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Not necessary. Been with Total since 1991, and their workfile feature has always been the standard. And since we have redundancy backups, we can get to those files at any time from more than one place.
Yea I kinda figured that the Spark Workfile would be the logical repository for all workfile documents, but I haven't quite figured out how to copy/paste documents into the folder/file. Damn I'm just trying to figure out the changes in MS Office since I last used it about 10 years ago having relied on Google docs/sheets/etc during the interim but couldn't find a resonable Google alternative to MS Publisher/Powerpoint. For instance why is the default file location for a new Word doc saved to a file type rather than a location....not even to mention how confusing File Manager has become, seein'g as how I now have 3 or 4 or 5 copies of the default folder location for my ACI appraisal files. ACI tech support done gave up on me, although I'm thinking ACI must be listening too much to Nephew Glen!!!!!! Another new project is to figure out what TF AI is or what it does....or how it's possible, like does contemporary etiquette require one to say "thank you" to AI????....or like this morning when I described my satisfaction with what I presumed was a Western Union AI bot...and the nice lady cleared her throat from 3000 miles away and described herself as a human rather than a bot....although that might be integral to the AI response????? Funny story happened a few weeks ago while I was on the phone from home to Wells Fargo customer service, when the rep asked me Numerous identifiers to ensure that I was who I said I was. She said that the extra questions were because the WF software identified multiple individuals at my end of the phone line. That confused me for a second....til I realized that the software thought it had detected multiple individuals, possibly the basis of a ruse of sorts....til I realized that the software had heard me TALKING TO MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The workfile that Spark generates is a zipped folder that I just drop into the workfile folder. It consists of subject information (garnered from MLS/Realist), comp information (garnered from the same sources), neighborhood information (based on the set of sales included in the 'neighborhood' data), and analysis documentation for market trends. Of course, you could unzip it if you wanted to, but I don't see the necessity unless you're responding to a state inquiry.
It's a fair question, as I'm sure everyone does it a little differently. As far as client conversations, I usually print to PDF anything that was relevant to the assignment (i.e. Don't include these specific assets in the appraisal, etc). I use a word document for notes for each file and notate who I contacted and when, things the owner/realtor stated about the property, all that. If I call a realtor about a property, I make a word doc in the digital folder for that comp to have record of what they told me about it as well. After reading through handwritten scribbles in the past, I decided typed print is a heckofalot easier to read later on. Anything I write by hand (usually in the field) I scan to PDF for the digital work file. The report also serves as part of the work file, as you probably know.
In your opinion the default Spark workfile contents are sufficient? Sure would please me if so...
So you keep a dig Workfilenin addition to the Spark Workfile?
It's not. Its sufficient to document the MLS info (i.e. no reason to print the MLS stuff in addition to the Spark workfile, but it doesn't contain: site sales to document site value (or extraction if that's what you use), zoning info, survey/site info, purchase contract, tax records for the subject and comps. Here is what it does contain:
I do - my workfiles (like Sputnam) include both 'hard' stuff (field notes, sketch, engagement letter) as well as an e-folder.