Overview
WinSketch allows appraisers to
easily create building sketches
for electronic appraisal delivery.
The program also automatically
calculates square footage,
breaking it down into various
areas. Winsketch has an intuitive
interface that allows for
free-form drawing with the mouse,
or precise, keystroke based
distances and angles. WinSketch
also integrates fully with
AreaCalc, a sketch program for the
Palm OS so that appraisers can
begin their sketch in the field.
Actual Screen Shot from WinSketch
Pro
Key Features
-
Easy to use
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Drag and drop structural icons
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Automatic scaling & page
determination
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Proof positive area calculation
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Palm device integration
Ease Of Use
WinSketch provides an easy to use
interface that allows the
appraiser to draw a sketch over a
transparent grid with either the
mouse or with keystrokes. By using
the keyboard, the appraiser can
have the program automatically
draw straight lines at exact
distances. The straightforward
keyboard interface also allows the
appraiser to instantly draw
perfect right and forty-five
degree angles, or close an area
with a single click.
Drag and Drop Structural Icons
Simple objects such as sinks,
doors, stairs and other structural
objects may be added to the sketch
with a simple drag and drop icon
to improve the detail and accuracy
of the sketch.
Automatic Scaling and
Page Determination
For large structures,
WinSketch automatically rescales
the sketch to ensure accuracy on
the page. At its standard level,
WinSketch’s grid allows for simple
distance determination, as one
block equals ten feet. It also has
easy to use page tabs to manage
multiple floors and the location
of your area calculations.
Proof Positive Area Calculation
WinSketch allows appraisers to
quickly sketch the exterior of a
building and then calculate its
square footage. By defining
multiple areas within the building
sketch, such the first floor, the
garage, or a deck, WinSketch
breaks down its area calculations
to give the appraiser a true
representation of living versus
utility space. This method of area
calculation, known as Proof
Positive, is only available in
WinSketch Pro.
Palm Integration
One of the most compelling
features of WinSketch is that its
32-Bit version fully integrates
with AreaCalc, the leading sketch
software for the Palm OS.
Appraisers can save valuable time
by beginning their sketch in the
field, drawing basic walls and
providing exact measurements.
After returning to their office,
the sketch integrates into
WinSketch, for the finishing
touches and for area calculation
before importing into NOVA and the
finished appraisal.
Shortcomings
WinSketch has a difficult time
with the interior of buildings.
The program is designed as an area
calculator first, and has no
pre-defined area function for
internal rooms. Each wall of each
room must be drawn from a separate
line which is placed individually
into the sketch.
WinSketch also has difficulty with
curved lines and complex angles.
The interface for both of these
functions takes several steps and
cannot be manipulated quickly from
the main screen.
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Overview
Apex IV Windows is the cutting
edge in sketching software for
real estate professionals. It
allows users to create fully
digital drawings with extreme
detail and professional quality.
Actual Screen Shot from Apex IV
Windows
Key Features:
Excellent quality of final
sketch
Snap to grid functionality
Extensive object set for
precise detail
Rise and run angles and
curves
High level of control over
drawings
Professional
Sketch Appearance
The polished look of an Apex
sketch is the sharpest in the
industry. With standard
architectural icons for fixtures,
windows & doors, & complete
control over area boundaries and
shading, appraisers can create
accurate, easy to understand
sketches of the subject property.
Snap To Grid
Apex has multiple area
definitions that can be used for
interior structures. When defining
an area, the appraiser can set
whether or not it belongs to the
gross living area. Interior areas
draw in with snap-to mouse
accuracy by selecting an existing
point in the sketch, and
extrapolating the new area from
it. This makes it simple to create
accurate sketches of complex
structures with multiple interior
and exterior areas.
Substantial
Object Set
Apex has a complete set of
interior objects ranging from
structural fixtures and flaws to
furniture and ceiling fans. Apex
also contains exterior items such
as trees, pools, and driveways to
provide a complete sketch of the
property for valuation purposes.
Rise and Run
Line Control
Apex allows users to generate
lines with any angle or curve by
using its unique Rise and Run
interface. By measuring out right
angles, an appraiser can quickly
sketch them by entering the
vertical distance (rise) and the
horizontal distance (run). This
eliminates the need to measure
angles and perform geometric
calculations during the
inspections to save the appraiser
more time.
Complete
Appraiser Control
Apex IV Windows gives the
appraiser complete control of
scaling, paper size, and grid
styles while generating a sketch.
The appraiser can create sketches
with any number of pages, areas,
or floors. A print layout feature
gives the appraiser complete
control over the drawing and
calculation locations on the
Sketch Addendum.
Shortcomings
Apex IV Windows takes some
practice to use. It has tremendous
features, but it is easy for an
entry-level user to become
overwhelmed by its highly
customizable nature. It also
requires better command over the
mouse as few of its features use
the keyboard. It is easy to get
caught up in the task of adding
more detail than is necessary with
this package, because the object
libraries are so extensive.
Most of Apex’s
features require specific
information to be gathered during
an inspection. With rise and run
functionality, appraisers need to
gather distances to points in
space, rather than the actual
distance of curves or other walls.
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