:
Try the free form first to see if your sketch closes, then you can figure out from your sketch in the field (done on graph paper) where you need to adjust to close. Although some houses are not square, even when you only have four sides! And my hand drawn sketches from the past were beautiful with sidewalks, trees, every plumbing fixture, cabinet, etc--but the Apex sketch is even neater looking!

 

[EDWARD BERRY]

TED-

Does your ACI transfer from Apex the size of the GARAGE?

I am using latest and the garage size does not transfer---do not know if it has a bug or just is lazy.

ed in arkansas

 

[Caterina Platt]

William,

I've done both, and was fairly proud of my hand drawn. Now they weren't as detailed as Jo Ann's....

I first tried Winsketch. After umpteen times of the program locking up and losing my incredibly complex house, I was ready to pull out the ruler and templates again. Hated it!

Apex is a completely different story. Love it! Another big plus, you don't have to double and triple check your calculations to make sure you haven't commited a stupid math error.

 

[TC]

Joe,

I would be willing to challenge you on hand vs apex. But seriously, how can you send an appraisal over the net? Do you scan that drawing into the report?

TC

 

[John Oesterle CA]

I have used DC sketch (Windows) for years and it is the easiest to use - start a new wall anywhere anytime, change a wall, move a wall with intersections, move a wall, split or splice an intersection in a wall, move or copy a section, segregate a section, etc

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

I will take your challenge, Joe! Plus, I do interior walls and icons, that inclues caluclations too. Not to mention the hand drawn will never look as good as the apex form.


Somebody asked if the garage calcuulations transferred in ACI. I don't know about them, but in Alamode you can choose for the garage calucalations to transfer if you want.


I could not fathom measuring a 5,000+ SF home with twists turns and angles and hand drawing it and figuring the calculations in less time than drawing it on Apex. Do you guarantee the calculations will work the first time?

 

[Red Blumenstock]

Frank & Joe,

Me too. That makes 4.

Red

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

It's hard to imagine when you first "start" using Apex that it will save you time, but believe me it saves hours. If you are reading from a blue print, if the total wall measurement is not there, you can just feed in 3' 7", arrow up, then 4' 10" arrow up....etc. until it gets to the end then hit enter and it adds it up for you! No more adding the dimensions on your adding maching and multiplying yourself. Trust us - it is worth the time to learn to do it. It will not make you a better appraiser, but it will create a good work product and save you hours of time. It is actually real easy to use. I'll bet you once you try it again, you'll remember. I used the old DOS based program, then switched to the Windows 16 bit and now have the newest 32 bit and it is wonderful.

 

[Stephen J. Vertin MAI]

I still draw by hand also. However, I must say I have gotten pretty good at it through the years and they look professional. That is just one man"s humble opinion.

Steve Vertin