Hi Gang,

I just finished hosting an a la mode Webinar entitled Computer and Network Security for the Modern Appraisal Practice. We focused on best-practices for keeping your computers and network safe from hackers, crackers and other outside invaders. I wanted to post my Summary of Recommendations for appraisal offices both large and small. Here they are...

Small Office / Home Office Users (less than 3 about workstations)

Install and maintain reliable, up-to-date A/V software on each workstation set to scan in real- time and weekly full system scans

Install a router or Firewall to shield your network from the Internet

Use passwords or otherwise secure your workstations from unauthorized use

Run TWO pop-up stoppers on each workstation

Ensure all workstation operating systems are up-to-date and fully patched with the Windows Firewall turned ON

Run a reliable, up-to-date Anti-Spy/Malware application on each workstation and set to scan weekly/bi-weekly

Maintain a solid understanding of how to handle email attachments, conduct file downloads, safely surf the Internet and protect yourself while online

Develop, implement and consistently check your BULLETPROOF backup solution


Commercial Office Networks (more than 4-5 workstations)

Install and maintain reliable, up-to-date Enterprise level A/V software on each workstation set to scan in real-time and weekly full system scans

Install a fully configurable Internet hardware Firewall to shield your network from the Internet

Use strong passwords to secure your workstations from unauthorized use

Run TWO pop-up stoppers on each workstation

Ensure all workstation operating systems are up-to-date and fully patched with the Windows Firewall turned ON

Ensure all server operating systems are fully patched

Consider a domain based network with applicable security policies applied

Run a reliable, up-to-date Anti-Spy/Malware application on each workstation and set to scan weekly/bi-weekly

ALL associates should possess a solid understanding of how to handle email attachments, conduct file downloads, safely surf the Internet and protect themselves while online

Larger organizations should consider use of an in-house mail server to provide complete control over incoming and outgoing email

Retain a competent Network Administrator on-call for maintenance and emergencies
Develop and implement written, signed and enforceable office policy outlining permitted/prohibited use of the Internet, email and all office equipment

Develop, implement and consistently check TWO(2) BULLETPROOF backup solutions


Jeff Jones
TechSource Consultants
a la mode Labs

It's no secret the residential real estate market pretty much stinks. To what degree really depends on where you are. I've spoken with appraisers in coastal, large metro and vacation markets that tell me their business is off as much as 70% from two years ago however other shops in the same areas say volume is only off slightly or even not at all. No matter where you practice, things are tough and it looks like, at least in the short term, it's only going to get tougher.

I've heard all of the sob stories. The "woe-is-me" tales of the fax machine that has all but stopped ringing. The one consistency to those stories is, when asked what they are doing to stem the tide, these same storytellers have no answer...business as usual. "Where is your business plan? Where is your marketing plan?" I ask...no response...just a blank stare.

Obviously that's a problem but it got me thinking...why are some shops struggling while others seem to be doing just fine? What are the specific reasons? Certainly, I have my opinions (which will be the subject of a upcoming Labs paper) but I would like to hear from you. Tell us your story. If you are an appraiser in one of those hard hit markets, how are you managing to hold the bottom line while your competitors are dropping like flies? If you are an appraiser in the heartland maybe your market hasn't suffered to the same degree but you still saw volume slipping. What did you do to make that up?

I know how you guys are. I'm not asking for all of the secrets but rather one recommendation on surviving (or thriving) in this market. If your answer is "marketing"...please elaborate. If it's pre-planning or preparation...tell us more. Maybe it's leveraging some of the features of your a la mode XSite and the XSellerate marketing tools (Quick show of hands...how many people know about XSellerate or even what it is?) Specifically, tell us how have you managed to find the silver lining in the dark cloud?

You responses will help thousands of marketing and planning challenged appraisers from coast to coast go on the lead a normal practice. Don't hesitate to contribute no matter how trivial or obvious (or complex and costly) your solution is. We (I) want to hear from you.

Jeff Jones
TechSource Consultants
a la mode Labs

David Braun's excellent article Market Modeling and the Real Property Appraiser, part I of II, has garnered a lot of interest and feedback. Included with the article is a downloadable Excel utility (please right click and download to your computer to use) and an instruction sheet. David has also produced a video tutorial that can be viewed right here. Each part is around 5-6 minutes long.

Part I:


Part II:


Part III:


Have you used the utility? Do you have an ideas, feedback or comments? Leave them here.

Comps Data Sharing Article:

Hello all, I hope this finds you well and as busy as you can be. We have been picking up, August was a better month for us then July (surprisingly!!). I have been getting contacted by several REO management firms, and it seems they must be increasing, as they are proactively recruiting.

I have a new article that has been submitted to the mode regarding the comps data sharing concept. I am really hoping that this gets off the ground soon in the development side of things. I guess patience is something young men are not entitled, too. I would love to hear what you guys are thinking about the concept.

That article also includes a call to arms amongst us appraisers. It’s looking more and more like the time is coming for appraisers to FINALLY stand up and let the lending industry know that, while we appreciate all the work, we have a few items of contention that have to be ironed out. The funny thing is, once we get some of these things worked out, it will benefit both industries.

Happy appraisers will equal lenders lending with confidence in the reports they base their loans upon. Collateral problems would be reduced, and we all end up happy. I hope you guys enjoy it once it goes to the web.

So much of what the labs is cranking out empowers you to provide different, better, faster client service. Think about the time savings of a field data collector/sketcher in one that synchs up to WinTOTAL back at the office. Or being able to include Virtual Earth satellite and oblique imagery in your reports. All very cool and also all part of an overall marketing strategy on your part: You don't just compete on price, you compete on turn time, getting it right the first time, and providing extras others don't.

We recently launched a 10-minute online appraiser marketing survey to help us as a company understand what kinds of things are working and not working for you, and how we can develop tools and provide information that'll help. As a reader of this blog and follower of the labs project, you're interested in solving real life problems. If you could take 10 minutes of your time to fill out our marketing survey, you'd be helping us achieve the same goal on behalf of all our appraiser customers.

Access the survey by clicking here. Thanks in advance for your participation!

After a couple hundred of the earliest responses, here are the kinds of thing we're learning:

• 90 percent of you are spending less than $5,000 this year on marketing/advertising. 57 percent are spending less than $1,000.



• More than half of you are making an effort in 2007 to market to new types of clients or get new types of business.



• You think the most important areas you can be marketing to to get new business are Foreclosure/REO appraisals, divorce/probate attorneys and relocation appraisals.

Note that final data may change as responses continue to roll in. Won't you please take the survey yourself and get us the best data possible? Thanks!