The Roadshow: An appraiser’s review

This is a guest post from Woody Fincham, SRA. Find more of his writing about appraisal topics on his blog here.

a la mode's Modern Appraiser Roadshow recently visited New Orleans, one of my favorite places on earth. Even though I consider myself a power user of TOTAL, I figured there were some new things I could pick up. After all, I have not been to any a la mode training events in about 10 years. The last one was in Philadelphia when Aurora was the flagship platform. Adding in the real possibility of scoring some gastronomical delights, why not? I was in!

This event was hosted in partnership with the Louisiana Real Estate Appraiser Coalition (LAREAC). a la mode has created a partnership program that helps support professional groups of appraisers, the Community Partnerships Program. The essence of the program is to help give back to the profession on the national and state level. In many cases, a big part of the legislative success we've seen in each state enacting appraisal management companies (AMCs) has come from state level coalitions.

Joe Mier, SRA, AI-RRS from Hammond, LA is this year’s LAREAC president. Joe was instrumental in bringing the Roadshow back to Louisiana this year. He offered some insight on the community partnership program and the course curriculum:

”The community partnership program that a la mode offers allows industry communications between appraisers and the software that we use every day. It takes all partners in our industry to make a difference and a la mode has been a leader in creating that partnership for a very long time. The Modern Appraiser Roadshow brings live real-world knowledge to appraisers with an interactive three-day workshop that allows appraisers to attend and learn specific items that will assist them in being more efficient using cutting-edge technology.”

It was an excellent three days of learning. We covered some real ground, and even a power user like myself picked up some new tricks. An added benefit of the show is that it is approved for Continuing Education credits in many states.

How does the Roadshow work?
The three days are broken into four sections. The first is Developing Compliant Reports Using TOTAL. This is an all-day boot camp session. It walks the attendee through the basics of setting up the program correctly to using many of the automation tools that are built into TOTAL. It also shows the attendees how to get the most out of UAD-required formfilling by using the built-in SmartAddress and E&O tools. This helps catch USPAP, secondary guideline, and other common errors.

Day two consists of two three-hour classes: Controlling Your Data with TOTAL and Accurate Sketching Made Easy. The first class reviews the powerful Worksheet PowerView, the MLS text file import tool, and setting up and using secure digital signatures. These tools effectively streamline the data entry and analysis process within the form. The second class deals with setting up and using the sketching program to the fullest potential. a la mode highlights the importance of keyboard-only data entry and how to maximize DISTO usage in the data gathering process in the field.

Day three, Mobile Appraiser Workflow, is all about the mobile data gathering tools and the advantage of going 100% paperless. I really expected not to learn much in this session, as I have been completely mobile and paperless for some time. Yet, I was wrong. I have already done four inspections since the class and I have changed my workflow completely. Additionally, this session also spends some time highlighting several apps available from other software companies to assist the appraiser in solving other common workflow problems in the field.

My honest impression of the Roadshow
Most that know me probably remember that I have had a professional relationship with a la mode for a long time. I was invited to attend this event as part of the team and tried to assist in answering questions in addition to learning. I mention this to give full disclosure of my relationship with a la mode and to address any questions of bias related to this quasi-review of the Roadshow. With that said, my feelings towards the Roadshow are overwhelmingly positive. The whole intent of this blog post is to offer a perspective to TOTAL users that many do not get to see. Sort of like Toto peeking behind the wizard’s curtain.

The Great Oz for this event: Paul Stansberry
I must give a special shout-out to the instructor. Paul was solo teaching this class. Teaching for a single day solo is taxing (I know), but he handled it like a consummate professional. There was not a question that Paul couldn't answer related to the use of the product. And while he's not an appraiser, he has clearly spent a lot of time with appraisers field-testing the topics covered in the material and he comes off as if he is.

I was impressed with the pre-show professionalism and leadership that Paul showed to me and to the staff that attended. He was very careful to impress upon everyone that clients are important and that we were to give them our best at all times. As a businessperson that was very meaningful to me. Nothing is more important to a service-based business than making the customers happy. Paul conveyed to his staff that one should be service-minded and professional. I hope that the executive management at HQ realizes the capabilities and care he puts into his craft. I hope to see Joel Baker teach one of these Roadshows, as I understand that he is quite the capable instructor as well.

Joe Mier had one more quote worth sharing regarding the staff:

“The team for the a la mode Modern Appraiser Roadshow is exactly the reason that I am an a la mode customer. They are very knowledgeable and they listen to real world issues that appraisers are having and address those issues.”

I think that quote goes directly to both the products and also how many of us in the profession see a la mode and their continued support of appraisal issues.

The material
I have already mentioned that I learned enough to consider it time well spent. The materials were well thought out and easy to read. The examples and images in the manual are outstanding. Paul wrote the material so the progression through it is seamless. As an instructor, I watch and pay attention to how other instructors present their material and interact with the audience. I also watch pacing through the material. The presentation throughout all three days was about as textbook as any that I have seen.

In conclusion
I was impressed with the Roadshow. I recommend it for any user of TOTAL. The takeaway for any level of user is that you will learn something to help with your workflow. There are so many tools in the software that even the most sophisticated user is going to pick up something new to increase productivity. In fact, I met two people that have attended the Roadshow before. They both told similar stories of picking up so much the first time that they decided to do it a second time. They both shared with me before departing the third day that they were glad they attended it again, as they picked up even more. That alone is enough to show how great the program is. Definitely time well spent.