We have been preparing for UAD 3.6 for years, and it goes well beyond just expanding the number of fields. We’ve been working on several products (TOTAL, TOTAL for Mobile and even Titan Reports) simultaneously, to get them to you as quickly as possible. We knew TOTAL desktop and mobile would both be especially important right away.
While there will be some elements that follow what we call the “Turbo Tax” or “wizard” format (where questions lead to follow-up steps) mostly we have gone with a “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) style, where the appraiser can see what the finished report will look like in real time as it develops. This is similar to the experience you already have now.
Some of our peers are providing solutions that require internet to work in the field. We knew that it would be important that none of the basic functions of our mobile app rely on this connection, just things like maps or syncing. This will be especially helpful to appraisers working in rural areas.
Rather than create brand new products for you to buy or learn we have updated our existing products with UAD 3.6 in mind. So, while some things will be a bit different, the learning curve for those already familiar with these tools (especially TOTAL for Mobile) can more focused on the dataset itself.
Got questions? Here are some selections from our Q&A portion of the demo you might find helpful:
What kind of training will be available?
Later this month we have the Appraiser eLearning LA Roadshow, which will be available both in person and online. The first day will be comprised of a 7 hour CE course on the GSE's dataset and guidelines, with the following day focused more on the mobile implementation of that.
Bookmark our Training page for our own product webinars, as those are ongoing and free to attend!
What happens when we take 100 plus photos at the property? Do we have to label them all at the property or where do they go?
If it is a required photo, it will have a slot in that particular section, whether that's the subject exterior, unit interior, site section, or whatever. TOTAL for Mobile will automatically populate them as needed. For example, if you add a bathroom (where photos are required) it will add an empty slot with the correct labels.
So, the practice of using an external camera and dumping a bunch of photos into an addendum in the report won't work going forward. The label has to match what it is describing, so putting it in the right spot as it's collected makes the most sense.
Will UAD 3.6 work with templates?
Templates will still be useful, but you'll use them for slightly different reasons and in different ways. At least at first SmartMerge will not be available. However, you can use this workaround: Save a regular file as a template, then when you want to use it just open it and "Save As" to create a new, identical file.
What if we take 10 photos of the kitchen and we only need 2 for the report. Do we put them all in the kitchen section and then remove them later and put them in the work file?
Saving them manually to the workfile might be taking an unnecessary step. Every photo you put into a report, when it gets synced back to TOTAL it's in the Photo database. So, even if you don't end up using it, you'll have it saved there.
Will "Detailed View" and still be a feature for the Sales Grid?
3.6 is already in a kind of "detailed view" with each item having its own designated place. There are some things that are required and some things that you can add based on the scope of work or the client requirements or what you find on site or what you want to add as an example.
It is now July, and I am not aware of any software companies that have been approved by GSE. Is this an indicator that this may be delayed?
We still neck deep in that process, and I don't know of any other software companies that are already approved. That being said, I have personally seen 0 indication that the September deadline will move. The GSEs have signaled absolutely nothing about that.
Will TOTAL Store vendors and other additional tools like QuickSource work in UAD 3.6?
QuickSource is scheduled for Phase 3 (see our very helpful Timeline). Most TOTAL Store vendors are expected to be integrated by Phase 2 (January 2026).
What about E&O?
We are working hard on that right now and are confident it will be released in Phase 1 (September 2025)!
Will we be able to import 2.6 XMLs into 3.6 and supplement the additional fields?
Because of the dramatic change in the size and complexity of the new URAR this wouldn’t be feasible, unfortunately, no.
If an Appraiser is pretty skilled using Total for Mobile, will this transition be fairly painless?
Yes! I cannot stress this enough. The people using TOTAL for Mobile right now will have the most efficient flow onsite during an inspection. They will be way ahead of the curve.
Will we get a version of the software to practice before September?
We’re planning to have something out late August. However, that depends on several factors and isn’t guaranteed. We will be communicating these developments so make sure you’re looking out for our emails!
Thank you to everyone who attended. Make sure to bookmark go.alamode.com/webinar to know when the next event is coming up. Until then, the most important thing you can do to prepare is to learn how to be mobile now in the 2.6 workflow, utilize GSE resources to familiarize yourself with the dataset itself, and take our 7-hour CE course as soon as you can! It’s going to be available in person and remote and will always reflect the most up to date information!