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Using ACI OpenHouse™

by | Mar 20, 2024

What is ACI OpenHouse™

ACI OpenHouse is a data-gathering and inspection tool that allows you to send a property survey questionnaire to the homeowner or other property contact and import their answers into your report. This gives you the freedom to conveniently accept participation from any respondent with internet access and import property facts and photos at will. No inspection app installation is required for you or property contact; simply run ACI WebUpdate once to add the ACI OpenHouse eService, and you’re ready to go. With OpenHouse, ACI will send a short property survey to the property contact’s email address and, when they tap the link on their internet-capable device, their browser will launch them into a simple Inspection interface – no special App required. Once they are done and tap “Submit,” an email with an Access Code will be sent to you, so you can retrieve the data into your report.

Getting Started

  1. Open or create a report that contains a Subject Property address.
  2. Click eServices > ACI OpenHouse > Property Survey Request

The ACI OpenHouse window appears, with two choices:

New Survey Request
Click New Survey Request to send the survey to the recipient’s email address.

Retrieve Survey Responses
Click Retrieve Survey Responses to import the survey information associated with that property.

New Survey Request

  1. When you click New Survey Request, ACI OpenHouse prompts you to confirm or edit the Subject Street Address. Click OK.
  2. Input the Property Contact’s Email (survey recipient) and Your Email. Click OK

Retrieve Survey Responses

When you click Retrieve Survey Responses, copy and paste the Access Code into the ACI OpenHouse dialog and click OK.

Tip: Importing data will overwrite/update fields that already have data or photos.

Managing your surveys and responses

Upon completing a survey, a respondent may continue to add information to their survey (for example, if you contact them to request an additional photo). They may click on the original survey link, or you may send them a new Request.

Workfile PDF
When surveys are submitted, a PDF summary of the questions, answers, and photos will be emailed to you.

Data Persistence
When surveys are created, the respondent has up to seven days to follow the link and Submit inspection data. If they do not perform this action before the seven days have elapsed, a New Survey Request will be required.

Once the survey has been created, no matter how many times it’s been updated and resubmitted, you have 10 days from the origination of the New Survey to import and save the data.

Data Available for Import
ACI OpenHouse provides the homeowner/property contact a series of survey questions, not all of which they may have the answer to. The survey can be submitted without all questions being answered (or photos being provided), so it is important to ensure you review all the responses and coordinate any additional follow-up or conversation directly with the contact. For the data available for input through the survey, the grid (and conditional items) is below.

ACI OpenHouse can be used for any ACI report, however full data mapping is supported in standard GSE/FHA forms. Other forms require some data input through the work file document.

How to Map a CSV File for ACI Analytics

by | Mar 20, 2024

  1. In a report, go to eServices > Import Analysis Data > ACI Analytics. 
  2. At the Subject tab, confirm the Subject’s information and characteristics or click Get Subject Data.
  3. Select File.
  4. Select the dropdown for MLS Provider Map and select Create New Map then New or Edit.
  5. At the New MLS Map window click Browse select your CSV file then click Load.
  6. Under Map Name, enter a name.
  7. After loading your CSV data it will appear under MLS Columns, clicking on each will display the corresponding data under MLS Column Data.
  8. From the MLS Columns list using the left arrow, match the appropriate MLS Column to the Mapped Columns.
  9. Once finished, click Save.

Please note: Not all the headers in the MLS Columns will match that of the ACI Columns. For instance, Sale Date and Sale Price may show as Closed Date and Closed price. Logic will be needed to try to interpret the information correctly. Also, not all of the fields that show in the MLS Columns will be available for use in the Mapped Columns.

Asterisks next to the ACI Column indicate a required field. Excluding required fields may cause discrepancies in your regression and histograms.

The MLS Map will be saved to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ACI\ESERVICES\Analytics\Maps.

Using ACI Analytics

by | Mar 20, 2024

What is ACI Analytics?

ACI Analytics is an eService for ACI Report™ to help you analyze market conditions, examine property characteristics, select comparables, and perform statistical analysis. The product is designed to be simple and easy to use. Analytics is structured in modules, so you have the flexibility to use only the sections that you feel comfortable with and that apply to your market.

Analytics is comprised of five modules:

  • The 1004MC
  • Market Analysis with Graphing
  • Comparable Selection and Map
  • Key Characteristic Histograms
  • Linear Regression Analysis (using individual components of value)

 

Getting Started

ACI Analytics can be launched right from ACI Report and is included with our Appraiser and Company Subscription Plans. To get started, create a new report and populate the subject’s address and basic information.

  1. In a report, go to eServices > Import Analysis Data > ACI Analytics. 
  2. At the Subject tab, confirm the Subject’s information and characteristics or click Get Subject Data.
  3. Select Listing Service or File.

Note: ACI Analytics includes two data source methods to import from. Users can select Listing Service or File.

  • DataTree powers ACI’s Listing Service. The Listing Service will allow you to adjust your Data Range, Proximity, and GLA range.
  • Users can also import their MLS data via a CSV or txt file from their preferred MLS provider.  After selecting File, load your CSV file and select your MLS Provider Map*. Instructions on creating custom MLS provider map can be found here.
  1. At the Data tab, you’ll be presented with the data table where you can exclude properties from your analysis.
  2. Click Next through each module or navigate using the tabs at the top.
  3. The 1004MC module displays the inventory totals from your MLS data throughout the last two years. Select the Overall Trend dropdown to complete the 1004MC section; this will fill in the appropriate fields in your report.
  4. The Market Graphs module illustrates the items on the 1004MC. These graphs can be excluded by deselecting the checkbox to the upper left of the graph image. Hover over graph elements to see the figures that they represent. You also can edit the graph title and comment areas within this window.
  5. In the Comp Selection module,  hover your cursor over a map marker to display property details. You can also click to jump to the appropriate row in the data table. From the data table, you can filter by sales and listings; you can limit your observations to the most recent by adjusting the date (by default, this is set to the past six months) and set an address to Observation or designate it as a comp.
  6. In the Property Characteristics module, you’ll find histograms of each key characteristic of value. Here you have the same abilities on this graph page as the others, like deselecting the checkbox to exclude a graph, hovering on a point to reveal the values, and the ability to provide additional comments.
  7. In the Regression Analysis module, ACI Analytics provides simple linear regression where each variable is plotted separately on a scatterplot. These graphs will include all the data from your import, except what you chose to exclude from the analysis. The regression graphs display indicated model slope values and the model fit % (r2). Just like in the other charts, you can include whichever ones you’d like and provide comments on the individual components.
  8. When you’re ready to import to ACI Report, click Import into ACI.

 

Custom MLS Service Provider Map

ACI Analytics includes maps from the majority of significant MLS providers, however, there may be instances where users need to create a custom map for importing from their chosen MLS provider. Please follow these instructions to set up your custom map.

 

Using ACI Sky™ Flood

by | Mar 19, 2024

ACI Sky™ Flood is a service provided by ACI that integrates directly with FEMA and allows you to generate flood determination for the subject property and import the property’s census tract information directly into a report. An active Sky Flood license or Appraiser Subscription is required.

 

Setting Default Map Providers

Selecting a default provider for location maps enables the toolbar icon to launch ACI Sky Maps with one click.

  1. Click Options > Environment> Mapping.
  2. Select Sky Flood from the Create Flood Maps Using drop-down list.
  3. Click OK to save the selection.

Setting Default Map Settings

You can set default map settings for flood maps.

  1. Click eServices > Options.
  2. Click on Mapping and select Sky Flood.
  3. Select your default settings and click OK to save the selection.

Generating a Flood Map

  1. You can generate a new location map in three ways
    • Click Tools > Mapping > Sky Flood
    • Click eServices > Flood Maps > Sky Flood
    • Click on the Flood Map icon on the toolbar.
  1. If prompted, enter the Web Product Permission Password (Company Password) and click OK.
  2. At the Flood Map screen, ACI will automatically adjust the map to fit your Subject. Hover your mouse over the Subject to make adjustments.
  3. After making ANY adjustment click Update Flood Determination.
  4. Click Accept Map to save the map to the current report.
  5. At the Import screen, select the Flood Map page and then OK to import the map.

Using ACI Sky™ Maps

by | Mar 19, 2024

ACI Sky™ Maps is a service provided by ACI that integrates directly with Google Maps and allows you to generate location maps for the subject property and corresponding comparable properties and import the finished map directly into a report. An active Sky Maps license or Appraiser Subscription is required.

Setting Default Map Providers

Selecting a default provider for location maps enables the toolbar icon to launch ACI Sky Maps with one click.

  1. Click Options > Environment> Mapping.
  2. Select Sky Maps from the Create Location Maps Using drop-down list.
  3. Click OK to save the selection.

Setting Default Map View

You can set default map settings for location maps, including your preferred map style.

  1. Click eServices > Options.
  2. Click on Mapping and select Sky Maps.
  3. In the Map Style section, use the dropdown menu to select Road View or Hybrid View.
  4. Click OK to save the selection.

Generating Location Maps

  1. You can generate a new location map in three ways
    • Click Tools > Mapping > Sky Maps
    • Click eServices > Location Maps > Sky Maps
    • Click on the Location Map icon on the toolbar.
  1. If prompted, enter the Web Product Permission Password (Company Password) and click OK.
  2. At the Location Map screen, ACI will automatically adjust the map to fit your Subject and Comparables. Hover your mouse over the Subject or Comparable to edit or to make adjustments.
  3. Click Accept Map to save the map to the current report, or the X to exit without saving the map.
  4. At the Import screen, select the Location Map page and then OK to import the map.