Report in files

[Lee SW IL]

How many reports (typical size) can you get on a CD with listing sheets, tax info, field sheets, ect.


Thanks

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

I'm with you Jo Ann. I'll pay for the paper to have a copy of the pdf that was sent in my file.

 

[Caterina Platt]

This advice was recieved from the instructor several years ago when I took my initial courses-

Always, always, save your old files. He claimed he made money from them on a regular basis. I have not quite figured out how he 'made money' from them, but when working with my old boss, the old files were invaluable. Many times out doing inspections on homes he'd done in the past it would save us tons 'o time measuring and gathering plat maps. In this manner, the old files saved money. You could also tell right away if there had been later additions and it would remind you to start asking about permits and such. Many times I was holding an old file that was well over the 5 year requirement.

Then comes the rare but possible case of getting pulled into court regarding an appraisal that another may have altered after it left your office. If you pull your original off electronic data and print it, looks new, right? So it could look as though after being notified of the pending litigation, you could have altered the data to avoid prosecution. Maybe the lender didn't falsify the data afterall??? If your appraisal appears as an aged paper copy with the original data that would support your innocence, the cut and paste job the end user did to falsify information would be much more apparent. Rare as this may seem, it did make sense to me and I've printed every file I've completed just for this reason.

 

[TC]

Jo Ann--I still have Day One dos on my old 486 and also on a Windows ME machine. All the files have been transferred from the floppies to a CD. You can put about 10 years work on 1 CD. I never throw the old appraisals out, over the years I have done numerous properties 2-3 times.

Lee--I can put about 30 appraisals on 1 CD with all the info that I convert into a PDF. However, being a appraisal geek, I use 1 cd for every property that I inspect. I know its a waste of space, but name brand CDs can be had for about 40 cents. Plus now that I use a camera with a memory stick I shoot about 10-12 photos of the house plus comps. All that is loaded on to the CD. Everything is converted to PDF, dumped on the CD, then put in an envelope and taped to the file folder. No paper, just the file with my field notes and the CD. Works for me.

Like to stick around, but taking the big bird to Tucson for a long weekend!

TC

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Arkansas recently reiterated the report held must be a TRUE and exact copy...every page of it excepting the invoice. It can be electronic, i.e.-uneditable version or .pdf, etc.

I have considered the .pdf and CD burner option, but have encountered so many corrupted files on CDs, I am a little afraid of it. And it takes time to label and organize so you can find the report again. Zip disks are much more expensive, but seem to be more reliable but even worse filing problem. I have never had an Iomega disk fail (one Maxwell did), so my garage continues to fill with file cabinets - 5 - 4 drawers and maybe 15 banker boxes.
ter