Transitioning from Narrative 1 to Datacomp Edge

[Weslo2]

Lightbox and Narrative 1 are screwing us (and, per reports from others, anyone that does business with them). Buyer beware. We're a commercial firm with a 11 appraisers (4 MAIs) and 5 support staff, so 16 software licenses. We used Realwired's Datacomp database software for many years, but transitioned to Lightbox' Narrative 1 report writing and database software over the last decade (originally moved to N1 Classic in 2012, then to N1Web in 2022). We gave tons of feedback and suggestions to aid Lightbox in improving N1Web. The thanks we got recently was notification of a 300% increase in our annual fees for the coming year. We're now researching our options, and are giving serious consideration to going back to Datacomp's database, as well as transitioning to their Edge report writing software. I'd really appreciate any feedback, suggestions, etc., from anyone that has migrated from N1 to Datacomp Edge (as well as their job management software). Please let me know if the migration was a walk in the park or a nightmare. The folks at Datacomp were always responsive, so we're expecting the same great customer service we received from them in the past. The migration of databases, report templates, learning curves, etc., though, is pretty scary. We looked at Valcre, as well, but their service is almost as expensive, and their product is less flexible/adaptable to the broad variety of property types we cover. Thanks for any insights any of you can provide.

 

[KHS445]

Have you taken a look at StartDeck? It was developed by Tom Armstrong, who is the original developer of N1. It is a web-based application using Google Docs. There are three levels of use; one for a couple of reports a month which is free, one for an individual appraiser which runs $59 per month and a team option which offers much more interactivity that is available for $79 per user/per month. One of the interesting things is it is a monthly subscription, and you can add and subtract users as you want and even place your subscription on hold (at no charge) for a while if you decide to take a long vacation. Because all of the information is saved in Google Docs you can pick back up wherever you left off.

I am not a shill for StartDeck. Like you I received a notice from Lightbox that my annual subscription was going from $1,000 to $4,000. After some discussions they did offer a slightly better deal, but insisted on a four-year contract, with no out clauses. My retired partner and I had been using N1 since nearly day one. I did a google search for Tom Armstrong appraiser and found the link to StartDeck. I have talked with Tom several times recently and will be switching to this option when my current N1 subscription expires.

 

[Weslo2]

Have you taken a look at StartDeck? It was developed by Tom Armstrong, who is the original developer of N1. It is a web-based application using Google Docs. There are three levels of use; one for a couple of reports a month which is free, one for an individual appraiser which runs $59 per month and a team option which offers much more interactivity that is available for $79 per user/per month. One of the interesting things is it is a monthly subscription, and you can add and subtract users as you want and even place your subscription on hold (at no charge) for a while if you decide to take a long vacation. Because all of the information is saved in Google Docs you can pick back up wherever you left off.

I am not a shill for StartDeck. Like you I received a notice from Lightbox that my annual subscription was going from $1,000 to $4,000. After some discussions they did offer a slightly better deal, but insisted on a four-year contract, with no out clauses. My retired partner and I had been using N1 since nearly day one. I did a google search for Tom Armstrong appraiser and found the link to StartDeck. I have talked with Tom several times recently and will be switching to this option when my current N1 subscription expires.

Thanks for the info. I had not heard of StartDeck, but I'll check it out. N1 has done all the same with us...went from $1,050 per to $4,750 per (and we have 16 users), but offered a lower initial increase if we signed on for 4 years. According to the folks at Realwired, they've had a dozen firms move from N1 to their Datacomp Edge suite in the last couple of month. We're looking really hard at their package, including their job management software (which we use pretty intensely, with so many appraisers and assignments to track). They're Word & Excel-based, so that familiarity is helping with the decision process. A complete shift to Google Docs may be a bridge too far for us, but we'll still check into it. Thanks for your help!

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I'm glad I write my own templates on a $70 copy of WordPerfect, is all I can say.

 

[Weslo2]

I'm glad I write my own templates on a $70 copy of WordPerfect, is all I can say.

Ha. I still keep a current version of good ol' WP for certain circumstances. Our firm had produced north of 10,000 appraisal reports in WordPerfect, before migrating to N1 (with the mandatory migration to Word and Excel). WP and Quattro Pro still have their strengths, in certain applications. Glad to hear someone continues to carry the banner.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Ha. I still keep a current version of good ol' WP for certain circumstances. Our firm had produced north of 10,000 appraisal reports in WordPerfect, before migrating to N1 (with the mandatory migration to Word and Excel). WP and Quattro Pro still have their strengths, in certain applications. Glad to hear someone continues to carry the banner.

I've used Narrative 1 before and to me it was rather clunky for what I do, but a fellow appraiser was using it. It was at its best in an urban or industrial setting to me. Agri, land, small owner-operated seemed to leave a lot of white space. My reports tend to be rather compact 40 or so pages. Land about 30. The ag appraisers I know tend to use Agware

 

[KHS445]

Check out StartDecks website and the team option. Also, if you have any questions either give Tom a call or send him an email. A phone call is probably best. His number is somewhere on the website.