How many actually believe 3.6 will be fully implemented this year?

[Airstream]

Too funny. I have worked though several of these and the only thing that burns me out is the continuous drop down menus, the need to hand calculate adjustments in ACI, the lack of carry over of entered data and the totally unworkable grid. Photos are the very least of my peeves, in fact they are not a peeve at all.

The fact you are using ACI then makes the mobile app mute. ACI really doesn't have one. The fact you have never used a mobile app probably skews your perception of how it can work. Total has the best mobile app in the business. It is designed for appraisers in the field. All the drop down menus are there as you are looking at the property. No double entries. No trying to remember stuff after the inspection. The sketch is always right. But if you are using ACI good luck.

Kind of funny. I started using a laser measurer in about 2005. Klunky in those days. I remember talking to appraisers about it and they all looked at me like I was crazy. I had friends who insisted on using tape measurers. I said Ok, go ahead. Then one by one all my appraiser friends began using them and wonder why they didn't start sooner. For some reason appraisers are kind of stuck. We really as a group, don't like change. But that's pretty typical. About 15% of people are what are called early adopters. Then then next 35% will come along after a while. Then the next 35% will come screaming in after all kinds of reasons not to. And there will be 15% that will never adopt anything new. Stuck.

 

[Overimprovement]

For some reason appraisers are kind of stuck. We really as a group, don't like change. But that's pretty typical. About 15% of people are what are called early adopters. Then then next 35% will come along after a while. Then the next 35% will come screaming in after all kinds of reasons not to. And there will be 15% that will never adopt anything new. Stuck.

Big difference here is that lasers SAVED time and their use was optional. Most of the complaints I hear aren't so much about having to use a mobile device on site, but rather the amount of raw data that has to be collected, reported, and then analyzed under the 3.6 mandate. Some of it may appear as griping about filling out info on site, but my hunch is that is simply referred pain from the real issue.

 

[Airstream]

Big difference here is that lasers SAVED time and their use was optional. Most of the complaints I hear aren't so much about having to use a mobile device on site, but rather the amount of raw data that has to be collected, reported, and then analyzed under the 3.6 mandate. Some of it may appear as griping about filling out info on site, but my hunch is that is simply referred pain from the real issue.

That wasn't the excuse that I heard. There was the question of whether it would really save time. That's all I heard over and over again. And many who tried it abandoned it, because they didn't give themselves time enough to learn how to use it. And my question, "How do you know a mobile collecting app won't save time? Have you actually tried to use one over a period of time?" I have been using one for 20 years. And I have done the old method of data collection. And I can say without question it saves time.

And my conclusion bears itself out. Appraisers are largely stuck like the rest of the population when it comes to adopting technology.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

That wasn't the excuse that I heard. There was the question of whether it would really save time. That's all I heard over and over again. And many who tried it abandoned it, because they didn't give themselves time enough to learn how to use it. And my question, "How do you know a mobile collecting app won't save time? Have you actually tried to use one over a period of time?" I have been using one for 20 years. And I have done the old method of data collection. And I can say without question it saves time.

And my conclusion bears itself out. Appraisers are largely stuck like the rest of the population when it comes to adopting technology.

If 3.6 was optional sure, then who would care, except for the timer on when it becomes mandatory. 3.6 is not there to help the appraiser or the borrower, or the taxpayer.

 

[Airstream]

If 3.6 was optional sure, then who would care, except for the timer on when it becomes mandatory. 3.6 is not there to help the appraiser or the borrower, or the taxpayer.

The issue for me is not 3.6. The issue for me is how 3.6 introduction has been handled. There simply has not been enough time for software developers, and appraisers to come together and create software that is understandable and ready to use. This is being jammed on our throats
Without enough time for us to adopt and adapt.

 

[Sadie]

The fact you are using ACI then makes the mobile app mute. ACI really doesn't have one. The fact you have never used a mobile app probably skews your perception of how it can work. Total has the best mobile app in the business. It is designed for appraisers in the field. All the drop down menus are there as you are looking at the property. No double entries. No trying to remember stuff after the inspection. The sketch is always right. But if you are using ACI good luck.

Kind of funny. I started using a laser measurer in about 2005. Klunky in those days. I remember talking to appraisers about it and they all looked at me like I was crazy. I had friends who insisted on using tape measurers. I said Ok, go ahead. Then one by one all my appraiser friends began using them and wonder why they didn't start sooner. For some reason appraisers are kind of stuck. We really as a group, don't like change. But that's pretty typical. About 15% of people are what are called early adopters. Then then next 35% will come along after a while. Then the next 35% will come screaming in after all kinds of reasons not to. And there will be 15% that will never adopt anything new. Stuck.

Someone in one of the facebook groups did 2 3.6 reports, one old style and one mobile. He said it took the same amount of time. Old style was quicker on site, but slower in the office and mobile was slower onsite, but quicker in the office. Its all where you want to spend your time. Maybe you want to be adept at both. If you are meeting a borrower during their lunch break, they will not be pleased when it takes you a long time to perform your inspection. But if there are no time constraints, go mobile. Be adaptable.

 

[Sadie]

Big difference here is that lasers SAVED time and their use was optional. Most of the complaints I hear aren't so much about having to use a mobile device on site, but rather the amount of raw data that has to be collected, reported, and then analyzed under the 3.6 mandate. Some of it may appear as griping about filling out info on site, but my hunch is that is simply referred pain from the real issue.

IMO the lasers not only save time, but decrease the number of spider encounters. And they are super for those shrubbery encased walls. Much better than trying to snake a tape measure through.

 

[Airstream]

Someone in one of the facebook groups did 2 3.6 reports, one old style and one mobile. He said it took the same amount of time. Old style was quicker on site, but slower in the office and mobile was slower onsite, but quicker in the office. Its all where you want to spend your time. Maybe you want to be adept at both. If you are meeting a borrower during their lunch break, they will not be pleased when it takes you a long time to perform your inspection. But if there are no time constraints, go mobile. Be adaptable.

Using the mobile app one time isn't the test of speed. Just like anything else there is a learning curve. Just like there was with laser measurers. I remember it took me longer at first with a laser. But then after I learned a bunch of tricks it soon became far less time. I remember at a continuing ed class an appraiser friend had a laser. She said it was not working well for her. I took her outside during lunch and gave her about 15 to 20 minutes showing her some tricks. About 2 weeks later she emailed me and said it "transformed her life." A bit exaggerated, but just like anything new it will be a bit slower at first. I know when I start using the 3.6 mobile app it will be a bit slower because of trying to figure out the operation. I'm just not familiar with it. I had the same thing with the present mobile app. But now it is like riding a bike. Very simple.

I have been using the mobile app for 20 years. I can do inspections just a quickly as paper and pencil. There is zero difference. In fact in some cases far quicker. I appraise in an area with lots of custom houses. They have all kinds of angles, etc. In one case not one single 90 degree angle in the entire house. Had I not had my mobile app and sketcher I could never have done it. But I was able to draw all the angles etc with ease. I just did a house...took me 15 minutes with the mobile app. I can remember getting out my sketch pad and trying to figure out using graph paper and crap about the length of walls on larger complex houses. It was a complete headache. No more. I simply sketch it on the app, and when I'm done I know immediately if I'm correct. How many times do you go back to your office and go, "crap the walls don't meet up exact." I know if I am correct at the site, and if I'm not I simply check where I'm wrong.

But then again I have gone completely digital. I have no paper files. All my work files are saved with the appraisal file in the work file folder. No metal files cabinets. No buying folders. No printing out reports. And the mobile app file is automatically saved to my work file when I sync it with the desktop.

 

[Sadie]

Using the mobile app one time isn't the test of speed. Just like anything else there is a learning curve. Just like there was with laser measurers. I remember it took me longer at first with a laser. But then after I learned a bunch of tricks it soon became far less time. I remember at a continuing ed class an appraiser friend had a laser. She said it was not working well for her. I took her outside during lunch and gave her about 15 to 20 minutes showing her some tricks. About 2 weeks later she emailed me and said it "transformed her life." A bit exaggerated, but just like anything new it will be a bit slower at first. I know when I start using the 3.6 mobile app it will be a bit slower because of trying to figure out the operation. I'm just not familiar with it. I had the same thing with the present mobile app. But now it is like riding a bike. Very simple.

I have been using the mobile app for 20 years. I can do inspections just a quickly as paper and pencil. There is zero difference. In fact in some cases far quicker. I appraise in an area with lots of custom houses. They have all kinds of angles, etc. In one case not one single 90 degree angle in the entire house. Had I not had my mobile app and sketcher I could never have done it. But I was able to draw all the angles etc with ease. I just did a house...took me 15 minutes with the mobile app. I can remember getting out my sketch pad and trying to figure out using graph paper and crap about the length of walls on larger complex houses. It was a complete headache. No more. I simply sketch it on the app, and when I'm done I know immediately if I'm correct. How many times do you go back to your office and go, "crap the walls don't meet up exact." I know if I am correct at the site, and if I'm not I simply check where I'm wrong.

But then again I have gone completely digital. I have no paper files. All my work files are saved with the appraisal file in the work file folder. No metal files cabinets. No buying folders. No printing out reports. And the mobile app file is automatically saved to my work file when I sync it with the desktop.

I don't doubt the mobile app is great for the 2.6. The 3.6 has drop downs and box checking in it just like the desktop version. It is completely different than what is now out there. You will still have to do drop downs and box checking regardless of where you are.

 

[Airstream]

I don't doubt the mobile app is great for the 2.6. The 3.6 has drop downs and box checking in it just like the desktop version. It is completely different than what is now out there. You will still have to do drop downs and box checking regardless of where you are.

You "doubt?" So you have never used it and you have an opinion on it? Have you ever seen the 2.6 mobile app? I actually have drop down menus on the 2.6 built in that can also be edited. All I do is tap the space, up comes the choices, I can hit one, two or three, then up comes the condition, and I put it in. No writing.

Same thing with each room. I do the sketch. Choose the room to put in the sketch. Then hit the room. Up pops the ability to take a picture. I can then have some space to take notes on that room or not. Sometimes I do, and I can simply talk into my phone and it writes it out for me. No writing.

On the 3.6 there are more drop down menus to be sure that are standard for the 3.6 form. I'm not sure how much they can be customized.

I just got home from doing an inspection. 15 minutes. I got into my desktop, synced the desktop. Took me 5 minutes. Arranged the photo pages in the right place. DONE. No more sketching or putting in photos. All the descriptions are as they should be. No entry of data about the house.