Useful programs to have on your PC

As an appraiser, some programs and apps are essential. You know the ones – the programs you have open nearly every day, all day like your formfilling software, spreadsheets, maybe a calculator, etc. You know their ins and outs, their quirks, and what every single setting does.

However, there’s another class of app – programs that are handy to have around or fulfill a specific role. I've asked around the office, and gathered a few programs that everyone seems to love using, but that may not be well known.

For more information on each program below, click the program name listed above the description.

Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer web browsers

OK, so this isn’t “one” program, per se, but rather a class of apps that you should have. Personally, I am a Mozilla Firefox user. However, I also have Google Chrome and Internet Explorer pinned to my task bar, just in case I run across that one website that doesn’t work properly in Firefox. Having multiple browsers is also benefical for things like online banking, and running web-apps. You can open Pandora or YouTube in one browser, while keeping your normal browsing in another browser.

LastPass

Having a password manager installed can make your digital world more secure and more convenient, all in one fell swoop. Using a service like LastPass allows you to create ultra-secure passwords that are different for every website you go to, while only having to remember a single password – the one that unlocks the password manager. And, for you iPhone users out there, LastPass can be unlocked with TouchID, too.

LibreOffice

While many users have (and use) Microsoft Office, many more don’t want to pay the full retail cost for it. That's why more and more people are choosing to use LibreOffice instead. It’s an open source office suite, with features similar to Microsoft Office. This means that if a friend or colleague sends you a Word file or an Excel file, you’re able to open it in LibreOffice’s Writer and Calc apps, respectively.

Mozilla Thunderbird

In these days of “cloud” e-mail services, such as Gmail, Outlook.com, and Yahoo!, having a desktop e-mail app may seem a bit old fashioned. However, web-based e-mail services require you to keep your web browser open at all times, which can be a bit of a pain. Thunderbird, a free e-mail client, supports both IMAP and POP3, allowing you to send and retrieve mail from your PC, all without having to open a single webpage.

Paint.NET

Image editing is nearly a necessity in today’s world. While Windows comes with its own, lightweight Paint program, a more powerful image editor is a nice thing to have. That’s where Paint.NET comes in. The developers intend for it to look similar to Windows’ Paint, while having features that are very similar to other professional image editors, such as Adobe Photoshop.

Evernote

In today’s fast-moving world, having a good notepad for jotting down ideas is a must have. Evernote is basically a filing cabinet for your thoughts and ideas. Personally, I use it as a sort of glorified shopping list. If I think of anything that I need to get for a project, I will enter it in to Evernote and check the list when I'm out getting supplies. It's simple, and keeps me from forgetting things. Additionally, it syncs across all of your devices – that way, if you enter something on your phone, it’ll be waiting for you when you get back to the office.

Wunderlist

Similar to Evernote, having a digital to-do list is essential. Wunderlist allows you to create detailed to-do lists, collaborate with friends, family, and colleagues, get reminded about upcoming events (including events that are already in your Outlook or Gmail calendars), and more. Also, like Evernote, it syncs across all of your devices, so you never miss (or forget) a thing.

Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive

We talk a lot about going mobile and saving your reports to the Vault. And that’s great for the inspection workflow, sketching, and backup. But what about all the other stuff you take with you into the field like MLS sheets, zoning maps, and email correspondence? Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive offer great ways to have instant access to files on your computer while you’re in the field without having to print anything out.

F.lux

Despite having an odd name, F.lux is an essential program for me. While most computer monitors look great in a bright room, they give off an eerie blue glow when you have the lights turned down. F.lux fixes that – it adds a bit of yellow and red tinting to the monitor’s picture, allowing your eyes to relax in a darker room. This makes it easier to work longer, without your eyes getting fatigued.

As you can see, there's a variety of niche apps and alternative programs out there. You may not need all of them, but one or two could solve minor annoyances or be huge timesavers in the long run.