Laser Sketch Apps

[ucbruin]

Most appraisers are behind the times when it comes to technology. Had a guy tell me the other day he spends no less than a week on each appraisal. In this day in age, with all of the tools available to you to get through an inspection without touching paper, or a tape measure, and having that data taken at the inspection directly uploaded into a report, I cannot see how it would take 7 days to turn around a basic assignment. It's absurd. I don't know how these guys afford a meal or maintain clients.

That's probably the type of appraiser who labels other appraisers as Skippy for completing 3+ reports/week....

 

[Leon Marcus]

Using a surface Pro with Apex and Disto has been a HUGE benefit. Apex is by far the best sketch software BUT... to use it properly you need to spend HUGE $$ on a Disto D810. You shoot and send the measurement to apex and tell it what direction to go so no mistakes. It is well worth the $.

The first few will probably be discouraging as there is a learning curve but once it all clicks for you it is unbeatable. Once you get the hang of it any other method of measuring is slow in comparison. I know some will argue this but that only because they never really tired to learn. Measuring a garage you cant get into is easy and takes no effort, most of the time getting behind bushes is not even needed, not always but mostly. I have never had a problem finding a target, I can verify ceiling height of any ceiling quickly measure any interior or exterior area without halving to always physically walk the actual distance was you do with tape.

 

[Dale Smalley]

I was having trouble with seeing the laser dot in bright sunlight. So I got a pair of the red glasses. I had to measure a bright white roof top terrace in the bright sun. I put on the red glasses and thought my brain was going to explode. Everything was intensified so much I felt the pain radiating from my eyeballs to the back of my brain.

 

[Eli]

I don't even think about a laser outside. I use tapes. 100 ft reel type and 25 ft steel retractable that will extend about 8 ft without much bend and pretty fast with both on a tool belt. I rotate back and forth depending on length. Now laser saves time on upstairs and basements inside (residential). Now on commercial a laser is nice on ceiling heights and different animals.

On any that 25 ft retractable is nice because of bushes and things or anything that keeps you from being able to stretch that 100 ft tape. Just break it down in segments and add the numbers together.

If it is more than 100FT long and I can't hook it, I'll put a stake in the ground and stretch that tape, or anchor it somehow.

Remember I have stated that I round to the 1/8 inch on GLA. I know well that is not possible, but I'm closer than any laser on the outside. But now on roof pitch and that sort of thing. The laser would be your ticket.

 

[tanyabates]

Using a surface Pro with Apex and Disto has been a HUGE benefit. Apex is by far the best sketch software BUT... to use it properly you need to spend HUGE $$ on a Disto D810. You shoot and send the measurement to apex and tell it what direction to go so no mistakes. It is well worth the $.

The first few will probably be discouraging as there is a learning curve but once it all clicks for you it is unbeatable. Once you get the hang of it any other method of measuring is slow in comparison. I know some will argue this but that only because they never really tired to learn. Measuring a garage you cant get into is easy and takes no effort, most of the time getting behind bushes is not even needed, not always but mostly. I have never had a problem finding a target, I can verify ceiling height of any ceiling quickly measure any interior or exterior area without halving to always physically walk the actual distance was you do with tape.

Thank you so much for this info! I have been out of the field for over 5 years and am just now getting back to it. Spending this week getting everything ready to go and plan to begin accepting orders next week. It's a bit overwhelming to navigate through all the changes that have happened through the years but I know after an appraisal or two I'll be feeling good again. Seemed like an easy task to try and figure out what the best approach for sketching and paperless options in general would be but, after researching this for a day, I was about ready to give up and go back to my old disto/hand sketching ways. I have a Disto A5 that I absolutely love and can't wait try out a setup similar to yours soon. Thanks again!

 

[Randall Garrett]

Hi tanyabates,

May I suggest you look into using a 10.1" Surface Go ($399 - $549) vs a larger/heavier/more expensive Surface Pro? I recommend the Surface Go over other models for those who are not trying to do any "heavy lifting" in the field. We have found them to be more than adequate for field work. I recommend the $549 model for increased performance and there is a model which adds 4G LTE is you want/need cellular connectivity in the field for $679. This is the model I use when I travel the country and internationally. Also, IF you are an Apex user, you may want to consider using MobileSketch™ instead of the bulkier Apex. As fast and robust as Apex is, MobileSketch™ is much faster since it has a more modern code base and isn't weighted down by a ton of legacy features going back for 30+ years - things regular users never see or use. For more info on both, you may want to check out the more recent pages on this thread, which deals with tablet-specific things and only mentions software with regard to testing performance, etc. It is, by far, the most popular thread on this site for Hardware/Software-related items. The link below puts you on page 78 of the thread and throughout there are many links to various articles which relate to different devices:

• https://appraisersforum.com/forums/threads/windows-tablets-for-fieldwork.191490/page-78

Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[tanyabates]

Hi tanyabates,

May I suggest you look into using a 10.1" Surface Go ($399 - $549) vs a larger/heavier/more expensive Surface Pro? I recommend the Surface Go over other models for those who are not trying to do any "heavy lifting" in the field. We have found them to be more than adequate for field work. I recommend the $549 model for increased performance and there is a model which adds 4G LTE is you want/need cellular connectivity in the field for $679. This is the model I use when I travel the country and internationally. Also, IF you are an Apex user, you may want to consider using MobileSketch™ instead of the bulkier Apex. As fast and robust as Apex is, MobileSketch™ is much faster since it has a more modern code base and isn't weighted down by a ton of legacy features going back for 30+ years - things regular users never see or use. For more info on both, you may want to check out the more recent pages on this thread, which deals with tablet-specific things and only mentions software with regard to testing performance, etc. It is, by far, the most popular thread on this site for Hardware/Software-related items. The link below puts you on page 78 of the thread and throughout there are many links to various articles which relate to different devices:

• https://appraisersforum.com/forums/threads/windows-tablets-for-fieldwork.191490/page-78

Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

Good to know. I was reading about the Surface Go shortly before coming across your recommendations. Thank you for the detailed info! Reading about MobileSketch now as well. I hadn't come across this thread in the forum yet either. I appreciate it!

 

[CCAAMO]

I was just in a house with a cat from hell who was stacking me. The laser came in handy to move the cat out of the way ( just to clarify i used the laser beam for the cat to chase, not the actual lazer to beat the cat although is guess that would probable work was well). I have a Distro D810 and the screen allows to to zoom in on a distant target and know that is what you are hitting.