Total Sketch

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

The total mobile sketch is all I use and it is simple/easy to use. I was a long time Apex user, but it was not that difficult to transition.

 

[sunster]

The total mobile sketch is all I use and it is simple/easy to use. I was a long time Apex user, but it was not that difficult to transition.

Tim, in the past I believe you stated that you draw interior walls on your stretches. Are you able to do it efficiently onsite with your mobile device?

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

I quit doing interior walls when I switched to mobile appraising three years ago.

 

[bnmappraisal]

I will add, I don't do interior walls in my sketches ... no client complaints thus far (knock on wood!)

 

[Vermonter]

I quit doing interior walls when I switched to mobile appraising three years ago.

I will add, I don't do interior walls in my sketches ... no client complaints thus far (knock on wood!)

Same here, however I have done them occasionally with the mobile sketch. It's time consuming no matter which sketch software you use.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Then why not just use Apex? That's the beauty of choice. I love Fords and have driven them all my life, but others love Chevy. If you're a Chevy guy, buy and use Chevy.

Correct me if I am wrong, but AlaMode charges a yearly integration fee/penalty to the appraiser for using their own APEX software over TotalSketch. ACI never charged me for using a third party sketch program.

 

[dbiggers]

Correct me if I am wrong, but AlaMode charges a yearly integration fee/penalty to the appraiser for using their own APEX software over TotalSketch. ACI never charged me for using a third party sketch program.

No, we charge for an upgrade to Sketch Pro, which adds a ton of features, but which also includes integration with third party sketchers. We felt it was a disservice to charge an integration fee when we could improve the sketcher and make the third party product irrelevant. On the other hand, we deserve to get paid for our work, just like you do. Those who upgrade to Pro often never install the third party sketcher at all, when they see the improvements in the Pro version of our own sketcher. So, that cost is saved. For those who do use a third party product, the cost of Pro at least covers our support costs on the integration. We do take calls every day on third party sketching, and again, we deserve to get paid for that too, just like you do.

 

[bnmappraisal]

Those who upgrade to Pro often never install the third party sketcher

I've been very happy with it

 

[Leon Marcus]

I had to get the upgrade top use Apex. The integration never worked flawlessly and I often get errors and have to re start the computer because of the integration software I am paying for. The additional features Total has like photometrics do not work well at all. I just had the need to use it a few weeks ago. Total got way different measurements no matter how many times I tried using it. I set the scale and it would not "stick to" that scale. I was unable to get an accurate size for what I was trying to do. I really wanted it to work. So I Opened Apex, less than 2 minutes, I set the scale, traced the picture I loaded and had an accurate total area that Total sketch never was able to get. I know Apex was correct because when someone at the city finally got back to me and talked to what seemed like 5 or more people they verified I had an accurate lot size. So if I was to trust total sketch I would have been basing my information on bad information which would have made HUGE difference in the property I was working on since being able to be rebuilt hinged on the total site size.

 

[OSU Beavers]

No, we charge for an upgrade to Sketch Pro, which adds a ton of features, but which also includes integration with third party sketchers. We felt it was a disservice to charge an integration fee when we could improve the sketcher and make the third party product irrelevant. On the other hand, we deserve to get paid for our work, just like you do. Those who upgrade to Pro often never install the third party sketcher at all, when they see the improvements in the Pro version of our own sketcher. So, that cost is saved. For those who do use a third party product, the cost of Pro at least covers our support costs on the integration. We do take calls every day on third party sketching, and again, we deserve to get paid for that too, just like you do.

ACI + Apex worked fine for years without the need to daily calls. ACI's free Sketch was much more intuitive and better looking than TOTALs free Sketch. So it is now an extra $69 a year to get a decent TOTAL Pro Sketcher? After having to re-buy my software every year along with my ability to back-up files, send files to clients, and now to make a decent sketch, TOTAL is quickly becoming my single largest annual business expense. Unfortunately as appraisers we don't get the pay we deserve for the work completed.