Appraiser XSites by a la mode

Frequently Asked Questions

General questions about Appraiser XSites

	How much time is it really going to take to setup an XSite?
	About 15 minutes if you use the default setup, and maybe 30 - 45 minutes if you want to do some customizations right off the bat. Of course you'll want to play around with it and tweak it since it's so simple to do and it makes your site truly unique.
	Can I pick which content pages I want displayed on my XSite (PMI, What is an appraisal, etc.)?
	Sure, because you're in control of every page. Step 7 of the XSites Wizard deals specifically with adding pages and editing content.
	How is my data transferred to the content pages?
	The XSites Wizard prompts for things like coverage areas, fees, etc. and also draws from some information on your XSites Network profile.
	Can I add pages or links to my XSite?
	Absolutely! You can add as many pages and as many links as you want. Just as long as the pages or links meet our Acceptable Use Policy, which is to say they are legal and not pornographic or offensive in nature.
	Is there a charge when I change my XSite?
	No. You can make changes any time, anywhere and never pay any additional fees.
	How will I be able to accept orders through this site from existing clients?
	Your XSite gives you an online order form (you just activate it in Step 6 of the XSites Wizard) that clients and consumers simply fill out. Your XSite then sends you an e-mail letting you know an order has been placed. Then using the accompanying XSite Order Manager software, you can export the order into your appraisal software so you don't have to retype any of the information. Note: If you've got WinTOTAL Aurora installed, you don't have to export the order information at all. WinTOTAL's new Tracking PowerView automatically connects to your XSite and pulls down new orders when you start WinTOTAL. Learn More
	Will my clients be able to check the status of each order?
	Yes. Your clients will each have their own unique and secure login area on your XSite where they can check their order status, order details, and even download their completed reports.
	How do my clients use my XSite?
	All your clients need to do is click on the Client Login button on your XSites home page. From there they'll log in to place orders, check status, and retrieve completed reports.
	How are orders tracked?
	Online ordering for your XSite is powered by the XSites Network order engine so you must have an XSites Netwok profile set up. Orders placed on your XSite are e-mailed directly to you. You can then log into your XSites administrative area to view and manage your orders. For WinTOTAL Aurora users, you'll manage and track orders from the Business Management area of your XSite. If you don't use WinTOTAL Aurora, you'll manage and track orders from the Order area of your XSite. Your clients are able to log into their own secure area of your XSite to view and manage their orders too. Status messages can be sent during the entire process and you can easily upload your completed report to your XSite for clients to retrieve.

Questions about XSites Credit Card Processing
	What do I need to complete the application?
	• Business Documentation, if applicable • Federal and State Tax Identification Numbers • 2 forms of identification at least one being a photo id • Contact information for all principals of your business • Estimates pertaining to your expected credit card transaction volume as well as average ticket price • Deposit bank account routing and account numbers • A voided check
	How long will it take before I can start processing credit cards?
	The average turn time to begin processing credit cards is 20 business days.
	How much will it cost to process credit cards?
	The cost of accepting credit cards can vary depending on your choice of merchant banks. We've partnered with Kirkpatrick Bank as one option and have provided an easy application within your XSite. If you choose to use Kirkpatrick, the following costs will be associated with your account: Discount Rate: A discount rate is a fee associated with collecting, assessing, approving, processing, and settling VISA and MasterCard transactions and is a percentage of each transaction's value. A merchant account at Kirkpatrick will come with a 3.30% discount rate which will be withdrawn from your business banking account automatically on the 6th of each month. Monthly Maintenance Fee: A flat fee of $5.85 will be withdrawn from your business banking account automatically on the 6th of each month. Chargeback Fee: A $15 fee is assessed each time a chargeback is processed. Other merchant accounts come with additional fees such as a minimum monthly fee or per transaction fees. If you have any questions or need advice on which merchant account you should use, please send an e-mail to merchant@alamode.com.
	How do I check the status of my application?
	Once you've submitted your application you can check the status of your application from the admin area of your XSite. Once you've logged in, click on either Orders or Business Management and select the Credit Card Processing option in the drop down. You'll be taken to an area where you can see a PDF copy of your application, see the current status of your application, download another fax coversheet to send in additional documentation or submit a request for help. If you receive a notice that the bank requires more information to process your application, you'll see a status of Additional Information Requested. Click on the details of the status for information on what the bank is requesting.
	Can you describe the merchant account application process?
	Your application could be in several different stages described below: Pending Bank: Your application has been received by the bank and is being reviewed. Once all completed application information has been submitted to Kirkpatrick, it will generally take 2-3 business days for Kirkpatrick to review your application. Pending Information Request: The bank has notified you that they need more information to complete your application. To submit more information, log into your XSites admin area as described in the above question and follow the instructions under the heading Need to fax more documents? Pending Transfund: Kirkpatrick Bank offers our merchant credit card processing and will be your direct point of contact for items relating to your merchant account. You can expect this to take 14-16 business days. Pending a la mode: Once Kirkpatrick has issued your merchant account number, we have to configure your XSite to work with your new merchant account. You can expect this to take 1-2 business days.
	What if I want to accept American Express?
	American Express has a separate application process. You'll need to contact them directly. To start the application process, visit https://www125.americanexpress.com/merchant/online/wth/USEng/FrontServlet?request_type=splash and click on the Apply Now button. Once American Express issues you a merchant account number, log into your XSites admin area according to the answer to the question How do I check the status of my application?. Then get into the Credit Card administrative area, click on Options and enter your American Express merchant account number in the area provided. You'll be notified once Kirkpatrick Bank has enabled your account to process American Express cards. NOTE: You will not be given the option to enter your American Express merchant account number until your VISA/MasterCard merchant account is activated.
	Are there any limits applied to how much I can charge?
	Kirkpatrick Bank has established a limitation where you are allowed to charge up to $2000 per customer's credit card in a 24-hour period. If this amount will not be sufficient, you may request a increase to this limit. Once your merchant account has been activated, log into your XSite Admin as described in the answer to the question How do I check the status of my application?. Then get into the Credit Card Processing administrative area and click on the Options menu item. There is a section to request an increase along with a justification for the increase request. Submit your request and Kirkpatrick Bank will provide a response within 5 business days. NOTE: The option to request an increase will not be available until your VISA/MasterCard merchant account has been activated.
	What if I already have a merchant account? Can I use it?
	Wouldn't it be great if all merchant accounts worked everywhere? Unfortunately, they don't. Credit cards are processed by different entities. Each entity has different requirements for merchant accounts they service. All cards charged using the XSite interface are processed through Vital, formerly known as VisaNet. If your merchant account is compatible with Vital, we will definitely let you use it. To set up your existing merchant account, please gather the following information from your current merchant account provider and e-mail it to merchant@alamode.com: Merchant Number: Bank BIN Number: Store Number: Agent Number: Chain Number: Terminal Number: V Number/Terminal ID: Category, SIC, or MCC Code:
	What if I'm from Canada and want to accept credit cards?
	Unfortunately, our banking partner, Kirkpatrick Bank, does not accept merchant account applications from non-US citizens. If you would like to process credit cards, you will need to apply for and obtain a merchant account on your own. Make sure the merchant account is compatible with Vital (formerly known as VisaNet). Once you have obtained your merchant account, e-mail the information detailed in the What if I already have a merchant account? section to merchant@alamode.com
	Why is this solution better than other merchant account solutions?

	We've done a lot of work to make sure this solution is the best for our customers. First of all, we partnered with a bank we have known for years, Kirkpatrick Bank, to provide merchant account services to our customers and streamlined the application process between you and the bank. Regrettably, we're not able to eliminate the paperwork to apply for a merchant account. However, with DirectFax we convert your completed application to an electronic document in pdf format. This means you will have an electronic copy of everything you have submitted. We've also built status updates into the application process. When the state of your application changes, we automatically let you know via e-mail of the change to your account. You can also check the current status of your application by logging into your XSite admin and clicking the Credit Card Processing icon on the "My Office" page. Second, we've integrated charging cards into your business. Simply having a merchant account doesn't put you in a position to automatically accept credit cards. You have to be able to process the credit cards. This would usually mean buying a credit card "processing terminal" if you had a store where people walk in to charge cards. If you want to accept cards over the Internet, you will need to have someone build an electronic "processing terminal" and make it work on your website. Guess what? We've already done all this for you. This "processing terminal" (often called a shopping cart) has already been built into your XSite. Since we know how appraisers work, we made the shopping cart fit your needs. You can charge one of your customer's credit cards from anywhere by logging into your XSite admin. Not only that, you can charge cards directly from an XSite order. The charge automatically is tracked in the order details so you will have a permanent history of everything that happened with that order. To top it all off, we've even given you access to a shopping cart from your mobile device! Who needs the ability to charge cards on the run more than appraisers? As you can see, the XSite credit card processing solution is a much better solution than any other out there because it was built by a company who understands what it takes to run a successful appraisal business. Don't take our word for it. Do some research into what it takes to accept credit cards and let us know if you can find a better solution.
Questions on XSites Business Management (only for Aurora users)
	Why use an XSite for your billing and tracking?
	Simply put it just makes it easier for you to run your business any time, anywhere. Plus we can add more of the features and capabilities you’ve been asking for in a web environment. Using your XSite, you can work with appraisers at different locations because your billing information no longer has to be tied to your File Cabinet. Office managers can handle all your billing, create and assign orders all without having WinTOTAL installed. Reports can be automatically uploaded to your XSite regardless of where they started from. Your new Business Management dashboard lets you quickly see a summary of the state of your business and generate reports for more details. See key performance indicators, invoice overviews, receivable summaries, and more.
	How do I import orders from my XSite to WinTOTAL?
	The days of exporting orders from XSite Order Manager into WinTOTAL are over. Aurora’s Tracking PowerView automatically connects to your XSite and pulls down new orders when you start WinTOTAL so you no longer need to export your orders to WinTOTAL. You can also click "XSite Sync" to manually initiate a download.
	What happened to my XSite Order Manager?
	Nothing happened to it, we simply moved the functionality into WinTOTAL and added some cool new tools. You don’t ever have to leave your report to check on how many orders you’ve completed, send status, check progress, and more. Just go to the Tracking PowerView in the Appraisal Desktop where you’ll see a dashboard view of all your orders regardless of whether they originated from your XSite or from WinTOTAL.
	Since billing requires an XSite, can I still create an invoice in WinTOTAL?
	Yes. Enter your invoice information is the Order PowerView, — making sure to mark the option for "Extended billing" in the PowerPane on the left — then add one of the [Automatic] invoice forms. *Note: If you type in the invoice form, WinTOTAL automatically updates the Order PowerView. If you type in the Order PowerView, it updates the invoice form.
	How do I create orders on behalf of my clients?
	All you need to do is select the client in your order form. If you’ve configured WinTOTAL to automatically synchronize with your XSite, the order will appear just as if the client logged into your site and placed the order themselves. You have the option to create an XSite login account for your client as described above.
	Do I need to enter orders on my XSite to track them?
	Not necessarily. We have a new "XSite integration" feature in the Order PowerView that can automatically pushes all orders to your XSite. This saves you from re-keying data and all your orders are centralized in one convenient place.
	Can I track orders without an XSite?
	Yes. Just clear the checkbox in the Order PowerView options for XSite integration. The Tracking PowerView even has a filter that lets you see WinTOTAL orders only, XSite orders only, or all orders so they’re easier to manage.
	Where do I set up fee tables and splits now?
	This is also in the Business Management section of your XSite. Log into your XSite, go to Business Management, and click Options.
	How do I run a management report?
	This is in the Business Management section of your XSite. Just log into your XSite, go to Business Management, and click Reporting.
	Since billing requires an XSite, can I still create an invoice in WinTOTAL?
	In the Order PowerView, you can enter invoice information — making sure to mark the option for "Extended billing" in the PowerPane on the left — then add one of the [Automatic] invoice forms. *Note: If you type in the invoice form, WinTOTAL automatically updates the Order PowerView. If you type in the Order PowerView, it updates the invoice form. And an invoice record is created on your XSite if you own one.
	How do I create XSite login accounts for my clients?
	While in WinTOTAL’s Contacts database, just enter a username and password for your client. They can then use this login you created to log into your XSite to place orders, view status, and download completed PDFs of their appraisals.
	How do I send status messages to my clients?
	You can send status from within WinTOTAL or your XSite. As long as you have the XSite integration enabled, the status will be updated automatically in both places.
	How do I keep appraisers from seeing each others' orders and invoices?
	This is configured in the User Management area of your XSite. Only users with "Order Management" enabled will be able to see orders other than their own. Likewise, only users with "Accounting" enabled will be able to create invoices and run reports.
	How do I enter payments for orders?
	There are several ways to do this. You can enter them into the Order PowerView in WinTOTAL, or you can right-click the report from your File Cabinet and choose "Mark as paid". Or when viewing invoices under your XSite’s Business Management, click the Enter Client Payments link. You can also edit any invoice when viewing an order on your XSite and enter payments.

Questions about your XSite domain name
	Unlike traditional "cookie cutter" template websites, the XSites Wizard makes it so easy to customize your website, and there are so many options available, that the unique possibilities are endless. With the ability to use your own header graphics and customize your colors, add you own logos and custom content, truly, you can make your XSite as unique as you want to. See our XSites comparison chart to learn more.

	Who owns my Appraiser XSite domain name (My ".com")?
	When you create your Appraiser XSite and you choose a new domain name (ex. floridaappraiser.com), we register the new domain for you automatically. The domain name is absolutely yours and is registered in your name. As is standard with web hosting services, we maintain the technical aspects of your domain, which allows us to renew it automatically each year and deal with the other technical routing issues, like making it work seamlessly with your XSite, CertMail account, or XSellerate. However, you are the designated administrative and billing contact. And this means if you ever decide to host your website with another company, you can easily take your domain name with you. To do so, simply follow these instructions. If you already own your own domain name and wish to use it with your XSite, that’s no problem. You’ll just continue to renew your domain name ownership with the company that you bought it from originally.
	Do I create one and have it checked against a database?
	You simply type in any name you want and the XSites Wizard checks instantly to see if it's available; if so, it will tell you and allow you to register it. If not, you simply choose a different name.
	Will my XSIte be found in search engines such as Google™ and Yahoo!® by prospective clients?
	We submit your site to major search engines automatically, along with your description and your keywords (we also provide a list of metatags and keywords and include those in your pages automatically, so the "spider" search engines pick them up).
	Will I be able to tell how many "hits" or visitors have been to my XSite?
	Yes. Just click on the XSites Statistics icon on your My Office page after logging into your site.
	How do I use my current domain?
	All you need to do is have your registrar redirect your domain name to our servers. Since we don't own your domain name, we can't legally do this for you. But it's free, and your registrar will be happy to do it for you. Our XSites Wizard will tell you exactly who to call and what information you'll need to provide.
	How many domain names can I have?
	There's no limit to the number of domain names you may have. The XSites Wizard currently only supports registering one, but we'll be adding the capability to register multiple domains soon.
	What will my e-mail address be?
	If you bought a Professional or Enterprise XSite, you get as many as 15 CertMail e-mail accounts with the domain name you set up through the XSites Wizard, so you can have up to 15 separate e-mail addresses. They'll be in the form of yourname@yourdomain.com. In order to use CertMail, you'll need to register a domain name through the XSites Wizard or use a domain name that you registered previously.
	Our Online Help Section is at http://www.alamode.com/support/.


	We've done a lot of work to make sure this solution is the best for our customers. First of all, we partnered with a bank we have known for years, Kirkpatrick Bank, to provide merchant account services to our customers and streamlined the application process between you and the bank. Regrettably, we're not able to eliminate the paperwork to apply for a merchant account. However, with DirectFax we convert your completed application to an electronic document in pdf format. This means you will have an electronic copy of everything you have submitted. We've also built status updates into the application process. When the state of your application changes, we automatically let you know via e-mail of the change to your account. You can also check the current status of your application by following the steps outlined in the answer to the question How do I check the status of my application?. Second, we've integrated charging cards into your business. Simply having a merchant account doesn't put you in a position to automatically accept credit cards. You have to be able to process the credit cards. This would usually mean buying a credit card "processing terminal" if you had a store where people walk in to charge cards. If you want to accept cards over the Internet, you will need to have someone build an electronic "processing terminal" and make it work on your website. Guess what? We've already done all this for you. This "processing terminal" (often called a shopping cart) has already been built into your XSite. Since we know how appraisers work, we made the shopping cart fit your needs. You can charge one of your customer's credit cards from anywhere by logging into your XSite admin. Not only that, you can charge cards directly from an XSite order. The charge automatically is tracked in the order details so you will have a permanent history of everything that happened with that order. To top it all off, we've even given you access to a shopping cart from your mobile device! Who needs the ability to charge cards on the run more than appraisers? As you can see, the XSite credit card processing solution is a much better solution than any other out there because it was built by a company who understands what it takes to run a successful appraisal business. Don't take our word for it. Do some research into what it takes to accept credit cards and let us know if you can find a better solution.