The Mobile Appraiser
Intro – Saving Time with Technology
Appraisers are constantly on the go. And the best appraisers are the ones who can optimize their time while they’re out of the office. To do this, they use technology and tools to maximize their productivity. Bradford Technologies is the leader in mobile appraiser technologies and we’d like to share our expertise with you, the appraiser. This part of the website will discuss the latest in mobile technology tools for the Mobile Appraiser, and show how they can be used to increase the appraiser’s productivity.
Mobile technology includes cell phones, digital cameras, GPS systems, laptops, Tablet PCs, Pocket PCs also known as personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the latest software to make them all work.
The Mobile Appraiser Part 1 – Mobile PCs
For an appraiser, the ability to perform all their work in the field has always been a dream. Now, thanks to laptops and tablet PCs, that dream is a reality. This article will review a few key features that you must have in order to be a true Mobile Appraiser.
Mobile PCs
There are two types of Mobile PCs, laptops and tablets. While both perform fundamentally the same function, i.e., run PC software, a tablet PC allows you to input information via a pen or stylus—but they don’t always have built-in keyboards—so you can even do handwriting. Of course, a tablet costs a bit more, but for an appraiser on a job site, the extra cost may be well worth it.
Key Considerations
There are several things to consider when buying a Mobile PC, but for the appraiser, two of those items are critical. These are screen design (is it viewable outdoors) and wireless capabilities.
Screen Choice
If you are intending to use your Mobile PC outside, screen design is paramount in the decision-making process today. Older Tablet PCs and laptops had screens that would wash out in direct sunlight. Today, technology has advanced to the point were screens are being developed that can be read even in direct sunlight. If you plan on using your Mobile PC outdoors, make sure that its screen is readable outdoors.
A couple of manufacturers have addressed this problem. Motion Computing’s Tablet PCs, with their “ViewAnywhere” screen, and Panasonic’s Toughbook screen work very well in even the brightest sunlight. Hewlett-Packard just announced a new rugged laptop (nr3600) and Tablet PC (tr3000), which have a screen that’s supposed to be viewable in “indirect” (overcast) outdoor light. Note that it also has a glow in the dark keyboard – so you can do work at night if you like.
Accessories
Mobile PCs offer a plethora of accessories such as docking stations, carrying cases, wireless (WiFi and Bluetooth), cordless mice and keyboards, etc. Of all of these, the wireless (WiFi) option is perhaps the most valuable. This allows you to send data from your Mobile PC to your client or your office from a remote location, such as a Starbucks or McDonalds. We’ll cover more about the wireless options in the next edition of ClickTalk.
The Mobile Appraiser Part 2 – Wireless Demystified
Why go wireless? What’s in it for the average appraiser? There are several benefits. For example, imagine that you’re at a jobsite 100 miles from your office. You finish at noon and want to get the information back to the client ASAP. If you have a wireless laptop or tablet PC, you can email the data from your local Starbuck’s coffee shop. All while sipping on your latte.
Untangling the Wireless Jargon
For purposes of simplification, the two major wireless technologies can basically be identified by their operating range from the mobile device. Bluetooth operates within 30 feet of the device, and 802.11 (also known as “WiFi”) operates within 300 feet of the device.
Typical Bluetooth applications include wireless keyboards, mice, digital cameras, printers, GPS antennas and so on. Imagine those things that are normally plugged into the back of your PC are now wireless. No more cords.
802.11 applications are all communications based. So the Starbuck’s example above used 802.11 to telecommunicate the job back to the office. Another application would be a wireless network, where the user could connect to the office network without plugging in an Ethernet cable.
Bluetooth
Setting up and using Bluetooth devices is very simple. It requires a transmitter (either built-in or externally attached) and the device (mouse, keyboard, etc.) One transmitter can operate several devices. For example, a Tablet PC with built-in Bluetooth will automatically detect a wireless keyboard. So you can finish your work in your truck without having to fumble with any cords. (Note that the wireless keyboards and mice require batteries as they cannot get their power from the PC.)
Another example of a Bluetooth application is a wireless digital camera. Imagine that you’re at a jobsite and you’ve just taken twenty pictures. At your truck, your Tablet PC automatically detects the camera and you’re able to preview the pictures on the spot. Plus you’ve backed them up on your PC for safekeeping.
802.11/WiFi
For communicating your pictures back to the office or the client, you would use the 802.11 feature. However, you can’t just do this from anywhere; you need to be in a “hotspot.” Hotspots are located in coffee shops, airports, office buildings, even McDonald’s restaurants. Most hotspots are free, i.e., they want you to buy their coffee, but not all. Some hotspots, like those at airports, require a subscription to utilize their wireless services.
Two major carriers for 802.11 wireless are T-Mobile and Boingo. They cost about $30 a month or $7 per day and are not reciprocal. In other words, if you have a T-Mobile account and need wireless access in the San Jose airport (which is Boingo), you have to buy Boingo. Sorry, that’s just the way it is.
Conclusion
Whether it’s downloading a new job while at a Starbuck’s or simply using a Bluetooth keyboard to input data, going wireless can dramatically improve your productivity.
If you’d like to learn more about these amazing technologies, feel free to call Bradford Technologies at 800-622-8727.
The Mobile Appraiser Part 3 – Cellular Wireless Technology
Cellular wireless technology lets you send files from anywhere that has cell phone coverage. In other words, you don’t need to be near a Starbucks or have T-Mobile WiFi account to access the Internet. And it’s not that hard to use, ask Joan Trice , publisher of the Appraisal Buzz Newsletter.
“I just bought one of those new Verizon Broadband aircards yesterday. I am sitting in the airport. It took me all of 10 minutes to install and grab a signal. Wow. Really fast. Really easy. So now I always have a connection regardless of whether or not there is a hotspot. Not cheap though. The $200 card comes to $50 after rebates but the monthly nut is $80.00. If you travel a lot it makes sense. If you use your laptop to work in the filed it would be great to access MLS.” - Joan Trice
Cellular wireless – or cellular WLAN as it is sometimes called – requires two things that do not come with your PC: an “aircard” (a cellular wireless card), and a cellular WLAN service provider like Verizon or AT&T. Aircards cost about $100 - $200, depending on the ubiquitous rebates. The WLAN service is usually $80 - $100 per month depending on usage. This is in addition to your current cell phone bill.
The Verizon Wireless link below provides an idea of the products and services associated with cellular WLAN: www.verizonwireless.com
As a final note, while cellular wireless may be an option, there is a lot of talk about creating a national WiFi network using 802.11 technology. If this happens, you won’t need a special cellular aircard to transmit access the Internet, you’ll be able to use your existing WiFi technology. More information can be found in this article: www.computerworld.com
The Mobile Appraiser Part 4 – GPS Technology
This installment of the mobile appraiser will discuss GPS technology and geocoding, and how they can help you in your appraisal business. We will look at some of the specific hardware that’s available and review the pros and cons of each.
Geocoding
Geocoding appears to be an inevitable part of the appraiser’s future workday world, and we are incorporating it into ClickFORMS in a future release. What is geocoding? A very good definition of geocoding can be found on Mapquest’s website (http://www.mapquest.com/features/main.adp?page=geocode). Mapquest defines geocoding as “ the process that assigns a latitude-longitude coordinate to an address. Once a latitude-longitude coordinate is assigned, the address can be displayed on a map or used in a spatial search.”
The bottom line is that when you purchase your GPS system, be sure that it can export longitude and latitude data. Most all do, but it’s good to check.
GPS Technology – an Overview
Most of you know that a Global Positioning System (GPS) provides precise coordinates for a specific location, and does so in an electronic format. A more formal definition can be found at the Geographical Information System (GIS) website (http://www.gis2gps.com/GPS/GPSDEF/gpsdef.html.)
“GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is a radio navigation system that allows land, sea, and airborne users to determine their exact location, velocity, and time 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, anywhere in the world. The capabilities of today’s system render other well-known navigation and positioning “technologies”—namely the magnetic compass, the sextant, the chronometer, and radio-based devices—impractical and obsolete. GPS is used to support a broad range of military, commercial, and consumer applications.”
More information can be found at the Trimble website, which has a pretty neat tutorial (though you will have to download the Macromedia Shockwave media player). This can be found at http://trimble.com/gps/ Check it out.
Types of Consumer GPS Systems
There are lots of GPS systems for the military, agriculture, transportation and other applications. The types that apply to appraisers are the consumer-based ones that we’ve all seen. This section will focus on the three basic varieties of the consumer GPS systems, namely, hand-held, PDA and laptop/tablet. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, depending on your particular application.
Dedicated GPS Systems
Dedicated GPS systems, like those manufactured by Garmin (http://www.garmin.com/), are GPS-only, i.e., they can’t run ClickFORMS or keep your appointments. The advantage to these is that they are small, ergonomic, and fairly inexpensive, especially if you don’t consider the cost of a PDA or laptop, as they are not required by the hand-held for use. The big disadvantage is that they cannot directly interact with your ClickFORMS software, as that is loaded on a separate PC.
PDA-based GPS Systems
If you have a personal digital assistant (PDA), you can probably add a GPS navigation system to it. The advantage is that you’ve now combined two of your mobile devices into one (your PDA and your GPS); the disadvantages are the small screen and the pretty steep price. If you have an HP iPAQ for example, expect to pay over $300 for this cool accessory. http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/prodserv/handheld.html
Laptop/Tablet-based GPS Systems
Adding a GPS system to your laptop or tablet PC is a pretty simple and inexpensive proposition. There are several options, but the best is probably the DeLorme/Earthmate GPS System (http://www.delorme.com/gps.htm), for $130. It’s won several awards, including a Consumer Reports Best Buy.
The DeLorme/Earthmate system uses a small (1”x 1”) Earthmate antenna and the DeLorme street maps to create a very nice GPS system on your PC. The antenna can either be USB (plug-in) or Bluetooth (wireless). The advantages are that you have a full-size screen for easy viewing, dual-use capability (you can use your laptop for appraisals and navigation), voice recognition capabilities for hands-free navigation, and a low price. Perhaps best of all is that this system allows you to exchange map data with ClickFORMS. The hand-held GPS systems (e.g., Garmin) cannot do this.
The disadvantage is that it is not a stand-alone system, so you will have to fire up your laptop or tablet PC to use it.
We liked the DeLorme/Earthmate GPS system so much we’ve added it to our product line.
Call us and we can give you more information about it.
The Mobile Appraiser Part 5 - Powering Your Mobile Gadgets
Do you have a jumble of wires and car adapters for your cell-phone, PDA, or laptop?
You can eliminate a lot of the clutter with a simple, inexpensive device called an inverter.
An inverter converts the 12 volt DC power from your car to 110 volt AC for your mobile accessories. This means that you don't have to buy (or keep track of) an expensive car adapter; your mobile device will plug directly into the inverter, just like it does at home!
Inverters cost around $30 and can be purchased at Home Depot or virtually any hardware or auto parts store. Or you can buy them on-line at stores like www.invertersrus.com. You don't need much more than 200 watts, unless you're intending to plug in a blender to make Maragaritas. Then you might need about 800 watts or so :-)
Whatever you plug into it, an inverter is a *great* little device that will save you time, money and hassles. If only everything could be that way . . .
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