Appraisers Ditch a la mode

Charles Thomas says:

copy right violations, I don’t care what they say, I am the author and I own the report, it is licensed and for the use of the client only. Restraint of trade!!

Kathy Hubbard Bright on Facebook says:

A la mode customer since 1995. No more. One step closer to burning my license…

Mark J Skapinetz says:

Ok.  So here is an update for all of ya.

I finished a demo this morning of a new appraiser software product that will be released in the beginning of summer or around then.  It’s FANTASTIC and does everything and more than what total does.  I was blown away and I’m sold.  I’ve made up my mind that I am switching to this product when it’s ready to go.  While I can’t say anything more about who it’s from I will say that it is powerful and I’ll be beta testing it shortly before it’s about to roll out.  It’s cloud based and has all the capabilities to convert files,, cloud storage, comp database and much much more and when I say more I mean MORE!

With that said if you can’t wait awhile and are very much wanting to switch to a new software by all means do as you wish.  Me however, I’m going to wait and I’m excited as hell to be a part of this and a user of it.

Jack Of All Trades says:

Bad news after bad news, other than some minor victories on some state levels, the bad news keeps on coming

Baggins says:

Look, you don’t get rid of anything if you don’t want to. And you can run down to the minimum alamode purchase silver for the final year, and start with something new. The regrettable requirement for most of us is we can’t outright switch, some old work may need revisited. So it’s just like EO, you have to maintain it even if you don’t necessarily need it.

My sub was in january so I’ll run it out all this year but will transition well before the resub time so all new work which may need revisited will be on new software. Hopefully they’ll stop this monopolistic anti trust example, but if they don’t, going to be making a lot of calls to the new guys, requesting similar tools as alamode offers.

They were the absolute best, I never though I’d have to change. Betrayal of trust is not something you can just skate by though. Being in a corelogic Matrix MLS area this is especially concerning, the most ruthless irresponsible appraisers whom outsource and automate everything will have an even greater advantage in Matrix territories. Corelogic lost my trust when they acted as an amc and took over quantrix amc. Suddenly instead of being on the phone with the ladies in one of the Northern states, I was on the phone with an offshore call center person, mid stream into orders. I asked to speak to an American and was promptly removed from the panel and accused of being racist.

Brian S says:

Why aren’t our MLS’s commenting on the use of their copyright material? Seems to me they should be the ones worried about the use of their data. I mean I get it, I don’t want them using any of my analysis but can’t they just join all the MLS systems and get the data? I am more worried about the software being left go, alamode has always been a leader in new bells and whistles. And while I pay a premium for these services I think they offer a premium product and they seemed to control the costs as my subscription has, for the most part, stayed the same. But I will say that if I see increases and no innovation of the software I will be looking at other options.

Mike Ford, AGA, GAA, RAA, SCREA, Realtor® says:

Dave Biggers MAy have given us ALL support for not only future theft of our work product, but PAST theft of work product claims as well. “Let me be clear however: Any database we build for sharing comps will not be a database for us to use for our own purposes. The data is yours. It isn’t ours. We don’t want to sell it, use it, move it, share it, or do anything else with it other than manage it for you. (We’ll also put in place full controls to prevent others from misappropriating it.)…”

Somewhere in past articles AB has articles regarding when CoreLogic ADMITTED they analyzed millions or over a million appraisals. I know that because I wrote one of the articles. Its time to raise the question of how Mr. Biggers can know it is wrong to steal an appraisers work product, but CoreLogic did not. Additionally there are at least a million borrowers that are either owed a refund of their appraisal fee OR partial reimbursement for its unauthorized use for purposes OTHER than what the homeowner was told they were paying for.

Lets read ALL the posts here and come up with a plan of action (FAST!) I already paid for new software. Homeputer was my choice though I’m encountering a teensy bit of difficulty doing the download – which may be MY ignorance. The software owner has been very responsive so far.

Of the above suggestions I’d wait for Marks (if not already committed – though I have a 30 day refund guarantee) . I will NOT accept the 6 month ‘free’ $49 a month hold-my-data-hostage service at all, nor ANY OTHER CLOUD based storage ‘data management’ systems. That’s the same hurdle alamode put in to discourage others from leaving (which shouldn’t stop them since they are NOT REQUIRED to have the zap file. Only a hard copy of true copy pdf of their report. Print a copy of your online work files AND NEVER AGAIN rely on only online data storage!

Loved the letter top DOJ – we need MANY more. DOJ AND FTC for the current pending CL violation of past orders. We should urge FTC to broaden their CL / past First American investigations since those are REAL systemic monopolies.

It is so good to see so many new posts and such helpful suggestions from fellow appraisers. Well done ALL!.

Mike Ford, AGA, GAA, RAA, SCREA, Realtor® says:

Nothing but pure speculation? Hardly, but then a lot of us have been following events going on in our profession much more closely than others. I respect your product loyalty and having your own independent opinion but for appraisers – Yes. The sky is and has been falling for some time. From 250,000+- down to around 80,000. I’d say its cause(s) is/are more than pure speculation.

Two HUGE behind the scenes players (for years) have been First American and CoreLogic. The owners of alamode and ACI respectively. One even has representation as a recently appointed Board of Trustees member with TAF. Don the support is there for those that are ‘very concerned’ to share that concern. Also it may be more a concern for those of us that intend to stay in the business for more than a couple years. CL is also among the most abusive and coercive AMCs in the country that AGA has ever run across aside from RELS (which they also bought out).

Mike Ford, AGA, GAA, RAA, SCREA, Realtor® says:

New add in WorkingRE

http://www.workingre.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bradford4-19-18-1.html

Clickforms allows assistants or remote licensees at no additional charge. I dont think thats unlimited, but even so being able to have two signers on one license is better than Corlamode isn’t it?

Also in same ad-article they offer new users a $250 discount…as opposed to the one the other day from corlamode for what…$49? If I didn’t already have it and had not already downloaded homeputer I’d probably give it serious thought.

Steven Schwartz says:

Isnt it interesting how your appraisal engagement form indicates not to speak with the homeowner about the appraisal costs, when the homeowner is upset about paying $500 this year when they paid $350 or so just a couple years ago, they thinking inflation, when in reality, its the AMC fee the lenders tell their agents to collect. Then the AMC bids the work for lowest fee & fastest turn time, comprimising the borrower to the lowest on the appraiser food chain. Instead of the Homeowner thinking they are getting a better appraiser for the higher fee, they are getting the worst of the worst who could not get an assignment under normal circustances due to their uneducated & unethical incompetent practices yet are getting now lions share of the work by undercutting the seasoned appraisers fees. The AMC benefits by retaining more of the fee, the homeowner is in the dark, no one is allowed to talk about the fee they are collecting vs the fee paid by the borrower. Its the biggest scam perpetuated on the American Public that no one is talking about. If you speak up, your removed from the panel, if you turn in a report hours or a day late, twice and your removed from the panel. Who cares you were stuck in traffic, the borrower wanted a 7pm appraisal, it got dark, had to return to the neighborhood, who cares your car, computer, whatever, broke down, could not access or whatever the excuse that is real, does not matter, the AMC has to look good to their client to continue to receive work, while the Appraiser does one thing derogatory, the AMC looks at others on their panel in the same area and chooses them to replace you. No loyalty, no reasons. All you get is, Order Cancelled, no reasons will not return calls when contacted. Why is the scam AMC the Fox in the Hen House, anyway. It does not have to be this way. Look closer, AMC’s are not mandated for lenders, all they have to do is have a non commissioned person controlling the Appraisals & Appraisers workload, but it is easier to use an AMC is what we are told. This is because they dont have to hire as many underwriters, reviewers, etc, the bank wins. Borrower pays for appraisal, pays inflated price to have a middle man do the banks work, bank saves, middle man thrives, the one doing the most work is the most adversely affected. Is this not a Bank Scam on the American Consumers, or What?? The bank always wins, you put a down payment on a property, if you get behind on payments, they take the house back, but dont give you your down payment back. They resell the hous, make money again & again, and the cycle perpetuates. The bank really, never loses anything, always gains and no wonder they are housed in big tall buildings no one else could afford! Brokers, Ask your lenders if you could use an in house, non commissioned, salary based employee to dole out the appraisals. You now what, you can!! Good bye AMC!! and there are AMC’s that allow agents to select their appraiser because the LO trusts or has a history with one that produces quality work, diligent services that close loans faster without all the errors & mistakes, revisions and time lost by incompetent appraisers coming from hours away because they charge lower fees, can turn the report in a day because no one else will hire them, their one or two reports a week are completed faster. Probably live with Mom & Dad, borrower their car, have no real expenses and cheat or take short cuts to do report in a couple hours when in reality, might take hours to develop and conclude a reliable value supported by comments and research. This industry has gone downhill since the recession. I lost everything, home, wife, retirement savings, my office and 5 appraisers, 2 staff members and a great working environment, to now, work alone(cant afford to hire anyone getting paid 30-45 days after the assignment turned in), work in a girlfriends garage(lost my house, got behind on a rental due to 4 slow months, was evicted) and now rely on someone else to help me. This after my whole life of perfect credit, alway on time with obligations, the recesssion caused by the Financial Industry loan stoppage and when coming back, changed all the rules of engagement, who you can work with now has no loyalty, only fast cheap as they can go to others on their panel in an area), waiting a month or more to get paid a lowly fee that was charged 10-15 yrs ago, not being able to increase the fee on inflation costs. From driving a newer vehicle to now a 12 yr old car, having to borrower when always paid up front, having multiple overdraft charges($3000+ last year), because bills(obligations) need to be paid regardless if pay for work is forthcoming. Being told checks in the mail & wondering 1-2 weeks later where it is, wasted phone calls, frustration, trying to meet 48 hr deadlines, staying up all night, comprimising health and good judgement, decision making, critical reasoning because your tired of making the AMC’s look good to their clients. God for bid you do that, they might lose their income sources, but cutting you off from your income sources, well, thats your problem. The Fox running the Hen house model is so bad, so unjust, so unamerican. This industry is about to implode, the best appraisers are running away so fast, the industry is wondering why the brain drain and now offering no appraisal waivers because there are not enough appraisers. The industry is now offering variable rate loans, again, without considering the consequences of the last recession and what happened with so many home that were given back to the banks. This is a way for the banks to grow richer, the people to grow poorer and Govt wins!! As a 25 yr appraiser in So Calif, the AMC model, the traffic, the high costs of getting around, time & cost to produce a report, time to research, develop and verify with too fast turn times and too low fees stuck in 2000 mode regardless of inflation, has got to meet a detrimental ending and the final days of the industry are presenting themselves. This is not what I signed up for in 1993 & im less independent then I was prior to HVCC & Dodd-Frank regulations. There is more pressure to perform, less fee to survive and turn times are recipe for heart attack. Industry changed, but not in a better way. As to forms, ala mode is out the door and while they answer calls at night faster, if you dont pay their highest fees, you wait till 9-5 when you cant get through. Im switching forms or getting out of the industry, working on other areas to make a living, not be a puppet to the puppet masters who control you, and then want you to shut up and be independent while they pull your strings in the direction they want.

Jeff says:

Is anyone else that is still using alamode seeing reports being opened by what is stated as other users on your network. This is very concerning and my report appears to be altered

Jeff says:

Anyone get a notification from CoreLogic asking to register with the Single Appraiser Experience.

Looks like a sales gimmick to me

Philip Meidell says:

working on Total, updates waiting to be installed later, banner advertising more space for Vault caused a total freeze and crash. Force a closure using task manager, desktop reboot, Total required updates be done in re-start, second desktop reboot, attempting to open Total after updates and reboot took 3 attempts before Total would open. Total lost time, 55 min. Sales banner for Vault started this series of unfortunate events. Multiple requests to Total requesting a call from a manager gone unanswered.

Bob Mulder says:

I worry about the constant moves towns consolidation and the elimination of competition. I would suggest that you read “The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition” by Jonathan Tepper and Denise Hearn. It is not an anti capitalist screed. The main thrust of their book is that capitalism without competition is not capitalism.

David H Brewer says:

More than five years ago, my wife who is a State Certified General Appraiser and a Senior Member of the ASA with almost 40 years of experience, and I were discussing the future of the Appraisal Profession. Both of us have been Realtors longer that 40 years. Looking at the professional appraisal organizations as well as the composition of the appraisal boards/committees created by FIRREA, it seemed fairly obvious to us that the Profession was in serious trouble. It was fairly obvious that the Banking Industry was trying to eliminate the appraiser from the lending process and they enjoyed as we have seen, considerable influence with Congress to do so. The only organization in the Country capable of countering that influence was and is the National Association of Realtors because millions of Realtors can vote. Appraisers do not have the votes to make a difference. Appraisers did have that clout when the AI was part of NAR but once they left, no one in Washington much cares about their opinions. Too few votes! AI had the opportunity move back under the umbrella of NAR several years ago but that did not work out. AI and ASA talked of merging but that did not work out either. This unwillingness of appraisers, especially the AI, to work with other Realtors and appraisers kind of reminds me of the Native Americans of the mid-west in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. They had the numbers and the skills to drive the European’s east across the mountains but could not get by the arrogance and hatreds that separated the various tribes from one another. Appraisers might, repeat might be able to save their very valuable profession but time is short. I would suggest that first, all appraisers must join together into one organization. Second, every professional appraiser needs to rejoin NAR, get the NAR appraisal designations and then hope to win over NAR to your points of view about the future of the Profession.