When Did You Go Paperless?

[Dale Floyd]

Are these redundancy backups outside of Total?

Any file Total has access to (read/write/execute permissions) are not safe for your workfile.

The redundancy backups are the data files, including all reports. I have no need to backup the software.

When you say “Total” I think you mean CoreLogic or Cotality as they’re called now. The program is the program, and CoreLogic doesn’t have access to any of my local files. I don’t use Titan. They can’t even troubleshoot my server without remote access authorized by me.

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

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.

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond. Your approach seems tobe very comprehnsive [and time consuming, although like anything I presume that the time required will be more than valuable if/when required to provide it]. Thank you.

 

[Vermonter]

The redundancy backups are the data files, including all reports. I have no need to backup the software.

When you say “Total” I think you mean CoreLogic or Cotality as they’re called now. The program is the program, and CoreLogic doesn’t have access to any of my local files. I don’t use Titan. They can’t even troubleshoot my server without remote access authorized by me.

So you do have backups outside the software, which was my point. Many alamode users just think the software is a secure place to keep your workfile. It is not.

If the software can write a file to a folder/directory, it can also modify/remove those files without your knowledge.

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

So you do have backups outside the software, which was my point. Many alamode users just think the software is a secure place to keep your workfile. It is not.

If the software can write a file to a folder/directory, it can also modify/remove those files without your knowledge.

V, I have computing question that I think you can answer. A few AMC's with which I am affiliated, as well as my Kaiser Permenante "portal" include a section in which all of my comments/messsages, and those sent to me from the system repressentatives, which are sent via the website are embedded" in a long-running, continual message log. Do you know if the system administrators can go into the log and delete messages, for example, to avoid potential liability of the part of the system, per se?????

 

[cpursley]

So you do have backups outside the software, which was my point. Many alamode users just think the software is a secure place to keep your workfile. It is not.

If the software can write a file to a folder/directory, it can also modify/remove those files without your knowledge.

For Appraisal Inbox customers, we recommend in addition to our workfile storage (which we automatically back up on a different service), to also save their workfiles in a cloud sync like Dropbox etc AND once a quarter or so, backup to an external hard drive that is kept in a waterproof and fireproof safe. I've seen appraisers lose their work one too many times, including in natural disasters. No reason to lose files in 2025 AD other than sheer incompetence.

 

[Vermonter]

V, I have computing question that I think you can answer. A few AMC's with which I am affiliated, as well as my Kaiser Permenante "portal" include a section in which all of my comments/messsages, and those sent to me from the system repressentatives, which are sent via the website are embedded" in a long-running, continual message log. Do you know if the system administrators can go into the log and delete messages, for example, to avoid potential liability of the part of the system, per se?????

There's always someone, somewhere that can modify content, even at the highest security levels. Really depends on who is in control.

If it's a third party portal, secure message record keeping would be a selling point to all users so probably neither party could modify comment logs independently. If it's the AMCs portal, they definitely have the ability to do whatever they want with messages.

 

[James Mpls]

Never.

 

[Dale Floyd]

So you do have backups outside the software, which was my point. Many alamode users just think the software is a secure place to keep your workfile. It is not.

If the software can write a file to a folder/directory, it can also modify/remove those files without your knowledge.

Any software can modify any file on your computer, if there’s a malicious code therein. And we know the most reputable companies, spending millions on their file integrity, have been taken down. There’s nothing at 100%, but we do the best we can.

I do prepare for the worst, but I think the software is probably as secure as any other place. There are a ton of backup protocols involved into the Total program. There are 4 complete backup files for every appraisal completed in Total, bearing various file extensions, which includes all work files.

If any one file is corrupted or compromised, any one of the other mirrored files can be renamed and becomes fully usable. There is no folder on your computer with as much protections or as secure as that.

 

[Vermonter]

Any software can modify any file on your computer,....

Not exactly. Malicious code aside, Alamode or any other software can only access files they've been given permission to access.

If any one file is corrupted or compromised, any one of the other mirrored files can be renamed and becomes fully usable. There is no folder on your computer with as much protections or as secure as that.

If the mirrored files are also giving alamode read/write/execute privileges then it is absolutely not secure. By copying your workfile to another folder on your pc where they do not have read/write/execute privileges, you can protect yourself from third party control/tampering. This should be done manually or with a utility not affiliated with Alamode/Corelogic/Cotalitis or whatever they're calling it nowadays. There are plenty of options out there. You can even encrypt or add additional security if necessary.

The concern is should you stop paying for the service or they close their doors suddenly one day, your workfile cannot be compromised.

 

[Dale Floyd]

Not exactly. Malicious code aside, Alamode or any other software can only access files they've been given permission to access.



If the mirrored files are also giving alamode read/write/execute privileges then it is absolutely not secure. By copying your workfile to another folder on your pc where they do not have read/write/execute privileges, you can protect yourself from third party control/tampering. This should be done manually or with a utility not affiliated with Alamode/Corelogic/Cotalitis or whatever they're calling it nowadays. There are plenty of options out there. You can even encrypt or add additional security if necessary.

The concern is should you stop paying for the service or they close their doors suddenly one day, your workfile cannot be compromised.

Your concern for me and mine is appreciated, but unnecessary.