The end of NCVForms - Now what

[JamesRockford]

I used Homeputer many many years ago for a short while. It works but is pretty basic.

:laugh:

So did I in 1987 I believe.

It did everything I needed and was a huge upgrade from having a secretary type the report.

How times have changed in that "short" time.

 

[Blueprint]

Best wishes to JD Biggers. Kudos to JD for providing his appraisal software to the masses which resulted in so many happy appraisers across the country for many years. Maybe he can come back stronger down the road.

 

[spittman]

Thanks JD for your wonderful product!

Although there were a few kinks when I first signed up, this has been the best appraisal software I have ever used. I'm also thankful that I have not had any of the problems some customers have had. It's really gonna suck having to look for another provider or maybe possibly going back to my previous one so I'm hoping there is some kind of way you will come back stronger or maybe possibly allowing us to continue using the product until it becomes obsolete.

 

[stangtime]

NCV has been perfect for my appraisal work. While I wasn't thrilled with having to increase my annual software cost to $349, I figured, at least that would be locked in with Total for 10 years. And then I learned that to deliver reports through AppriasalPort would require the Silver Package with the ENV converter, for an additional $299 per year. So...annual costs with NCV were $100 (for a complete software bundle that did everything I needed) - new costs to go with Total will be $648 (if I go that way) Ouch!

Dan

 

[Fargo1]

It's really gonna suck having to look for another provider or maybe possibly going back to my previous one so I'm hoping there is some kind of way you will come back stronger or maybe possibly allowing us to continue using the product until it becomes obsolete.

Yep, looking at other providers does really suck. I really like alamode as a company and Total includes many nice features you can't get from others. But I just find the interface very strange and hard to get used to. But its definitely one of the best options. Clickforms is probably the most similar to NCV. I really like the software, but I don't care much for the company.

Fortunately with the latest download of NCV (build 242) it will run indefinitely. The problem of course is that with all the constant regulatory changes the software will be obsolete quickly.

I too would love to see JD come back again with a completely new product in a few years. Maybe something written in java so everyone could use it no matter what OS they use. That would be sweet. But for now I think JD has lost his drive that he once had. But who knows what the future will bring.

 

[dbiggers]

NCV has been perfect for my appraisal work. While I wasn't thrilled with having to increase my annual software cost to $349, I figured, at least that would be locked in with Total for 10 years. And then I learned that to deliver reports through AppriasalPort would require the Silver Package with the ENV converter, for an additional $299 per year. So...annual costs with NCV were $100 (for a complete software bundle that did everything I needed) - new costs to go with Total will be $648 (if I go that way) Ouch!

Dan

That $299 is more than just the AP/ENV plugin, of course. That's also every other major AMC and platform plugin, and the order management system to grab orders and pull them in and push them out without manual management.

But, there's no question that a bigger company like ours has to pay for the staff of developers, technicians, and managers to keep everything running and growing by charging more than $100. In the case you cite specifically, the $299 for plugins, realize that it entails every bit of the work required to keep up with FNC's AppraisalPort XML plus all the XML work for UAD deliveries to clients not on platforms (using DataCourier), which is especially useful with direct lender clients. Then, deploying and supporting it 24 x 7 is expensive.

If we had every appraiser in the US using us, at $100 it still would be less than half the cost of operation -- and we'd be out of business too. As you know all too well, the appraisal world is infinitely more complicated than just 10 years ago, and we're far from immune to that now. There's a reason we have more than 200 employees. It's not for show.

We (and I personally) actually always supported JD, helped him where we could, and rooted for him in his struggles. If he was David and we were Goliath, as others have posted, there would have been a fight -- but there wasn't. We communicated with each other as colleagues and friends, and we helped him as much as possible.

We think the market was better with him in it, and we hope to see him stay in (or come back to) the industry. Losing NCV only benefits Bradford, who could hardly be called a Goliath, but who has indeed been JD's nemesis. There were no cheers in our building upon seeing these posts. It's a sad day for us too.

Regardless of which new software you choose, we wish you the best moving forward. It's never easy.

 

[stangtime]

I appreciate your reply, Dave. I've used alamode products before over the last 20+ years. You do provide a good software package. I'm not knocking that and I understand to run a large company there are very real costs. But for the appraiser that does most but not all of his or her work through direct lenders, private clients, the VA, or other non AMC originators it's a drag to have a six fold increase in software costs overnight.

It's a shame that there aren't more small companies like there used to be to fill that niche. JD was bucking that trend and fought a good fight for a long time. I too wish him well and would welcome his return in the future. Only he knows how many users he had and I would guess that a very tiny fraction are known here on this forum.

Dan

 

[Fargo1]

... But for the appraiser that does most but not all of his or her work through direct lenders, private clients, the VA, or other non AMC originators it's a drag to have a six fold increase in software costs overnight.

It's a shame that there aren't more small companies like there used to be to fill that niche. JD was bucking that trend and fought a good fight for a long time. I too wish him well and would welcome his return in the future. Only he knows how many users he had and I would guess that a very tiny fraction are known here on this forum.

Dan

I am one who only works with direct lenders (Conv, FHA, and VA). I avoid AMCs as much as I can. But who knows for how long. I too find it frustrating that most software companies require you to purchase all the AMC Appraisal Port, etc accessories for hundreds of dollars when I don't use them. I left ACI for this very reason. I had to pay an additional $250 just to create an xml file. I think alamode has the best plan schedule for someone who doesn't need all the extra AMC stuff.

dbiggers - It is nice to see that you, as a competitor, had respect for NCVForms and that JD always respected you as well. I think that was visible through various threads through the years. There were some differences of opinions and maybe even some tension. As can be expected between competitors. But I think there was always respect that was shown in the forums. You have my respect for the position you take with NCVForms and all your competitors.

 

[23Degrees]

Only have build 240 (will that expire then?) - does anyone know if there's a way to get 242 now that the web site is down?

 

[Fargo1]

The website is not down. Its still available [url]http://www.ncvsoftware.com/[/URL]

I suspect you should also be able to do it from within NCV Forms. Of course you wouldn't have it if you did a reinstall. But that would likely be after the software is outdated.