Mobile appraiser scenerio

[vargasteve]

I am thinking about setting up the business so that I can just after the inspection do my drawing & load comparables into the appraisal and then send the information to my assistant (back in the office) for data entry & preparation for review. For those of you that have tried or are sucessful with this - help me out here - tell me how it goes for you & what its like sending via email through the cel phone... I'm having a hard time imagining this being profitable 8O

 

[Frederick R. Ruffell]

Steve,
IMO the only thing holding up the "mobile appraiser scenerio" is the sketch. I tried out the mobile software on a palm pilot and concluded that the screen was too small to do a sketch, which is where the time savings are. Now with the introduction of "Tablet P.C. 's" doing the sketch in the field is now a reality. I have also heard (over on the tech forum) of appraisers that have wireless LAN card in their laptop or Tablet P.C. connecting to a highspeed connection (someone in the neighborhood with a wireless network in their house) while sitting in their car. With the tablet P.C. you ccould receive the order, make the call( internet phone service), do the inspection, pull the comps from MLS and public record (via wireless LAN or Starbucks provided connection), insert the photos, complete the report (wireless keyboard or voice recognition), and deliver the report. Oh yeah and if it COD you could collect the fee via PayPal or some other internet service. I will start this scenerio as soon as the Fujitsu "Slate" Tablet P.C. becomes readily available.

 

[Tony Lehn]

Sony makes a very compact, small, and light laptop that you might be able to do this on. It s also a lot cheaper than teh tablet pcs.

 

[Neil (Texas)]

FYI.

Was in CompUSA store over the weekend and they were offering a 'SonicView' Tablet PC for $999. I believe it has a battery charge life of 2-2.5 hours (was told it came witrh 2 batteries). Docking station was extra.

 

[Tony Lehn]

Be careful about the idea of using someone else's connection while in a neighborhood, or at a Starbucks, or whatever. It seems to me that this is stealing. You cannot shake your fingers at appraisers defrauding banks then condone stealing. By definition, it is the same thing.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Restrain]

1. Get a laptop and a power inverter (converts 12V to 110V ac) and load your software on the laptop.
2. Write the report in the field
3. Use a cell phone with a modem hookup so that you can use a dial-up connection to your computer (avoids wireless problems).

Other option. Use the sketch program only to do the sketch and use a Word document for neighborhood, site, improvment data. Then send 2 files using the connection above.

That avoids large files and your 'highly trained and competent staff' can fill out the report.
Roger

 

[Frederick R. Ruffell]

Tony, Niel and RStrahan,
All good points, but a laptop does not have touchscreen capabilities and is too delicate to take on the inspection around the house. I did not like the reviews on the sonic view. Turning your car around in someones driveway may be considered tresspassing, picking up some trash and depositing it in someones trash can may be considered stealing as well, but we all do it from time to time. Many people register their wireless LAN connection for use by others as well. I guess it is all up to the individual to make their own decision as to how to access the web.

 

[Stone]

Turning your car around in someones driveway may be considered tresspassing, picking up some trash and depositing it in someones trash can may be considered stealing as well, but we all do it from time to time. Many people register their wireless LAN connection for use by others as well. I guess it is all up to the individual to make their own decision as to how to access the web.

There is some truth in what you are saying. However, basing your business plan on using someone elses wireless connection seems to be a big leap from turning around in their driveway. The comparison that was made in the technical forum was burning a music CD for personal use. It is a good comparison, but planning on using other peoples networks to perform your job seems more like burning music CD's and selling them for a profit. Just something to think about.

 

[Tony Lehn]

I agree Mike. Under Frederick's line of thought, you can justify anything. Relative truth is a road that is filled with pitfalls. I suppose that is the same line of thought used by "bad appraisers".

 

[Frederick R. Ruffell]

Michael and Tony,
Settle down or you might soil yourselvs, Nowhere have I said that this is what I do, or would do, nor is my business plan. Your assumptions are inflamatory, I sure hope you "good appraisers" are not making similar assumptions in your appraisals!! I only pointed out the capabilities of the technology to demonstrate what might be possible. There is a similar thread over on the tech forum perhaps you should read.