Which one of our appraisal expenses should we cut?

[RSW]

I got the magic jack to try for 30 days and it works fine for regular phone calls. But, I could not get it to work as a fax line.

 

[Dirty Harry]

I got the magic jack to try for 30 days and it works fine for regular phone calls. But, I could not get it to work as a fax line.

Same here. Trying to fax does not work. But for $46 (includes jack, shipping & the first years service) and $20 per year thereafter it's a deal. As long as the company stays in business for at least 1 year.

 

[casurf2020]

I had my husband install one of those hydrogen deals for better gas mileage. It is suppose to increase my gas mileage by 50%. So, now instead of 25 mpg, I will get 50 mpg. He actually made it, it took him about a month of searching the internet. It was actually pretty simple. I will let you know how much it really does improve my gas mileage.

 

[Jonathan C]

I went to my mechanic who installed a new intake that saves 40% fuel. He also installed an electronic device that saves 30% fuel. He also added an exhaust system that saves 45% on fuel. I drove 15 miles and my tank overflowed!

 

[CURT VAN HOOSER]

I went to my mechanic who installed a new intake that saves 40% fuel. He also installed an electronic device that saves 30% fuel. He also added an exhaust system that saves 45% on fuel. I drove 15 miles and my tank overflowed!

Just think how much more it would overflow if you checked your tire pressure regularly....

 

[Mister Ed]

We did the following...

1. For an office, we own an old house and rented out two of the rooms to small businesses (we have a prime location in town). The rent income from the other two businesses covers the following: shared fax line and shared dsl (each user has to provide their own email account, though), 100% of monthly mortgage (PITI) and about 80% of the electiricity bill.

2. We receive all of our faxes via fax modem and they are forwarded as email attachments.

3. We have gone "paper-less." We are using dual monitors so we print out very little paper. In fact, unless we go to a remote county where we cannot get data online directly printed to a pdf, we typically use 2-3 sheets max per file and scan those into pdf's. All file storage is digital (workfiles are stored in 5 different locations)

4. We have not upgraded computers since 2004. We probably will hold out another year or two (if we can).

5. We cut back our coverage area (were covering 18 counties, but are now down to about 10).

6. We make very extensive use of our comps database in our software (why drive comps to use them multiple times if you already have them in the database?)

7. We carefully plan all of our inspection trips and the route to take for comp inspections.

8. We have the bare bones minimum for data sources (enough to keep us USPAP compliant, but no overlapping).

9. We used to take more than the minimum annual required CE. Didn't do that last year and will not do that this year. Also, we have taken more CE online (as allowed).

10. I gave up a land line home phone and internet at home about February of this year. Cut cable tv back to the bare minimum (I hardly watch TV, anyway).

 

[casurf2020]

Just think how much more it would overflow if you checked your tire pressure regularly....

Too funny.....

 

[casurf2020]

I went to my mechanic who installed a new intake that saves 40% fuel. He also installed an electronic device that saves 30% fuel. He also added an exhaust system that saves 45% on fuel. I drove 15 miles and my tank overflowed!

How much did all of it cost to install/parts/labor? The one my husband installed, isn't quite working yet....

 

[Birdman]

Liz:

Drop your fax line and go with efax or one of the other electronic services. I did that 3 years ago and have never looked back. Plus, if I lose the original faxed order, all I have to do is go back into my email and reprint it. The client never knows the difference since they send out their faxes the same way they always have.

Alison,

How do you fax out?

Steve

 

[GPAQ]

I switched to Vonage (14.99/ month for outgoing 500 min). Two lines less than $42.00/month

I have favorite Vonage features: voice mail goes to a .wav file and is emailed to me.

My second is the simultaneous ring to my cell phone. With a little effort I was able to set up the timing so that if I don't answer my office calls they go to my office phone voice mail, while my personal calls will go to my cell's vmail.

My third favorite is Vonage logs all calls, so if someone claims that I didn't make a call I have a record of all calls.

The things that have made my life much easier and less expensive:
GotVmail.com
Myfax.com
and a small desk in an office by the beach that I share with another Appraiser.

I think in these times Appraisers need to work together to save cost by sharing services and share office space if you don't work from home. It also has made me better by getting some new ideas.