Need Advice: Are Digital Recorders Helpful

[Kathleen Erickson]

I was wondering what the pros and cons are of using a belt mounted digital recorder for notetaking purposes when doing an appraisal. I thought I saw an appraiser using a handheld recorder and neglected to ask him about the pros and cons of using that device for his job.

The recorder I am evaluating can digitally record voice inputs and put them in specific folders. Then the voice files can be downloaded to a computer via connection cable. There is voice recognition capability so I think the recordings could be converted into text. Whether or not the voice entries could be converted into text entries into a standardized form is unknown. The voice files could also be emailed to anyone who might do transcription. So let's say the appraiser uses this out in the field and then gets back to his office and downloads his voice files for the day and sends them off to transcriptionist. What he gets back is his notes in a standardized format.

Is this type of solution already being employed by appraisers? If not, does this solution sound like it would save time and money? If so, how has this solution helped you? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch.

 

[DB]

I bought an RCA digital recorder at Wally World ... around 50 bucks ... separates each notation into a separate file and will record up to 6 hours ... comes with an electret mic that can clip on your collar .... pretty handy if you ask me ...

 

[Jeff Horton]

I would say that depends on your likes and dislikes. I have written everything down for so long that I would have a hard time shifting to recording it but I see how it could be a asset. Plus it hard for the home owner to read my comments as opposed to hearing me saying something bad about their home.

My PDA has a built in recorder and I have used it on Home Inspections where it was not practical to write the info down. Like in an attic or crawl space. Otherwise I just jot me a not on my form and clean it up at the office.

 

[Farm Gal]

Jeff has some of it right based on my experience:

I would think if you were doing commercial this would be a valuable addition to your tools. I have sincere doubts as to the advantage, if doing mostly residential.

WE videoed for a period of time... (with owner permission only)

I had a difficult end-of-pregnancy, so hubby & I team-wrote many appraisals: the video footage helped immensely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While not fully comparable: the observations from that experience may be cross-device applicable:

One downside: if the owner is tagging along you have to make mental note of adverse conditions as they would have coronaries at verbal shorthand on certain observed conditions.

If you stop your patter to make a physical note they look over your shoulder or under your arm to see WHY... (at least with the camera you could zoom in for a wordless close up.

Juggling even a small device is ONE MORE THING to carry. Fumble put away, even with a neck-cord tether. so you can shoot a picture or make a notation.

It's another battery eating device: even with rechargables...

you still have to ORGANIZE the results of the verbal input (thats a BIGGIE BTW)
~spouse and I had some several discussions about inspection method consistency...

May not lend well to the mental ordering of data once back at office.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Upside especially if you have that transcriptionist: NEAT notes.

Perception that you are a techie!

Ability on occasion to be more complete in your verbal morphing into written conveyance of data.

IF transcribed, cut and paste(?) speculation on my part.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Low tech for residential appraisals works better for us at present... Have pocket tools but prefer paper copy for more additional notes and the modified FORM I use lends well to transcription in minimal time to report, but has advantage of multiple notes for backup if there are any issues later.

 

[Roy Spidle]

As Lee Ann stated, the one downside, for me, to recording audio, is that I find the home owner follows me step by step through the house. The last thing I want to do is say something that might tick off the homeowner. Even if it's something that isn't an adverse condition, but how you say it might make the homeowner think you are calling his place a dump.

I use Pocket Total on my Dell Pocket PC that has audio recording capability. I have not used it once. I might use it on the exterior, or if the house is vacant, but I probably won't ever use it when the homeowner it following me around like a needy puppy. B)

-me

 

[Michigander]

I've thought of video taping (with permission of course), because that would give you a really clear reminder of what things are like. Fortunately we carry digital cameras and can take oodles of pictures at a house, and that is typically easier (actually, my camera allows for a minute at a time of video movie-just haven't used it) and you can take pictures of any adverse conditions quite conveniently. I think that if you talk into a voice recorder about almost anything, you'll have irate home owners. Better to just take photos and make notes on your pad where they can't see it.

Good luck though if you go this route, and let us all know how it works out.

 

[Dale Smalley]

My first digital camera was an epson that allowed 12 seconds of audio after each pic. It was great when you got back to the office to sort out the comps. Then it was very easy to change the file name from 0000016.jpg to the address that you recorded.

Of course they never carried this option to the new models.

 

[George W Dodd]

I use Pocket Total on my Dell Pocket PC that has audio recording capability. I have not used it once. I might use it on the exterior, or if the house is vacant, but I probably won't ever use it when the homeowner it following me around like a needy puppy

After years of taking hand notes on every inspections, I made the change to using the audio on pocket total and my pda. At first I was reluctant to say too much and ended up using the handwritting function. But as I got use to it I found it much easier and actually was able to add more detail about construction and condition. To get around the pesty ho, I used a verbal short-hand of words and initials.

One advantage to the pocket total is that is saves everthing in the work file.