OK - we currently have the attention of several Asset Management Companies - so let's help ourselves out by providing them with what we need in an orderly easy to fill out bpo form. We need a form that will let us better place data in a logical fashion with the least amount of scrolling and going back and forth from tax sites, MLS sites and bpo the form.

One thing I hate - is moving data from a tax or mls site that contains commas - then having to remove them so the form doesn't delete the entry.

Also - this may be different by mls - but having the form require information from the mls site - then tax site - then back to the mls site slows input down - can we build it better?

Lets see if we can do something to help ourselves, by helping all our clients at the same time. Win/Win/Win


Let's call this project..................... "The Perfect Form"

Perfect timing Pine! We've been looking at all the forms and deciding which ones have the info we need the most...bring it on, we're watching.

1. Forms should be tab-able in both horizontal and vertical fashions. We all work differently.

2. Photo uploads should be done in bulk - not one by one!

3. Distances should be auto-calculated, and we shouldn't be asked to re-enter the data for verification (attention M2M!).

4. If the subject property cannot be mapped, then don't make us go through the "Find Proximity" dance. Just let us go directly to the drop down menu (attention Mindbrix, LA, eML).

5. Don't make me type 75-100 characters on the subject's "habitability." Either it is, or it isn't. Now the level of comfort may be in question, but not habitability.

I'll definitely be back for more - this was just off the top of my head!

All the info input from tax records should be entered in more or less the same place on the form. Not "land value" at the end. Put "land value" right next to "tax id number." It always makes me unhappy to get to page 2 or 3 of a form, when I've long since closed out of the subject tax record, to have to look this up again. When I'm thinking I write this down in anticipation.

There's one form I fill out that wants 50 word comment...and allows about 200 characters. Yeah, right.

Make website compatible with Firefox...this really speeds data entry for me, as Firefox remembers what I did last time. I use it for one company only, but it's a breeze to do data entry with it.

The entire form should be tabbable....no radio buttons....no cutesy calendars...minimal use of the mouse.

Forms I have enjoyed working are the older AVM, many of the Clear Capital (ones without adjustments for each item), Brokerpriceopinion.

Auto pop my info, since you know it is me doing the order and have my info on file.

Photo uploads are best when they can be done all at once, such as on MSV, RRR, AVM, Emortgage. Best is when you can see the pics. Least favorite pic uploads are Clear Capital and irepvm, and single source because they must be done in stages or groups of 4 or 5.

I have found RRR to be less easy to input going from page to page. Ias does this too. Proteck has a page to page system as well and it is clunky. Conceptually, I am weighing all 6 comps and the subject throughout the input process, so it helps me to have them all in one place.

The ability to easily upload supporting pdfs is very helpful and not an option for many forms.

Thanks for listening!

I just did my first for LSI, they have a beautiful site. Super user friendly.

6. On MSV forms, why do the QC questions at the end always duplicate the lot size question for every comp? It asks for explanation twice for each comp - once at the top of the page, and once at the very end.

7. Also for MSV, in this instance - age parameters should be variable based on age. A 100 year old house doesn't vary that much from a 90 year old house, but your parameters ask for a 5 year variance. Seriously. Refer to FARVV's parameters. They rock.

Be consistent from the sold comps to the list comps (eML). If you have fields for address, city, state zip lumped together in one order on the solds, put it in the same order on the listeds.

Amen on the bulk upload. You're wasting my time if I have to upload one by one(and ultimately yours because I can produce more and get more in on time if you don't make it painful). And only 10 damage photos? Give me a break! Now you have me using "Other" for damage and "Damage" for damage.

I'll shoot for the stars and ask for the ability to correct your bad addresses in the form so all my proximities will calculate. You usually come back to me after the fact anyway and it's usually because you had a type-o.

Amen to not letting me keep my hands on the keyboard and not get thrown off by the calendars.

The whole minimum character/maximum character issue is very irritating. I can't just put "FHA" because it requires more than three characters so I have to type "FHA financing?" What's the point of a character min/max on that? I can't put "none" for functional or economic obsolescence? Do you gain more knowledge when it says "there is no functional or economic obsolescence" rather than "none?" Some things require more explanation and some less. I can be VERY wordy as people on here will attest. Forcing me to type more words won't get you any more in depth information if it isn't relevant. It will just get you more words. Trust me, "conforms well with neighborhood" means the same darn thing as "subject is located in a neighborhood of like age, size, style and condition homes."

I'm not working on any BPOs today or you would get a lot more feedback. I'll supply more when I'm back in BPO mode and out of REO bill pay mode.

PLEASE don't make me complete a whole darn page before I can save. I encounter 10,000 interruptions while I'm doing a BPO, some are lengthy. So if I can't finish a page I have start all over? That's just crazy talk!

Disappearing data, FARVV? Seriously. This is not a major programming challenge to get it to save the data the first go-round.

And maybe be consistent. If you ask for all comps within a mile on your order instructions and at the ponit of data entry, don't show me an error on the QC page because they're not all within 1/2 mile.

I agree with this and would add wider % variences for lower valued properties. 20% is not much when the values dip below 80 or 90K. So you end up with a slew of explantions at the end. And sometimes they double up the explanations. I try to answer each unquie one thoughtfully and then copy and paste as appropriate.

Have an automatic photo resizer within the site, so this doesn't have to be done by the agent as a separate step. Prepopulate the Active/Sold addresses next to S1,S2, etc.

Amen, sister! Especially the one where they make you fill out every little field before you can save. We just don't work that way, dear ol' BPO companies!

Oh yeah (geez, you really opened the flood gates Pine), I understand that you have your "rules of thumb" like 90 day as-is value must be within 22% of current list price of active comps (or whatever...). But seriously, when I'm valuing some POS at $35K or something ridiculously low because it is TRASH, percentages aren't very meaningful anymore. Really. The dollar amounts just become negligible. So go ahead and use your little QC checklist, but don't disregard THINKING before you send that QC fail and PRETTY PLEASE don't prevent me from submitting with that "flaw" in my BPO. And understand I will have already spent MORE time completing the BPO on this lovely little slice of heaven by explaining each of these percentage variances than should be necessary. Adding to it through the "clarification" process just gets irritating.

1. ability to save work as you go- as stated by Highest and Best-
this one is HUGE. Not being able to save unless the page is completed costs us alot of time- phones ring, we have appts, etc.

2. ONE email that allows you to accept from a link in the email.
That way if someone already accepted the order, we aren't signing in, etc. 2nd email to tell us someone has the order is filling up our email .

3. This is a biggie for me: If you provide the wrong address or if there is no prior mls and tax data to go by, if the "house" is currently a tavern ,zoned commercial and surrounded by big box stores and we need clarification to proceed with the order- PLEASE reset the order due time. I know the rep says no biggie but when you try to take all orders building relationship w company that the "preferred" vendor is turning down, it's hard not to feel like these delays aren't going to work against you for trying to be the "good guy". I have also made a decision not to complete reports that don't correct the address on the bpo report, not to be a stinker but if I'm sitting in a courthouse being sued in 2 years and a judge holds up a report and the address doesn't even exist, I'm thinking that's a problem.

4. don't keep the grading on bpo's and agents a secret- many of us are working hard on reports and learning daily , working with different companies, most would like to know the criteria - if nothing else, to know where the bar is.

5. FOR REAL- on the auto acceptance programs. If you are going to have a policy not to use it than please enforce it. Those of us that are honoring your policy and watching orders rapidly accepted by a program, are passing up income to do the right thing. If you DO allow it- then being honest about that would allow the rest of us to also use it and have an even playing field.

6. I would love to see each company have a "sample" "PERFECT" BPO available on their site. From addendums to addittional info, etc. with QC notes. Maybe under a FAQ tab. Most of us on this forum have ton our share of bpo's but we all want to turn in the best and a point of reference from your co criteria would be awesome.

7. Comments on comps- On some bpo's by the time you get to comments you have already stated in the boxes, DOM, REO or not, it's comparable condition to subject property, which property is most comparable, old listing, current listing, sale dates-prices.
If comments are required- you're asking us to comment "further" on properties we haven't seen, we've already supplied the criteria and often the mls info doesn't have further info to supply. All of us want to comment if we can but sometimes we can't because further info isn't available and we end up adding generic info already stated if it's a requirement.

Last but not least- if you have a preferred vendor status there are many of us here that would eat a dirt sandwich to have that instead of chasing other companies emails and going to the many sites looking for work. Also, we would in turn make you a preferred vendor.

sorry if some of that went off subject ..lol..I got caught up in the moment thinking someone might actually be reading this..lol

Keep going guys. The more you give me the more I can fix.

And don't bury critical instructions like putting the lot size acres instead of square feet or upgrade to an interior if currently listed. I opted for text e-mails and these instructions don't come out on that e-mail (eml). I have to scroll down through heavy verbiage in your tiny little box on the order to try and dig it out. Bullet points and oh so short instructions are very appreciated.

We are reading ---- This is great stuff.

Hey Val - we're glad to help you and all the other AMC out - btw when the heck are you going to bid some work in my neck of the of the Golf courses




So you're the one to blame - LOL - just kidding - right now we're just venting on the idiocies of many forms - actual ctrique and development will come later - stay tuned and call your old buds at the other joints and have them join us





never mind - I should be understanding of your enthusiasm





btw group - not all those that are taking notes on this are posting encouragements, that's just not their style, but your input will help us out in the long run.

Ooh-ooh-ooooh! (call me Horshack...)

I hate to pick on MSV, but I can't think of another company with this issue; and if there is a way to do this already on the site, just ignore me, but.......

The frames on your form prevent an agent from being able to print the form for whatever reason.

Since your form is one of the ones that some of us aren't that used to, and it doesn't seem to have much flow, sometimes, we want to print it out and fill it out before entering the data.


(okay you can print it - but it comes out jankety and cuts off the entire right half!)

It isn't just the saving on an incomplete page that would be nice, allow me to GO TO the next page without completing the first one if I have to (ahem, Lighthouse).

If I do not have a scheduled appt. yet I'd still like to input preliminary information on my interiors but I can't unless I have the appt. set? What is that? (RRR) On a good note with RRR, if you want the lot sq. ft. please do me a favor and have a converter available.

Why am I filling out the same field twice on some forms (ie. Tax ID / Property ID)?

Let's talk Mello-Roos tax. We all know that by definition, it applies to California properties only. So why are agents in 49 other states having to mark "no" to that question on every order?! Some of you companies even word it "Mello-Roos? California only." Duh. Tie that field to the subject state, and have it disable itself if the subject is not in California!

While we are on states - what a waste of time to pre populate the state and zip for comps - why not leave all comps blank and let us insert zip for 90% of addresses. When I have to remove pre populated fields it is time consumming.

I have to say that TB hit it hard in the first post. Just to add, the forms need to work! When you put out part of your platform in an incomplete state, you are making a big mistake. The AM's need to realize that every time someone has to muddle through a not totally effective form, the entry person is cursing the company to high heaven, the work suffers and the company credibility suffers.

Don't blame it on the client, we talk to the clients too and they often indicate that the requirements you attribute to them, are bells and whistles that they didn't ask for and frankly don't need.

Finally, don't design forms to prevent data entry pirates IE form fill gurus. Design a form for the poor slobs who take the photo, use their duelly licensed expertise to make a value judgement and are actually entering the data. It's a waste of time and resources to work against the cheaters. Instead, cultivate the legit folks out there.

Amen and pass the extra strength Tylenol!

It saves A LOT of time if all the fields for the comps line up. For example, it they are all condos and have 0 entered for lot size, it helps to type six zeros in a row. Same for bed count, if they are all 2 beds, it is a lot faster to type six twos side by side rather than jump all over the form looking for each comp's bedroom count box. That's another reason tabbing is great.

1 - Do not use javascript alerts when I tab out of a required field. I know the field requires data, and I'll enter it when the time comes.

2 - MSV, this one is for you. Your forms do not work for many properties in my market that sell for under 20k. It is impossible to perform adjustments on a 10k property so it fits your predetermined formulas of what the numbers "should" look like. I don't mind if you hassle me with numerous explanation requests, but you have to let me submit the form.

3 - If you want specific photos, make them mandatory uploads in the form. Don't give me a form with no option to upload competitive listing photos, then QC it because you want competitive listing photos. When I get to the photo upload page I should be able to see exactly what is required and what is optional.

4 - Stop using Active X controls. People who cannot program their way out of a paper bag use these little gadgets to make themselves look smart. It makes them look like the 10th grade script kiddies they are. If my computer requires a specific browser or operating system to run your software, you probably paid too much. Stick to standard W3C conventions and leave the proprietary gadgetry to the 15 year olds.

5 - I prefer to enter all comp data on the same page, if possible. One page per comp requires too much navigation.

6 - Stop auto-refreshing pages when you do some server-side calculation (like proximity). Use AJAX so I can keep entering data while your server does it's calculation.

Let's just use the GD form. Nuff said!

Maybe you had better explain that in more detail

How does that add value and detail to the thread?

Be specific for all the Companies looking here as to what you like about the specific form you are referring.

GDs form is pretty basic Pine, none of the stuff that anyone has mentioned and typically only 4 photos to upload.

The form should mimic CW. What else needs to be said???

Okay: This is what I got so far -

1. Forms should be tab-able in both horizontal and vertical fashions. We all work differently
2. If distance won't calculate we will have it default to .01 so it does not prompt you to change it since we pull the Lats and Longs on the QC side anyway.
3. Reduce the threshold boxes that you have to fill comments in at the end to address each threshold with only one comment instead of doing it by each comp that exceeds that threshold
4. Age paramaters - What if we only require them to be within 5 years if the house was built within the last 10 years?
5. % thresholds for properties under 50K removed.
6. ONE email that allows you to accept from a link in the email. That way if someone already accepted the order it doesn't require agent to go somewhere else to login
7. Add to FAQ a perfect BPO form with what it should look like and the info to explain what should be in each box.
8. Fix the perferred vendor so that orders rotate evenly.
9. Find a way to make it so agents can print the form for records.
10. Don't populate the zip codes when subject zip code is entered in

Anything else you guys can think up to add?

J~

Hmmm - how do 'we' get this back on track on what should go into a form, the order or the information to be entered, how many pages work best, what does not work well - and keep this on track - ?

How about I ask the poster to be more specific about what is good about the form and what can be improved in enough detail that other companies can understand - I think that should work

#4 - Age parameters -

Built in last 10 yrs - 5 yr parameter
Built in last 11-40 yrs - 10 yr parameter
Over 50 yrs old - 20 yr parameter

Something like that would probably provide better results.

#8 - Not just printable for records, but maybe a worksheet like you can with eML/Mindbrix.

And thanks for listening!

Okay, Let me ask your opinion on this one.

If you enter the Subject type. I.e. SFD/Condo/Mobile home - Would it help if this auto-pops for all comps since we require it to be the same property type?

Yes - anything like that is great!

So heres a question... Do you want it to auto pop the city and state for the comps based on the Subject and then you can change the ones you need to?

This is probably a pipe dream, but I'll throw it out there anyway...

BPO companies should be encouraging auto-fill. In a perfect world all of the companies would create a standard API. A more realist target would be for each company to provide an API to allow auto-fill capabilities. An option to upload a spreadsheet copy of the subject and comp info to populate the common fields would be relatively simple to provide. Value is added on both sides of the equation. Data entry errors would be reduced significantly, which would reduce the time QC people spend looking for the data entry errors that must happen on a consistent basis. Furthermore, agents would spend far less time manually copying data from the MLS into forms. This would make us much more likely to spend time where it really matters: comp selection, commenting, and adjustments.

Providing a method to easily populate the quantitative data from the MLS is probably one of the easiest ways to increase the usability of forms. And, speaking as someone with an extensive background in web applications design and programming, the development costs would be negligible.

No -

Let the city and state be filled automatically when we place the zip - it takes longer to change something and add somthing then just to add something.

The city and State don't auto for our form I think when you put in zip.

I can't remember whose does what and we are talking about what a form needs - not specifically about MSV - so if yours doesn't put the City and State in when the Zip is entered, think about it - I would prefer on a save - then in my eyes it would speed thing up.

Now:


Order of information:

Market information if required – not to duplicate subject or comp data


Subject and comps

1. MLS # - (should not even be need as all properties are easily identified by address search)
2. Address: A. Street Address
B. City
C. State
E. Zip ( I would prefer all address data blank until I enter zip then have it auto populate at next save)
4. Current asking price
4. BR count
5. Bath
6. Garage
Carport
7. Lot Size
8. Year Built
9. Subdivision (not required)
9.5 Price change date if required – that really doesn't factor in on our pricing.
10. Original list date
11. Original Price
12. DOM
13. Selling Price (s)
14. Closing date (s)
15. Concessions (s)
16. Financing (s)
17. Added features

Pricing Tree

Now for my area – we have to use tax info for sq’ and total room count as well as lot size in acres so at some point we have to go to the tax site for each comp and the subject – the mls does not contain all info.

So when any form asks for the data source and doesn't offer me a combination such as Tax/MLS and only one or the other – I get uneasy.

Also – If you have limited field sizes – have a text counter above the field to let us know when we are over,

As already expressed: If you need the same info in separate areas – have it auto populate.

Have a bulk picture upload and have all pictures required listed so there are no surprises.

Ability to save and move ahead at any point.

Don’t have warnings pop ups at every turn – let us qc using your software before submitting.

Do not ever put any barrier about percentages or pricing formulas that prevents us from entering our opinions that ends up dictating to us that numbers are required to within x% of anything, lot size, age, sq’, pricing ranges, sale price ranges, anything – sometimes – especially in small markets like mine they just do not work.

Give adequate room on form for explanations. Do not require adjustments on actives

Fewest pages are best – 1 page is great.

Let us have our statement permanently embedded in the report: This is a Broker Price Opinion and not an Appraisal, it is prepared to help determine what the subject property would sell for in the current market and not meant for lending purposes. It was prepared by XXX for the purpose of listing the property for sale should it become available in the near future. For more information and/or to list this property with XXX please call or email ………………


Never make a form that dictates in any way by formulas or percentages what can be placed on the form!!!

This is about building a perfect form – so requiring company QC to read comments would be inappropriate here.

Have your form adjust to different data being entered - if you don't want commas in a price have your form remove them.

I think we all realize that the order of info will primarily depend how it is displayed on your MLS - so it would be nice in AMC could have several layouts to choose from, since the information is transferred to another form in the end, that way I wouldn't be forced to use a form that works well in Austin, TX and they wouldn't need to use a form made for LA, CA - and little old me wouldn't have to use either if there was one that matched my needs.

Don't fire your developer - let different agents from multiple areas work with them - and reward them

That is my thinking tonight - but this may change tomorrow.

How about telling us before we start the BPO that "this particular client prefers comps within 20% of subject even if you need to go out 10 miles in proximity" ?

then same company sends back for clarification on another BPO:

"this particular client prefers that you don't cross major boundaries".

Its frustrating to submit a BPO with comps of 1100 sq ft to 800 sq ft subject because thats all there is within 1-2 miles THEN get a clarification to go out 10 miles to find replacement comps that are 960 sq ft.

It would sure save time to know before we do the BPO what is more important to this particular client.

For some Firms, it is kind of dorky to have to scroll down through 44 out of 50 States to get to Vermont (see, I don't have to go thru Virgina, Wash, Wisc, W.V., or Wyoming) for EVERY SINGLE COMP !

I'm guilty of allowing this situation to obtain, and haven't taken the time to say anything, thinking it would go away by itself (cuz maybe it was an oversight?). Wouldn't one presume that the Comps for a given Subject "might" be located in the same State ? I've never been tempted to go into New Hampshire to get Comps for Vermont properties; but maybe I should "accidently" do a few like that . . . . I'm good at planning accidents.

Does anyone do BPOs, CMAs, LMIs, Market Consultations, or Collateral Valuations of any kind where Comps might be pulled in from a different State ?

I completely understand where that is coming from - it is not about forms but directly related to getting a bpo through QC.

On the other hand - that should never be a client's call - our job is to use our professional judgment and expertise and complete a bpo. If it works for you and you can obtain an accurate price suggestion that way - fine. I just wonder what our defense would be in court; your honor, I had three other comps that suggested a different price but the client wanted me to extend my range so the price changed, I am sorry the assets were then purchased by XYZ and were over valued properties due to the results of my report - but that is what ABC wanted

Now back to building the perfect forms

But some of them want the MLS # to accumulate data by MLS # so as to use it when QCing other Vendors, and question "WHY?" they didn't use a certiain MLS Number . . . . OR "WHY?" the data pertaining to a certain Comp is different now than it was when another Vendor used that same MLS# ? elsewhere, on a totally different Subject.

This helps enhance the Quality Assurance process and discourage, or inhibit, some Vendors from even thinking about altering, or adjusting the characteristics of any Comps to make them a "better fit" for a certain Subject. I know some appraisers do such things, and if they do, some BPO people might also be tempted. This will help discourage them from acting on their temptations.

Posting without reading... I have a very simple one!

Build a form that actually tabs correctly! And while you're at it, build one that doesn't make you lose everything you're doing, when you're hitting tab, at the same time the auto-save comes on. MAJOR pet peeve of mine.

Now I'm off to read the thread...

While you're at it, make it compatible with Safari! Not everyone uses a PC.

Again, posting without reading, so forgive me if this has been mentioned!

Sidenote to Vermont: Usually in those dropdown boxes if you hit the first letter of the state, the form goes to the states that start with that letter. Then the down arrow key will quickly take you to your state, if more than one state starts with the same letter.

Oh, hai, it's me again!

This one is for eML - I love you, really I do, but I'm turning 43 in five days, and your 1 point font isn't winning you any extra affection. When I have to contemplate using a magnifying glass to complete my orders, something is seriously wrong.

Love ya! Mean it!

ETA: One more for eML - please, please, please think about organizing our past orders more affectively, à la CC. I've been doing work for you, for over three years, and when I have to scroll past a bazillion pages to get to the most recent orders, I tend to lose work. It would be wonderful to have them sorted by blocks of time, like "past 3 months", etc.

ETA II: One more... please FTLOG, get rid of that annoying form that has been mentioned on here earlier, that requires a certain number of characters. When a house is a year old, do you have any idea how superfluous we have to be to fill that thing up??? Some of the fields don't have enough character spaces, and some have waaaaaaaaaay too many, and some are downright redundant.

Houston - we have a problem - lol

We're suppose to be building the perfect form - not critiquing certain forms - different thread I guess.

Let's get an accord on 1 form before we move on to curing the rest of all the other forms.

The underlying idea is to get more standardization with forms and have them easier and quicker to complete.


neudot: try that and put in NC

Well, you can pretty much take every gripe I have, and turn it into a positive, and built the perfect form.

Larger fonts, one that tabs properly, and one that has a logical amount of character spaces. Where did I go wrong?

How can we build the perfect form, without saying what's wrong with the ones that are currently in use?

Houston - I have that problem on my laptop with the same, especially when I'm tired, ill or allergies act up and my eyes are watering, but not so much on my wides screens.

So at times when I am tired I use either the +- on the form or the zoom browser feature to enlarge the font.

Trying to figure out how we can have a form with large enough font and the comps next to each other I came up with the form being set to a wider pix and to have the forms load without being framed.

Okay... Stuffs good so far.

Unfortuantly Pine, due to tech issues with XML transfer I would have to say that we can't make the form order change. Especially not for every state. Maybe one day we can but currently thats not possible.

The Firefox thing I will talk to our IT dept about. Currently you can use Firefox with us for everything but photos. The photo software we use has an issue with Mozilla based browsers. (I'm not sure why *shrug*)

MSV Can Auto pop the state based on the subj address and let you guys fill in the rest, (City, Zip, Address)

The MLS # is needed for QC so I'm afraid that will have to stay.

The other 10 or so things I had mentioned before, I will get IT working on as soon as possible. MSV's goal is to cut your data entry down to under 20 minutes if at all possible.

New - I don't know what you mean, you can change the form if you wanted - but the especially by state throws me - but that's OK. (you'll be surprised at the level of tech expertise right here)

The form we are working is not specifically for the company you work for, but if you want to take from this something that will help, then that helps everyone.

I know for sure 4 others are following this, and before the end maybe more will join in, and that is what I am working on

Every request from the beginning of this thread could be accomplished with approximately 20 hours of development time by a savvy programmer. Who cares if a city and state is auto-populated when the entire form could be auto-populated from data in your MLS.

Are we treating cancer or curing it?

I am trying to keep in mind the relationships between the vendor, the client and the BPO company. It is impt. to focus on the realtionships when considering what we can do to improve upon what is in place. It is not all about the vendor, nor is it all about the client, nor the bpo company. None of us will function well if one of the other is hindered. But the client is the source of the business. There is a pecking order, despite the interdependence among us. We are not at the top of that order as vendors.

After I logged off, I thought about it, and I just might have lost track of the purpose of the thread.

Guilty!

I'm a little bleary-eyed right now. Thanks for putting up with me! When you decide on a gripe thread, let me know.

Ooh - here's another:

Allow the age of homes to be ZERO! Yes - there are homes that are not yet a year old. It kind of throws things off when your comps are all 0-2 years old, but you have to call all the new construction 1 year old.

This is just me - and you may think I'm slow - but I prefer the forms that ask for "year built" rather than "age" on subject and comps.
Oh yeah, and LOTS of room for comments and explanation!

That does sound slow! Yes, I can figure out the age, but it is something I have to stop and think about for a second or two Especially if it has been a loooong day!

Pine,

I understand this is for all companies however I can only help build for MSV as I don't have the ears of all the other comps IT depts. Please keep in mind that things have to interface with the clients and somethings just won't interface with the clients software. I'll do everything I can to get MSV's form to be as easy as possible to fill out for you all but at the end of the day I still have to have something that will work with all of my different clients software and databases (If they would all just use the same one... it would be a miracle)


So here is a question for everyone.

How do you feel about the form Auto-poping your values based on comps and then you could adjust it to what you desire. Would this have any benefit? Would it be worse or better?

Let me know what you think about this.

J~

I prefer two separate fields for full and half bath. We have lots of mega large homes with multiple half baths. I don't want to guess how you want that displayed because the form only has one field for bath count.

Auto populate a value? No, no, no.

Allow you to select whether or not you want the save prompt to come up as you are working. If you lose everything, your problem. I'm sick of the save prompt coming up every time I get through a few fields.

Come up with the bulk photo uploader that doesn't require scanning my hard drive for directory structure. Make the search for the correct photo directory on a person's computer easier, faster and far less intrusive.

I can upload pictures on CC faster than I can on FARVV and AVM due to the fact that on the last two I have to wait for their software to index my hard drive before it will let me drill down the correct directory. On the CC site, while it is only 4 pictures at time, at least I can point it to the correct directory quickly and it remembers where I got my pictures from.

The bulk photo uploader on REOTrans is pretty decent and non-intrusive. Except for having to label the photos part.

As for forms, I vote for tabbing vertically.

Agreeing with this post. If I had to choose between horizontal or vertical, I'll pick vertical every time. There may be some who prefer to work horizontally, but I'm not one of them.

FYI - For MSV BPO's - I just talked to our IT - They state if you hit enter after the entry it tabs horizontally - If you hit tab it goes vertically.

I'm having this added into the FAQ.

Thanks and keep the suggestions coming. I have a meeting scheduled next week to discuss these items and see how many we can have implemented.

Also, they are looking into the issue with agents not being able to accept the orders on their blackberries... Hopefully they can fix this soon.

J~

Here is my two cents:

Add a box or let us decide what type of property to use for Sale type i.e. REO, Short Sale, Owner, Investor, Probate. (AVM)

Comparable comments section at least enough characters to enter MLS public remarks.(AVM, GD)

Autosave at least 5 minutes intervals, and send us back to where we left "Hello Old Republic"

Avoid PCV murcor, and Protk forms they can't change nothing.

Companies with BPO forms should have "import data" or "population" macros built in so you can import data from a csv or txt file that you exported from the mls. Thus, for instance, a company could tell its vendor agents: "our Form F1 needs these types of fields from your MLS in this order: mls number, address, GLA, etc." "our Form F2 needs..." Agents would only need to export the data from the mls, making sure it is in the same order, or sorting it into the order needed, link to the file, and then run the macro built into the form to populate all fields.

Once the fields have all populated data, the form could display items missing data or needing attention with a different color highlighting on the screen so that it is easily visible.

Also, if a company has particular automated QC parameters, it would be great to hit a button to run a QC check without first submitting the completed form and then getting called by QC later.

And one more thing, add a blank comment box so I can make comments that have a bearing on the subject property or the report. Some forms have this, but others do not give any opportunity to add meaningful statements.

This one is to tempting to pass up on. I'll try to hit on a few that has been missed that get me.

1. Please don't ask me to fill in Finance on a listing comp.
I have no ideal because it has not sold.

2. I completely understand the need for 15-20% variances and
always try to keep within those limits. But you must keep in
mind that .09 and .13 or even a less gap on a intown lot.
Keep in mind we did not lay the lots outs its what it is.

3. You get alot more bang for you buck on an interior vs. a
Drive By (est. 50 vs. 75) I can tell you a whole lot more
about the house. How am I to make a repair estimate for
a drive-by???? so don't ask for one.

4. Keep in mind that I and most agents will do/accept a BPO 20
miles away quicker and a little cheaper as we save on travel
times taking our pictures, this eats into what we make.

5. We want to make you look like the best valuation company, so
help us do our job better. I love the earlier post about a
sample perfect BPO on you website.

Bring back EML "FORM 4"... that was totally the perfect form... easy, and only asked for the "important" information

Mount - I am not familiar with the 'Form 4' you speak of - there maybe a few others reading this that do not either, and they may be the people that can help create a win/win/win.

In other words - give the details as to why you think that form was perfect - maybe the other companies lurking on this thread can then understand 'why' you feel 'Form 4' was perfect.

After all - that is what this thread is about.

Unfortunatly I know that MSV and several other BPO companies as well as clients will continue to ask for an exterior and any 'exterior repair estimates' - With MSV this means to just assume the subject is in average condition on the interior (Unless of course you see anything on the outside like severe fire damage or a tree maybe shooting up through the roof...If it even has a roof in some cases). We really ask that you don't assume subject is in fair condition because its a bad area or great condition because its a good area. I also advise any agent that I speak to that has hesitations on this to please make a note on the order that states 'Subject was an exterior only. Condition and value may change depending on interior inspection observations'.

Thanks again for eveything you guys do.

J~

This is for all bpo companies.

Can you add a "Market Conditions" question at the beginning of the neighborhood section with the following options for the agent to select: Depressed, Slow, Fair, Good etc?

Then, based on the agents' selection, your QC reuirements would vary and not ask for additional explanation(typing).

For instance, if the agent selects "Depressed", then the agent would not have to further explain why there was a need to expand the searched area, living area, age, sales history or condition. If the market is considered "Good", then the agent would be required to further expalin any variances beyond the normal guielines. Maybe even a QC standard based on market conditions, requiring more or less commentary.

After typing this message, I guess each bpo form does this to a point....but when I work in a market (by choice) that has slow or depressed real estate sales; it becomes time-consuming having to constantly explain what could be automatically understood. So, my request is for a "Depressed" button.

Yes, this is my request.

Wish it was that easy for MSV clients to understand that depressed area means depressed but alas no. They still feel that even if it is a depressed area that if it is say Brooklyn NY, they don't want comps outside of .5 a mile (With good reason as the value can change dramatically depending on where you are located within that .5 a mile) So they want to see a note usually that says 'Yes I went outside of .5 miles however this is a similar market area and it is due to the fact that otherwise I had no comparables that are recent to use on report.'

And then you have some clients like Litton who are very proximity driven to a point where for a while they were requiring agents to go further back in time or widen their criteria on other things in order to find comps within proximity. I know it drives agents crazy but we still do have to explain things to clients that it is outside of their criteria so they can be comforted that we at least tried to match their criteria first before expanding.

J~

We're getting off the topic of building "The Perfect Form", but alas, what does a client's criteria have to do with completing a bpo?

I wonder what would happen if appraisers and agents completed their work to fit every companies way of preparing a bpo or valuation? Hmmm - maybe the mess we find ourselves in - again

From my view point - the only differences in a bpo would be on what pricing the client wants, distress, as repaired, or normal. Actually the only price we can give would be today's - anything other then that is speculation at best and we as agents should be letting the clients do that.

So in regards to the bpo forms - remove all the 30,60,90,120 and 180 pricing dates - we can only offer today's and show historical market information.

Pine,

Didn't mean to get off topic. Just was mentioning that the perfect BPO would have to serve both the Agent and the Client for it to work.

There are things we can fix at the BPO companys to make it easier for input and there are things that the client specifcally asks for that we can not change. (Depending on the company and the client of course).

I agree with the 30.60,90,120 day thing. I've always thought it leaves too much up to interpetation.

J~

How about having a comment box at the TOP of the bpo form instead of commenting throughout different areas of the form on why doesn't something fit into the bpo companies perfect little criteria.

This would save a lot of time of back and forth.

Sadly many of these quality checkers do not even read the comments interspersed in the form. They send a dumb message and you play e-mail tag and then phone tag before it finally passes.

It has nothing to do with my skill set as I have completed thousands of bpo's. It has to do with for that area you might have a a few duplex's for an area that is all SFR.

In an e-mail request put exactly what you are requesting for the fee provided. Don't put half addresses or one unit of a 2 unit complex you want valued and then say "it shows on our order but not yours"

Having exactly what you want done saves time as people won't call for more money to do the order.

While that may not have to do with building a better bpo form I would say how the orders are sent out and qc processes are just as important or more so.

i was totally joking about EML "Form 4"... "Form 4" maybe the worst form in history, it basically was a bpo plus an entire abstract for the property.... it took at least an 1 hour 15 minutes if not longer... it was a joke

So I have a question that I need answered. For companies that have clients that place duplicate or dual orders. What would you guys like to see for information regarding the duplicate order? Do you want to see anything? Do you want to see the DNA for the duplicate and the % that the difference is coming in at?

I need to see if I can get some feedback about this to help you guys out a bit.

Thanks!

J~

Well the only last to submit will see it - but yes - having the info at the end of the order will save time so we can comment on the differences before we submit - no 2 should be alike.

For heavens sake - don't make us explain why the other agent came to the conclusion they did - stop laughing - we get it all the time.

BB has it on their forms (as you know ) sometimes - it is interesting except you can count on the last one in gets a ton of QC that the other agent should be getting.

Based on my opinion the value of the property is:________________.

Okay - FYI My meeting is tomorrow to go over your ideas. If there is anything that has not been added in here, please let me know so I can add it to my list. I need it drawn up by 11pm MST.

This is your chance to get your say.

Thanks for all the input. I really appreciate it.

J~

Just an update - You can see at least 2 companies here that have taken a sincere interest in this information with intentions on bettering their forms for us.

I also know a couple others are watching but I have no idea how soon we'll see any changes based on information seen here.

But I got a pleasant surprise today in my email box. A company I was dealing with on another issue, here and elsewhere, sent me an email thanking me for starting the thread and they have already taken the information here and are in the process of updating their forms. They wanted me to thank everyone for taking the time to contribute. I was completely unaware this was happening.

So - I'm proud as punch of everyone right now - and this project has further to go.

Thanks to everyone that contributed, and to those that will

I have another one.

IF you want to know the HOA fees and HOA name if the answer to "HOA?" = yes...put it on your form. Don't QC me for it later.

And IF your client requires the agent contact info, put it on the form, don't QC me for it later.

AND, IF you don't have the good sense to put it on your form, and you DO QC me for it later...don't clear 10 of the orders from the same batch without asking for the information and QC me on three.

You can just imagine how ridiculous this makes you look. And if you continue to display absolutely no sense and continue to do this, and you send your QC fail notice to me, show a little professionalism and don't communicate with me in the following fashion (as if I should have known you wanted what you never asked for):

"When there is a HOA present for the subject. You MUST provide the associations name and fees in the comments."

AND, if despite all of my friendly advice, you choose to do all the boneheaded things I have mentioned above, DO NOT (please be sure to read every bit of condescension into thos caps because I certainly am reading it into yours...but I digress), DO NOT be surprised when I tell you what you MUST do with your order.

And please know that I will be A-OK with you taking me out of your database for responding to you in the same way in which you respond to me. Apparently I will be in good company with the many other agents that have told you to take a hike.

Much love.

HB,

Did you respond back and say 'When there is a question regarding HOA, you MUST ask me upfront for the information. Please raise the fee an additional 5 dollars and I will ensure to get you the info you did not ask for the first time?'

J~

That's what I like to see - members sharing their 'Love'.

HB has shared a lot of useful information just in this thread in a passionate manner.

Any outside viewer needs to understand the high level of expertise HB and the many others bring to this field and this thread.

As an MBA, HB understands communication issues and time management fundamentals well. Wouldn't it be nice for all sides to have the required information on the form so QC issues don't waste time on either side, thanks HB for pointing this out and thanks MSVJ~ for acknowledging we should be paid more for after the fact info - I am sure about 5000 agents just noted that - LOL

I'm just glad it is Firday and HB is in a good mood

No I didn't and I'll tell you why...

Some firms recognize the mutual dependency between their success and their agent network's continued motivation to work with them. Others don't. For those that don't, your recommendation results in a spiraling degradation of the conversation that results in reassignment with no pay. It doesn't matter how strong the agent position is. They ultimately hold that card. Based on my familiarity with this company, my prior experience having something reassigned with no pay, and the posts from other agents on this round of orders from them...I knew what to expect. What I did will get me paid and took barely a few minutes to do. And it will allow them to either take advice or continue their decline.

What card do I hold? I don't *need* their work. I work for many, many companies. And when I'm dissatisfied with one, I just work for the others. I don't like to burn bridges. Because, should they ever see the light and be managed differently (as you say MSV has), I may choose to take work from them again. Neither the $5, the continued intermittent work or the three minutes it took me to give them what they want are more important (to me) than me keeping my blood pressure in check. I will put them on hold (kind of a turn of the tables). I will let them have others perform their BPOs, many of which probably don't turn out the quality of work that I do. I will let them spend their time on QC issues and reassignment of work from those other agents. I responded to their QC emails with my suggestion that they ask for the information up front. And I posted on here in hopes that one of the famed lurkers Pinehurst keeps referring to is the offending company. And I hope that they see that their own peers (you) don't seem to admire their practices. And I hope that the see the thread titled with their company name and the horrendous feedback posted by agents within the past week. And I will continue to earn quite a nice living by working for other companies.

That's how I roll.

BTW, 1 of the 3 QC fails I received was worded as a very nice request rather than the stated demand of what I MUST do. It sits a little easier, but it got the same reply as the others.

Use Landsafe's form with a couple modifications. More room for commentary, more photos allowed and pending sale dates.

I am an appraiser and have been developing software for regression modelling and quick valuation products that appraiser's can use and still be USPAP compliant. I work with some of the nations largest lenders on special projects.

I also have Forms software called NCVForms which allows the user to design their own forms, including formulas, images, sketches, etc.

I am NOT advertising here as you can register it for FREE using the keyword "FREEWARE." The password to install is "NCV1001."

You can download it from [url=http://www.ncvsoftware.com]NCVSoftware[/url]

I am just curious what type of forms YOU would design if you had the chance, so please share with me any forms you create.

By the by, being a bit of an insider to what is going on in the finance industry, I can tell you that BPOs ARE going to be changing and requiring proof of analysis, regression, supporting charts, and a lot more data than just a few sales. Most lenders I am dealing with are looking at 3 years worth of sales data being analyzed at a minimum. This is why I developed my NHStats for appraisers because they, too, will soon have some changes coming. In fact, many have already started ordering the NHStats product instead of BPOs until the BPO forms and reporting catch up. With NHStats, they get more detailed analysis and and unbiased multi-linear regression on a large set of data in just a few minutes work from the appraiser. I suppose a Broker/Agent could also use it, but it is highly geared toward USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professinoal Appraisal Practice as established by the Federal Government through the Appraisal Subcommittee) compliance. If any of you are interested in having that modified for your own use, let me know.

I am very curious to know how Agents would handle the future of BPOs.

John Biggers

if there is a maximum allowance for comments then do not allow us to keep typing only to find out we are 50 characters over and spend 10 minutes trying to keep integrity of our comments by abbrvtg evy sgl wrd to make it fit! Sorry if already posted. Thanks & good luck!

Ran into this and had to share it, as I know YOU appreciate...
This is actual text copied from Clear Cap's popup help window on Neighborhood Info:

Please include sufficient detail to help our mutual customer gain a complete understanding of the subject’s neighborhood such as market conditions, REO activity, neighborhood desirability, amenities, parks, schools, commercial or industrial influences, boarded-up homes, etc.
(50 character max.)

Ummm...complete understanding? 50 characters?