Pocket Total and ACI

[cgjerdetu]

Anyone know if the new Pocket Total will work with ACI?

Alamode has just released a new version of pocket total that uses an open XML API and is designed to work with any appraisal software.

I am interested in this versus Mobil ACI because there will be a version of Pocket Apex available, as well as the potential to have a built-in camera.

For more of what I mean:

http://www.alamode.com/pocket/

I spoke with ACI (sales I think) and they had never heard of this and was not aware that this would work.

Wondering if my only option would be to use WinTotal and then convert my files with Lighthouse as my employer requires ACI format. Obviously I would prefer to stay with ACI as it would make things less difficult, but would switch if that is the only way right now to use pocket total.

I feel that this version of pocket total will be a time saver and I want to start implementing this in my field work as soon as possible.

Carolyn

 

[EDWARD BERRY]

Many of us have begged for a decent field data gatehering system

If we had the sourse code it would not take long-to do it ourselves.

IT is sad that appraiser (the customers) cannot buy what they really need.

They have all this exotic stuff that saves about 2-3 minutes per appraisal, when the field data gathering system would allow an experienced appraiser to produce 3-5 appraisals a day(with one office worker)

I would pay $1, 000 for one that would work like I (and many other appraiser ) inspect a property.

Hopefully some day-ed in arkansas.

 

[cgjerdetu]

Edward,

I think that this version of Pocket Total will be a time saver and a way to be free of the clipboard. I emailed ACI tech support asking if Pocket Total would work and the response was that I could use ACI mobile. I can't find anyone who has even tried ACI mobile. In addition, ACI mobile does not have any sort of sketch integration, however, ACI is working on that.

I'm just anxious as I would like to get to the point of just inputing the information once. I would really like to go out on my on-site observation (inspection) and enter my notes do the sketch on some sort of handheld device and then download that information into the computer when I get back to the office.

Carolyn

 

[Farm Gal]

Carolyn:

ACI Mobile is in my opinion, a kludge. Personal and office opinion.

The use of a repeat of the existing URAR form in handheld format is NOT appreciably faster than a similarly designed piece of paper, despite the ability to plug it in when you get back to the office....

A sketcher is the PRIMARY opition I am looking for in the field!

If you live/work in an area where there is extremely good data, and you are able to 'pull' comps prospectively prior to the field visit, I can see where the handheld would do SOME good. Put in a few fences, check a few features... verify subject pre-entered data... very little of my working area runs to that degree of accuracy or even available pre-inspection data at all.

:evil: FURTHER :evil: :!: : We had a recent experience where the appraiser had preloaded some data, used both clipboard and handheld at field inspection... Upon return to the office he attempted to download... aparently unsucessfully.

MUCH later it appears that the handheld downloaded and overwrote the finished report 8O ... What the client got was NOT what he remembered writing... customized neighborhood description reverted to a boilerplate initial version, etc, etc. Sidewalks got removed and a dozen other minor reversions. This was BAD. would have been bad under any circumstances but add a highly contentious homeowner, and OH MY!.

This wound up costing a lot of time and may yet result in a discussion with the state board... He's THAT kind of Homeowner.

I would move ahead slowly with this advancement, until some one comes out with a significantly improved version... We like new technology in our office, you win some some you lose... this one is considered sitting heavy on the loss side of the scale.