I just switched to Clickforms. Here is the good, the bad and the ugly

[TRESinc]

if you are really worried about UAD you can download this for free and run your reports through it before sending them in.

Open, read, and securely deliver your appraisal files

UAD Reader is the only way to view and verify UAD appraisals in XML format. Eliminate the hassle, and make it easier for everyone to open, read, understand, and share XML appraisal reports.

www.alamode.com

 

[Fargo1]

Thanks for the link. I might just do that. Before I was opening up the xml in my Total software. But this might be easier. I previously sent an email to tech support about some missing items and they seemed eager to fix anything that was missing. So I'm sure it wouldn't take long for them to make any changes within Clickforms to catch the missing UAD compliance items. Then the Total UAD reader would no longer be needed.

I was just really surprised when I ran Clickforms Reviewer that it didn't catch everything. I was intentional about leaving some errors in the report so I could check the reviewer when I did my first report. When the reviewer missed those items, I ran it through Total to see if it missed anything else. It was pretty disappointing for me that they didn't have this all worked out. I like Clickforms but when it cost almost twice as much I was hoping for something more impressive.

 

[Riick]

I used Clickforms for over 20 years. When UAD came in, despite their pious claims that (if new forms appeared) they would upgrade the software at no cost to the users... Bradford wanted $$$$.
I will never purchase their software again; they are not trustworthy.

 

[Fargo1]

I used Clickforms for over 20 years. When UAD came in, despite their pious claims that (if new forms appeared) they would upgrade the software at no cost to the users... Bradford wanted $$$$.
I will never purchase their software again; they are not trustworthy.

I kind of had the same issue with ACI. When the UAD came, they required you to purchase their 'e-services' at at twice the price every year in order to create an xml. So not much difference. Then or course there is CoreLogic. I don't trust them either. The only one I would really trust is SFREP. They also have really nice software. But they are a the most expensive service and offer the least features for my simple needs. So I guess any software you choose is a matter of choosing between evils.

 

[GregoryK]

I used Wintotal at a small office of five about 20 years ago. Always coming out with new features while never perfecting the existing ones. Also, found it to be very unstable at times. Switched to Bradford, and have used it since. A year or two ago tried Total again. Still found the same issues, and also - it was slow, and time consuming compared to Clickforms. A couple of tips for Clickforms. You can add word and excel to the toolbar through the edit option on the ribbon. I have a default template open when I am in Clickforms. That makes the addendum writing much easier than any other package I have used, plus the formatting options are much better. Once you have completed writing your addenda, Crtl A copies the entire document and paste it into the exhibit page. It keeps the original formatting, and any embedded Excel tables, as well. You can also set up auto-text and building blocks in your Word template, or a standard worksheet in Excel.

Also, take full advantage of the lists, particularly the neighborhood lists. It includes the text from your addenda so if you're like me, you can address issues like rapid growth by having one well-written section for that area. And be consistent with every job there. Learning how to use Excel to update data in real-time, but I don't see why it would not work here. I keep track of permitted developments, for instance, in rapidly growing areas, and include a lot of MLS stats downloaded into excel, and linked to word docs.

 

[BarbaraNJ]

Did anyone tell you that you never purchased the software, you are only renting/leasing it ?? If you don't renew, you can never open the program anymore. Not too good if (1) you decide to change software after 3 or 4 years and someday need to go back to look at an old report, or (2) decide to retire but are still responsible for 10 years and someday get a call from a lawyer or the State Board

 

[spittman]

I wanted to leave Corelogic, So I just made the switch to Clickforms. I had used NCVForms in the past which looks pretty similar on the surface, so I was expecting a similar user experience. Unfortunately I have found that although Clickforms is more polished, NCVForms was actually better in a lot of ways. I miss JD. He really did strive to make things work better for the appraiser. Even if the software had enough bugs of its own. Anyway, onto my initial impressions about Clickforms.

From my 15 day trial period, I knew that Clickforms did not render and scale property on my 4K monitor. After completing my first appraisal, this turns out to bother me more than I expected. Total works much better on a 4K monitor. SFREP is the clear leader here though. Appraise-It Pro is just beautiful on a 4k monitor. Everyone other software looks old and dated next to Appraise-it Pro.

Would you believe that I am still using NCV. I've had an SFREP subscription for a year now, but I still go back to NCV. When FHA said they wouldn't accept any more of my NCV reports because of some update I decided between Clickforms and SFREP. Lucky for me FHA put the notice on hold, but I chose SFREP as a backup mainly because I had previously used it prior to 2005 for several years. I had heard that Clickforms was very similar to NCV, but I just wasn't feeling them plus it just seems so expensive. I know eventually I will have to give up NCV and start actually using SFREP once again.

Can I ask why you are now sticking with Total instead of SFREP?

if you are really worried about UAD you can download this for free and run your reports through it before sending them in.

Open, read, and securely deliver your appraisal files

UAD Reader is the only way to view and verify UAD appraisals in XML format. Eliminate the hassle, and make it easier for everyone to open, read, understand, and share XML appraisal reports.

www.alamode.com

I had to download this after a client said they couldn't open a couple of my XML reports so I needed to contact my software company (NCV) which was impossible. After the program showed no errors and no complaints from any other client, I concluded that it was them, not me!

Did anyone tell you that you never purchased the software, you are only renting/leasing it ?? If you don't renew, you can never open the program anymore. Not too good if (1) you decide to change software after 3 or 4 years and someday need to go back to look at an old report, or (2) decide to retire but are still responsible for 10 years and someday get a call from a lawyer or the State Board

You can always pull up the PDF backup. Not sure why you would need to open an old file after 10 years, but most software companies have a demo mode version that will allow you to open/read an old report for free.

 

[Fargo1]

Would you believe that I am still using NCV. I've had an SFREP subscription for a year now, but I still go back to NCV. When FHA said they wouldn't accept any more of my NCV reports because of some update I decided between Clickforms and SFREP. Lucky for me FHA put the notice on hold, but I chose SFREP as a backup mainly because I had previously used it prior to 2005 for several years. I had heard that Clickforms was very similar to NCV, but I just wasn't feeling them plus it just seems so expensive. I know eventually I will have to give up NCV and start actually using SFREP once again.

Wow still using NCV. Thats great. I kind of wish I had just stuck with it. I actually thought about reinstalling it again, but I don't expect my license would work any longer. I don't remember why I quit using it. I think I was concerned about having to do all the maps and things manually. Its funny, because when I was using NCV, I often looked at how similar Clickforms was, but it seemed to have a more finished feel to it. But once I actually switched to Clickforms, I found it was missing a lot of the little details and features that JD had implemented. So while Clickforms looks like a nicely polished version of NCV, its actually inferior software. No question that JD was really looking at the appraisers needs and not the needs of the big lenders and data miners.

In the end I dropped Clickforms because the basic package cost nearly twice as much as my $350 subscription to Total. And I am guaranteed that price for another 5-6 years. So basically Clickforms was going to cost me twice as much and I didn't get half of the features that I found in Total.

Can I ask why you are now sticking with Total instead of SFREP?

I may still switch to SFREP. I really liked Appraise- It Pro. It was by far the quickest, best performing and nicest looking software. Fonts and everything were much cleaner and easier on the eyes. As the only 64 bit appraisal software, its clearly using the latest technology to its advantage. While all the other companies are focused on the cloud and software as a service. SFREP appears to be more interested in developing the best desktop software. Which is much more to my liking. I get the feeling SFREP is now the only company that is really looking at the appraisers needs and not the lenders needs.

So why didn't I just choose SFREP over Total. First of all, it was because I got flooded with refi work when I was making the change and I didn't have time to learn new software. So sticking with Total another year allowed me to keep working while work was busy. Secondly, it came down to price and features. With Total, I only need the Silver membership that I got a 10 year guaranteed price of $350. With SFREP I would be nearly twice that price after I purchased a flood map subscription. And I would still be missing some features. However, I understand that SFREP is still adding some features and continuing to improve what is already very nice software. Also SFREP includes a custom scripting feature. I'm not sure what all can be done via custom script, but I hope that other appraisers will begin to develope scripts and the software may really grow in features and usability. I have hope that you might be able to write a script to download flood data or MLS data or other info into the software with the custom scripting feature. I just don't know what all can be done with it. Its a feature that is offered that I don't undertand the potential use. I think SFREP could do a better job at marketing and explaining this feature. Something tells me this might be the least understood and yet the most powerful feature of this software. I just don't know how to utilize it. So I will definetely revisit using SFREP again.

 

[CANative]

I think I hear the music.

Wah wah wah...........

George Harrison fan?

 

[The Bob]

Can you import MLS data directly into the grid with Clickforms.
I use that in Total and it saves me a ton of typing. I can d/l all the comps in about 3 minutes.