UAD TIPS for working appraisers !

[J Grant]

Okay, folks, it is getting near the deadline, and many of us are getting real about learning and using UAD 3.6, perhaps for the first time.
What I would like this thread to be: a place where folks can ask questions, and share tips, or how they have solved roadblock problems. Feedback from using software that is not for the purpose of selling the software, but rather a guide for others who are using that particular software.

What I DO NOT want the thread to become... an outlet for complaints, a platform for selling products, or a snark fest. I will share whatever I learn that might be relevant after I finish my second session with the ALAMODe webinar later today. I took part in one yesterday, boring as heck, but learned a few things I would not have otherwise.

What I learned in yesterday's webinar - Alamode has a right-side column for each section, which functions as a real-time guide to how to fill out that section.

 

[J Grant]

PS- I am an AI dummy. So if anyone wants to start a similar thread on tips for the AI aspect of filling out UAD, that would be awesome. I think they should be separate threads because each aspect has its own learning curve.

 

[J Grant]

FWIW, I finished the second Alamode webinar and much as I never thought I would say this, I actually like the 3.6 format. I think once one gets used to it and finds the best way it works for them, it will be fine.

 

[FMV]

Hey JGrant,
I wanted to get in on that webinar-but was out in the field. I do notice-(on occasion) when working on other reports-I notice little "glitches".. just weird stuff like Alamode software updates for the new UAD is affecting other platforms while we are typing reports. Nothing serious like a Virus-since we have a virus protector-but tiny little "glitches".. kind of like the UAD 3.6 is affecting other platforms or something.. just a thought here.

 

[J Grant]

Hey JGrant,
I wanted to get in on that webinar-but was out in the field. I do notice-(on occasion) when working on other reports-I notice little "glitches".. just weird stuff like Alamode software updates for the new UAD is affecting other platforms while we are typing reports. Nothing serious like a Virus-since we have a virus protector-but tiny little "glitches".. kind of like the UAD 3.6 is affecting other platforms or something.. just a thought here.

You can watch a recording of the webinars. ( they are avaiable ) I have not had any weird issues with Alamode, fingers crossed, hope it continues

 

[sputnam]

PS- I am an AI dummy. So if anyone wants to start a similar thread on tips for the AI aspect of filling out UAD, that would be awesome. I think they should be separate threads because each aspect has its own learning curve.

AI is not required to complete a 3.6 appraisal report. The appraisers who learn to leverage AI tools will be at a competitive advantage to those who don't. The danger... and it's inevitable that some appraisers will fall into the trap... is trying to use AI to determine the opinion of value. It should be used cautiously and treated like other tools.

 

[J Grant]

AI is not required to complete a 3.6 appraisal report. The appraisers who learn to leverage AI tools will be at a competitive advantage to those who don't. The danger... and it's inevitable that some appraisers will fall into the trap... is trying to use AI to determine the opinion of value. It should be used cautiously and treated like other tools.

Agree 100%.

I have not used any of the AI programs (is it possible some of the software are a version of established programs like Spark and slap the label AI on themselves?

Indeed, the danger is that some appraisers can allow AI to do the heavy lifting - choose the comps, make the adjustments, derive he value. I brought up that possibility with D Wiley, and he defaulted to the argument of how is that different than an appraiser using a list of adjustments ?

I suggested that a cert be added to the GSE format stating that, if the appraiser used AI as a tool, they personally chose the comps and developed the adjustments and value. That was met with a response that the existing cert says the appraiser personally developed the work... Imo the existing cert is too generic to meet the challenge of AI.

I suspect the GSEs don't really care and are fine with plausible deniability, leaving it as an issue that some appraisers are bad and should not do that. They must be aware that appraisers working for cheap fees have to take shortcuts. The abuse of AI offers shortcuts on a mass scale not seen before.

It seems there is an overlap between software that autofills fields in a report, software that can crunch data for adjustments, and AI, which can write a narrative based on a prompt, opine on a value, and perform analysis. Whether the results from AI reflect the MV credibly is another story.

An appraiser using AI responsibly to help develop adjustments and using its capacity as a program to auto-fill to save some time might be ideal.

 

[Tom D]

Here's what to learn. Open page, answer question. Depending on answer a drop down box will ask more questions. Then go onto the next page question and repeat this 400 times possible. I know that alamode has a help guide pop up with every question if you need it, or do it wrong. Supposedly, there is a check list somewhere to remind you of what you will need to find during your inspection. Consider it a mini home inspection report. And apparently many brainiacs here think AI is the supervisor appraiser signature in your report.

 

[J Grant]

Here's what to learn. Open page, answer question. Depending on answer a drop down box will ask more questions. Then go onto the next page question and repeat this 400 times possible. I know that alamode has a help guide pop up with every question if you need it, or do it wrong. Supposedly, there is a check list somewhere to remind you of what you will need to find during your inspection. Consider it a mini home inspection report. And apparently many brainiacs here think AI is the supervisor appraiser signature in your report.

Agree, this is how to manually fill it out from scratch on Alamode. The instructor did say we can create a template, which we can then fill at to have at least some recurring questions filled in adn then create quick list comments.
I do not use total for mobile - it will drop the photos in the right places but I plan to learn and add that later

No matter what steps we take to make reporting easier, we will be providing a ton more information, so the product should be valued more - hopefully that will work up the fee as a next development.

 

[DWiley]

Since you wanted a thread with tips, I will post the actual first tip. If your subject property has a feature that you would normally (in UAD 2.6) put on one of the blank lines at the bottom of the adjustment grid (e.g., a pool, barn, ADU, etc.) the odds are very good that within UAD 3.6 there is an (optional) dedicated field for that item. It may not be obvious how to find that field (depending on your software), but it almost certainly exist.

The second tip is to download a PDF version of the appendix F-1, as that (long) document has instructions for every possible field in the UAD 3.6. You can download it and use the search feature (or your favorite AI) to search for a specific item.

My third tip would be to watch whatever training videos you can find for your software of choice. As I have stated several times, the various software providers have taken very different approaches to data entry, so how you enter information is very different from program to program.

If you do not yet have a 3.6 order, you can jump start the learning and setup process by taking a completed 2.6 report and recreating the report in 3.6. Some may say that is not efficient, but it allows one to learn about the 3.6 process without the time pressure of needing to complete a live assignment.

My last tip is not to count on the mandate date being moved.