Note: The Welcome Reception is open to all attendees and spouses.  However, to attend the Panel Lunch and Dinner Event you must purchase tickets.

Detailed Course Schedule
Click the button below to download a PDF version of our complete, detailed course schedule, including recently added BONUS courses on the new FNMA URAR forms, Network Installation and Security, Quickbooks integration, and more!

Course Descriptions
All of our courses will be repeated multiple times throughout each day of the convention giving you the opportunity to attend classes at your leisure.  Pre-registration for courses is not required - with the exception of our Hands On Training (HOT) classes. Each attendee can pre-register for only one Hands on Training course. This is to guarantee every attendee the opportunity to take a HOT class.   Reservations for these seats will be available soon. Below is a brief description of the classes we have planned. All courses are subject to change.

Billing and Business Management
Mon. 3:30 PM, Tue. 10:00 AM & 3:30 PM, Wed. 10:00 AM & 3:30 PM - Tropical A-D
HANDS ON: All sessions - Amazon QR
Products covered: WinTOTAL Aurora, XSites
Creating the greatest appraisal report in the world may be satisfying, but it won’t do you much good if you don’t get paid for it. This course teaches you how to manage your office to ensure proper billing, manage your receivables and improve your bottom line. Plus, learn how to ensure prompt payment through the use of integrated credit card processing.

Business Development and Client Retention
Mon. 3:30 PM, Tue. 10:00 AM & 3:30 PM, Wed. 10:00 AM & 3:30 PM - Lambada A-C
Products covered: Contact Manager, XSellerate
The truly savvy appraiser knows that effective marketing can smooth out the peaks and fill in the valleys of the usual business cycles. This course teaches you how to maximize your investment in marketing, not only to grow your business, but to maintain your current business levels during inevitable business fluctuations. The focus is on using XSellerate to automate the whole process with a minimum of effort.

Comparables and MLS Integration
All sessions - Palma CDGH
HANDS ON: All sessions - Amazon IJ
Products covered: WinTOTAL Aurora
The basis behind the sales approach to property valuation is the comparable property. Often the most time-consuming portion of the appraisal process, it is also critical to accuracy. This course teaches you how to retrieve comparable data from sources such as an MLS, manage that data and then use the best comparables in your reports. You’ll also learn how to make automatic adjustments based on numerous criteria, such as square footage or room counts.

Contact Management and Client Communications
Mon. 1:30 PM, Tue. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM, Wed. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM - Lambada A-C
Products covered: Appraiser XSites, CertMail
A complete business contact management system encompasses three different tools: e-mail, contact management and scheduling. CertMail not only combines these elements into an effective appraisal tool, but also integrates seamlessly with WinTOTAL, your XSite and XSellerate. This course teaches you how to configure and use CertMail’s webmail client, as well as building and managing your contact database.

Extending forms with Custom Calculations and Addenda
All sessions - Jaguar AB
Products covered: WinTOTAL Aurora
An appraisal is only as good as the data that goes into it. Today’s modern appraiser uses a multitude of financial models to arrive at a final valuation. This course teaches you how to automate those models to increase the accuracy of your reports while eliminating the need to reach for a calculator. Plus, you’ll learn how to use data from your reports in integrated custom addenda.

Field Data Collection with Pocket TOTAL
All sessions - Coco AB
Products covered: Pocket TOTAL, Mobile XSites
Field data collection can be one of the most time-consuming tasks an appraiser faces. This is compounded by the fact that most appraisers duplicate effort by taking notes in the field, then typing them into their computers back at the office. Mobile tools like Pocket TOTAL and Mobile XSites can help reduce the amount of time spent in the field, and eliminate the overhead of duplicate data entry. Find out how this combination of tools is saving appraisers hundreds of hours every year.

Formfilling Shortcuts
All sessions - Tropical A-D
HANDS ON: All sessions - Amazon KLMN
Products covered: WinTOTAL Aurora
Arriving at the value of a property is only one step in the appraisal process. The tedious task of creating the actual report can often consume as much – or more – time from an appraiser’s day. WinTOTAL Aurora contains dozens of tools to help you reduce the amount of time spent filling out the appraisal forms. Come to this course to learn how you can trim valuable minutes from every report you create.

How to Build a More Effective XSite
Mon. 3:30 PM, Tue. 10:00 AM & 3:30 PM, Wed. 10:00 AM & 3:30 PM - Palma ABEF
Products covered: XSites
The XSites Wizard lays out a simple ten-step process for launching your XSite. But what then? There are tons of tools and features in your XSite designed to improve its effectiveness. This course will teach you how to optimize your site for search engines, build better web pages, create links to other sites, and increase business through FSBO Listings.

Online Order Management
Mon. 1:30 PM, Tue. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM, Wed. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM - Tropical E-H
Products covered: XSites, WinTOTAL Aurora
The days of receiving appraisal orders via fax are fading faster than an old toner cartridge. Instead, appraisers are realizing the value of accepting orders, updating status and delivering reports online. This course teaches you how to build and manage your own online ordering system to improve your efficiency and increase customer satisfaction.

Photo Management and net.X Technology
Monday & Tuesday sessions - Conga A-C
Wednesday sessions - Amazon H
Products covered: WinTOTAL Aurora
Photos and maps convey valuable information and add visual impact to your reports. Find out how Aurora’s new photo enhancement tools and its net.X mapping functions allow you to create eye-catching graphics in just a few clicks.

Report Management, Digital Workfiles and Archiving
All sessions - Tango A-C
Products covered: WinTOTAL, Vault
USPAP requires that you keep a copy of every report you’ve done for five years. Fortunately, the AQB has also specified that these reports can be kept electronically, rather than gathering dust in boxes stored in a warehouse. This course teaches you how to create a USPAP-compliant electronic storage file, and then store and manage your files, backing them up on a regular basis to ensure business continuity in case of disaster. Plus, you’ll see how Aurora’s DirectFAX technology to help you build your workfiles with ease.

Step by Step: Getting your XSite off the ground
Mon. 1:30 PM, Tue. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM, Wed. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM - Palma ABEF
Products covered: XSites
In today’s business climate, it is often more important to have a top-notch online presence than a physical office. More customers will visit your web site than will ever see your desk. This course teaches you how to launch a state of the art web site without having to become an HTML programmer. You’ll find out how easy our ten-step wizard is to master.

Apex 3.0: WinTOTAL’s Custom Version
Mon. 1:30 PM, Tue. 8:00 AM, 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM - Amazon EFH
Wed, 8:00 AM, 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM - Conga A-C
HANDS ON: All sessions - Amazon ST
Products covered: WinTOTAL Aurora, Apex Sketch
You may think you’ve mastered Apex’s industry-leading sketching tool. But version 3.0 contains a wealth of new tools and capabilities. And WinTOTAL’s custom version raises integration between these applications to a new level. Come learn about the new capabilities and how they can improve your work.

Faster Field Sketching with MobileSketch & Disto Plus
Mon. 3:30 PM, Tue. 10:00 AM - Amazon EFH
Wed, 10:00 AM - Conga A-C
Products covered: Apex MobileSketch, Disto Plus
Appraisers across the country are ditching their tape measures and wheels in favor of the super accurate Disto Laser meter. Couple that with the latest MobileSketch from Apex and mix in a little Bluetooth communication and you've got a sketching system built for the 21st century. This course shows you how to combine these technologies to shave valuable minutes off your sketches and help improve accuracy at the same time.

Special Sessions and Panels

Opening Session and Keynote
Mon. 10:00 AM - Amazon A
Our Keynote speaker is Andrew Cuomo, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Cuomo will address the convention on a range of topics from trends in the overall housing market, to the impact of home ownership, to the role that appraisers play in today’s economy. In addition, Chris Low, a la mode’s executive vice president of product management will provide insight into how a la mode is poised to meet the challenges facing appraisers in 2006.

Panel Lunch: Appraisal Advocacy
Tue. 12:00 Noon - Amazon A
At this convention, a la mode is introducing the Appraisal Advocacy Coalition. Located in Washington, DC – within sight of the capitol building itself – the people working with this group are tasked with ensuring that our nation’s lawmakers are kept informed about the issues important to appraisers everywhere. Our lunch panelist will outline the initiatives that this group will be focusing on in 2006 and how you can get involved in the process.

Panelists:
Jennifer Sides, Corporate Counsel, a la mode
Tim Vining, MAI, Tim Vining Real Estate Appraiser
Ben Harris, Public Affairs Director, Appraisal Advocacy Coalition
Moderator: Matt Barr, Communications Director, a la mode

Bonus: Elite Workflow Optimization
Mon. 4:30 PM, Tue. 11:00 AM & 4:30 PM - Amazon CD
Tue. 1:30 PM - Amazon B
The Elite product bundle includes all of the appraisal applications we produce in one package. This course explores how each of these products fits into the big picture and can be used to create an “optimum” appraisal workflow. Starting with the creation of an order from your XSite, through field data collection, integrated mapping, MLS imports and report delivery, then wrapping up with digital workfile archiving and billing, this collection of world-class tools can help you save time with every report you do.

Bonus: Copyrighting Your Appraisal Content
Tue, 11:00 AM - Amazon B
Who owns the work you create? Certainly the client, whether a lender or home owner, has a claim to the final report. However, every appraiser also retains a copyright to much of the content that makes up the document. Photos, maps, comp data… use of these items can be restricted by established copyright laws. This class touches on the applicable intellectual property laws and helps clarify exactly what you own and how you can protect your rights using WinTOTAL.

Bonus: QuickBooks Integration
Mon. 4:30 PM, Tue. 9:00 AM & 3:30 PM - Amazon B
While WinTOTAL and XSites provide a robust set of business management and accounting tools, some appraisers may find that their businesses are better served by using a professional accounting package, such as Intuit’s QuickBooks application. This brief course outlines the procedures and functions of the latest integration between WinTOTAL and this popular accounting tool.

Bonus: Computers, Networks and your Appraisal Office
Mon. 1:30 PM, Tue. 8:00 AM & 2:30 PM - Amazon B
This course covers basic computer hardware and teaches simple networking skills. It includes discussions related to wireless technology as well as keeping your computers and network maintained for peak performance. These technologies will be explored in laymen’s terms giving you a better understanding of each and how best to configure your office for optimal efficiency and performance.

Presented by: Jeff Jones, President, TechSource

Bonus: Safety and Security for your Network
Mon. 3:30 PM, Tue. 10:00 AM & 4:30 PM - Amazon B
With a focus on the modern real estate appraiser, this course teaches safe computing practices as it relates to computer, network and wireless security. Topics discussed include secure internet access, spy/adware and virus protection as well as data backup solutions. These technologies will be explored in laymen’s terms giving you a better understanding of each and how best to configure your office for optimal security.

Presented by: Jeff Jones, President, TechSource

Bonus: Using the new FNMA Forms
Mon. 1:30 PM, Tue. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM - Amazon CD
Wed. 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM - Brasilia 3/7
Beginning in November, a majority of FNMA-backed mortgage transactions are required to use the new URAR form. This new version is a sharp departure from the document appraisers have been using for years, and many appraisers are finding challenges in completing the form. In this course, industry guru Henry Harrison will help demystify the changes and pave the way for you to become fully productive with the new form.

Presented by: Henry S. Harrison, MAI, SRPA, RM, ASA, IFAS, CSA, DREI