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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                                  PRIMIS, INC.
           THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

         1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to strengthen the Company by
providing an additional means of retaining and attracting competent management
personnel and by providing to participating officers, directors and other key
employees of the Company added incentive for high levels of performance and for
unusual efforts to increase the earnings of the Company through the opportunity
for stock ownership offered by the Plan.

         2. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Plan, capitalized words and
phrases shall have the following meanings:

                  A. BOARD. The word "Board" means the Company's Board of
Directors.

                  B. CHANGE IN CONTROL. A "Change in Control" occurs if the
Company or any significant subsidiary of the Company, merges or consolidates,
and is not the surviving corporation in such merger or consolidation (or, if it
is the surviving corporation, there has been a change in the control of more
than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Company or such
subsidiary), or if all or substantially all of the Company's or any significant
subsidiary's assets are acquired by another corporation, person or entity, or if
fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company's outstanding voting stock is
acquired by a person, corporation or other entity which is not now a shareholder
of the Company. A significant subsidiary of the Company shall mean any
subsidiary of the Company which, as of the last day of the fiscal year
immediately preceding such Change in Control, constituted fifty percent (50%) or
more of the assets of the Company or contributed more than fifty percent (50%)
to the net income of the Company during such fiscal year.

                  C. CODE. The word "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.

                  D. COMMON STOCK. The term "Common Stock" means the Company's
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, or the common stock or securities of a
Successor that have been substituted therefor pursuant to Section 8 hereof.

                  E. COMPANY. The word "Company" means Primis, Inc. a Georgia
corporation, f/k/a Premier Appraisals, Inc., with its principal place of
business at 11475 Great Oaks Way, Suite 220, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022.

                  F. DATE OF GRANT. The term "Date of Grant" means the effective
date on which an Option is awarded to an Optionee, as set forth in the Option
Agreement executed pursuant to Section 7 by the Optionee and by a member of the
Compensation Committee on behalf of the Company.

                  G. DISABILITY. The word "Disability" means, as defined by and
to be construed in accordance with Code Section 22(e)(3), any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which


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can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to
last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, and which
renders Optionee unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity. Optionee
shall not be considered to have a Disability unless Optionee furnishes proof of
the existence thereof in such form and manner, and at such time, as the
Compensation Committee may require.

                  H. EXCHANGE ACT. The term "Exchange Act" means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

                  I. ISO. The acronym "ISO" means an option to purchase Common
Stock which at the time the option is granted qualifies as an incentive stock
option within the meaning of Code Section 422.

                  J. NSO. The acronym "NSO" means a nonstatutory stock option to
purchase Common Stock which at the time the option is granted does not qualify
as an ISO.

                  K. OPTION. The word "Option" means an ISO or NSO.

                  L. OPTION AGREEMENT. The term "Option Agreement" means an
agreement between the Company and an Optionee with respect to one or more
Options.

                  M. OPTION PRICE. The term "Option Price" means the price to be
paid for Common Stock upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan, in
accordance with Section 7.A hereof.

                  N. OPTIONEE. The word "Optionee" means an employee to whom
Options have been granted under the Plan.

                  O. OPTIONEE REPRESENTATIVE. The term "Optionee Representative"
means the personal representative of the Optionee's estate, and after final
settlement of the Optionee's estate, the successor or successors entitled
thereto by law.

                  P. PLAN. The word "Plan" means the Third Amended and Restated
Primis, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, as set forth herein, and as
amended from time to time.

                  Q. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The term "Compensation Committee"
means the committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, pursuant to
Section 4 hereof.

                  R. SUBSIDIARY. The word "Subsidiary" means, as defined in Code
Section 424(f), any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of
corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the granting of an
Option under the Plan, each of the corporations other than the last corporation
in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of one of the other
corporations in such chain.


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                  S. SUCCESSOR. The word "Successor" means the entity surviving
a merger or consolidation with the Company, or the entity that acquires all or
substantially all of the Company's assets or 50% or more of the Company's
outstanding voting stock (whether by merger, purchase or otherwise).

                  T. TEN PERCENT SHAREHOLDER. The term "Ten Percent Shareholder"
means an employee who, at the time an Option is granted, owns, or is deemed
within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code to own, stock possessing
more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company (or of its Subsidiary or parent (within the meaning of
Section 424(e) of the Code)).

         3. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section
8 hereof, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued
under the Plan shall not exceed One Million Six Hundred Fifty Thousand
(1,650,000) shares. Authorized and unissued shares shall be delivered under the
Plan. If any Option expires or terminates for any reason, the shares of Common
Stock subject thereto shall again become available under the Plan to the extent
permitted by law.

         4. ADMINISTRATION. The Compensation Committee shall have full power and
authority to construe, interpret and administer the Plan and may from time to
time adopt such rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan as it may deem
proper and in the Company's best interests. The decision of a majority of the
members of the Compensation Committee shall constitute the decision of the
Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee may act either at a
meeting at which a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee are
present, or by a writing signed by all of the members of the Compensation
Committee. The interpretation of any provisions of the Plan by the Compensation
Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all persons and the
officers of the Company shall place into effect and shall cause the Company to
perform its obligations under the Plan in accordance with the determinations of
the Compensation Committee in administering the Plan.

         5. GRANT OF OPTIONS.

                  A. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE'S AUTHORITY. Subject to the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Plan, the Compensation Committee shall have
exclusive jurisdiction: [i] to select the employees to whom Options shall be
granted; [ii] to authorize the granting of ISOs, NSOs or a combination of ISOs
and NSOs to employees; [iii] to determine the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to each Option; [iv] to determine the time or times when Options will be
granted, the manner in which each Option shall be exercisable, and the duration
of the exercise period; [v] to determine the time or times when Options shall
vest; [vi] to fix such other provisions of the Option Agreement as it may deem
necessary or desirable consistent with the terms of the Plan; and [vii] to
determine all other questions relating to the administration of the Plan.

                  B. $100,000 ISO EXERCISABILITY LIMITATION. Notwithstanding
Section 5.A hereof, the maximum aggregate fair market value of Common Stock
(determined as of the date the Option is



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granted) with respect to which ISOs will first become exercisable by an Optionee
in any calendar year under all ISO plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries
shall not exceed $100,000. Any portion of an Option granted under the Plan in
excess of the foregoing limit shall constitute a NSO.

         6. ELIGIBILITY. Key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
including officers and directors who are also employees of the Company or a
Subsidiary, are eligible to receive ISOs and NSOs under the Plan. Key employees
to whom Options may be granted under the Plan will be those selected by the
Compensation Committee from time to time who, in the sole discretion of the
Compensation Committee, have contributed in the past or who may be expected to
contribute materially in the future to the successful performance of the Company
and its Subsidiaries.

         7. TERMS OF OPTIONS. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be
evidenced by an Option Agreement signed by the Optionee and by a member of the
Compensation Committee on behalf of the Company. An Option Agreement shall
constitute a binding contract between the Company and the Optionee, and every
Optionee, upon acceptance of such Option Agreement, shall be bound by the terms
and restrictions of the Plan and of the Option Agreement. Such agreement shall
be subject to the following express terms and conditions and to such other terms
and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan as the Compensation
Committee may deem appropriate.

                  A. OPTION PRICE. The Option Price per share of Common Stock
shall be determined by the Compensation Committee at the time an Option is
granted. The Option Price for ISOs shall be not less than: [i] the fair market
value of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, or [ii] in the case of an ISO
granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder, one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair
market value of Common Stock on the Date of Grant. The fair market value of
Common Stock shall be determined by:

                  [I] if the Common Stock is traded on the over-the-counter
         market, the closing high bid quotation for the Common Stock in the
         over-the-counter market as reported by the National Association of
         Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System, on the business day
         immediately preceding the Date of Grant;

                  [II] if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities
         exchange, the aver age of the closing prices of the Common Stock on the
         Composite Tape for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately
         preceding such given date; and

                  [III] if the Common Stock is neither traded on the
         over-the-counter market nor listed on a national securities exchange,
         such value as the Compensation Committee, in good faith, shall
         determine.

                  B. OPTION PERIOD. Subject to Section 7.C hereof, each Option
Agreement shall specify the period for which the Option thereunder is granted
and shall provide that the Option shall expire at the end of such period. The
Compensation Committee may extend such period provided that, in the



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case of an ISO, such extension shall not in any way disqualify the Option as an
ISO without the Optionee's consent. In no case shall such period, including any
such extensions, exceed ten (10) years from the Date of Grant, provided,
however, that in the case of an ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, such
period, including extensions, shall not exceed five (5) years from the Date of
Grant.

                  C. LAPSE OF ISO. An ISO shall expire and no longer be
exercisable at the earliest of the following times:

                           [1] ten (10) years from the Date of Grant;

                           [2] five (5) years after the Date of Grant, if
         Optionee is a Ten Percent Shareholder on the Date of Grant;

                           [3] three (3) months after termination of employment
         with the Company or a Subsidiary for reasons other than Disability,
         discharge for cause, or death occurring less than three (3) months
         after termination of employment;

                           [4] one (1) year after termination of employment with
         the Company or a Subsidiary because of Optionee's Disability;

                           [5] one (1) year after the date of death if an
         Optionee dies [i] while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, or
         [ii] within three (3) months after ceasing to be an employee of the
         Company or a Subsidiary; or

                           [6] immediately upon termination of employment
         through discharge for cause, as determined by the Compensation
         Committee in its sole discretion.

                  D. EXERCISE PERIOD. Except to the extent provided otherwise by
Section 7.H hereof, each stock Option granted under Section 5 hereof shall be
exercisable in accordance with the Option Agreement.

                  E. LEAVES OF ABSENCE. The Compensation Committee may, in its
discretion, treat all or any portion of any period during which an Optionee is
on military or on an approved leave of absence from the Company or a Subsidiary
as a period of employment of the Optionee by the Company or Subsidiary for
purposes of accrual of the Optionee's rights under the Plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a leave of absence exceeds ninety (90) days and reemployment is
not guaranteed by contract or statute, the Optionee's employment by the Company
or a Subsidiary for the purposes of the Plan shall be deemed to have terminated
on the 91st day of the leave.

                  F. MANNER OF EXERCISE. To exercise an Option, the Optionee
shall deliver to the Company: [i] seven (7) days' prior written notice
specifying the number of shares as to which the Option



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is being exercised and, if determined by counsel for the Company to be
necessary, repre senting that such shares are being acquired for investment
purposes only and not for purpose of resale or distribution; [ii] an executed
Shareholders' Agreement in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A; [iii] an
executed Noncompetition Agreement in a form satisfactory to the Compensation
Committee; and [iv] payment by the Optionee, or a broker-dealer (as provided in
Section 7.G hereof), for such shares of the Option Price for the number of
shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. On or before the
expiration of the seven (7) day notice period, and provided that all conditions
precedent contained in the Plan are satisfied, the Company shall, without
transfer or issuance tax or other incidental expenses to Optionee, deliver to
Optionee, at the offices of the Company, or at such other place as may be
mutually acceptable, or, at the election of the Company, by certified mail
addressed to Optionee at Optionee's address as shown in the records of the
Company, a certificate or certificates for the Common Stock. Options are
exercisable only in whole shares, and fractional share interests shall be
treated in the manner described in the Option Agreement. If Optionee fails to
accept delivery of the Common Stock, the Optionee's rights to exercise the
applicable portion of the Option shall terminate.

                  G. PAYMENT FOR SHARES. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 7, the Option Price for the Common Stock shall be paid in full when the
Option is exercised. Subject to such rules as the Committee may impose and the
terms of the Option Agreement, the Option Price may be paid in whole or in part
in [i] cash, [ii] certified or cashier's check, [iii] whole shares of Common
Stock owned by the Optionee evidenced by negotiable certificates, [iv] such
other consideration as shall constitute lawful consideration for the issuance of
Common Stock and be approved by the Committee (including without limitation, the
delivery of a copy of irrevocable instructions from the Optionee to a broker
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, reasonably acceptable to
the Committee, to sell certain of the Option Shares purchased upon exercise of
the Option, or to pledge said shares as collateral for a loan, and to promptly
deliver to the Corporation the amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay
such purchase price), or [v] by a combination of such methods of payment. If
payment of the Option Price is made in Common Stock, the value of the Common
Stock used for payment of the Option Price shall be the fair market value of the
Common Stock, determined in accordance with Section 7.A hereof, on the business
day preceding the day written notice of exercise is delivered to the Company.

                  H. ACCELERATION. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections
7.B or D hereof to the contrary, if there is a Change in Control, the exercise
dates of all outstanding Options shall accelerate so that each Option
outstanding may be exercised on or after the date of the Change in Control.

                  I. ISOS. Each Option Agreement which provides for the grant of
an ISO shall contain such terms and provisions as the Compensation Committee
deems necessary or desirable to qualify such Option as an ISO within the meaning
of Code Section 422.

                  J. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. During Optionee's lifetime, the
Option shall be exercisable only by Optionee, and neither the Option nor any
right hereunder shall be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution. The Option may not be subject to execution or other



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similar process. If Optionee attempts to alienate, assign, pledge, hypothecate
or otherwise dispose of the Option or any of Optionee's rights hereunder, except
as provided herein, or in the event of any levy, attachment, execution or
similar process upon the rights or interests hereby conferred, the Company may,
in its sole and absolute discretion, terminate the Option by notice to Optionee
and it shall thereupon become null and void.

         8. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES. In the event of capital adjustment after the
effective date of the Plan in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of any
reorganization, recapital ization, stock split, stock dividend, combination or
exchange of shares, merger or consolidation, or any other change (after the
effective date of the Plan) in the nature or number of shares of Common Stock of
the Company, a proportionate adjustment shall be made in the maximum number and
kind of shares which may be delivered under the Plan, and in the Option Price
under and the number and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding
Options granted under the Plan. By virtue of such a capital adjustment, the
price of any share under Option shall be adjusted so that there will be no
change in the aggregate purchase price payable upon exercise of any such Option.
Such determination by the Compensation Committee shall be conclusive.

                  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if [a] there
is a Change in Control of the Company, and [b] as a result of the transactions
contemplated by the Change in Control, a Successor will acquire all or
substantially all of the assets or 50% of more of the Company's outstanding
voting stock, then the kind of shares of common stock which shall be subject to
the Plan and to each outstanding Option shall automatically be converted into
and replaced by shares of common stock, or such other class of equity securities
having rights and preferences no less favorable than common stock of the
Successor, and the number of shares subject to the Options and the purchase
price per share upon exercise of the Options shall be correspondingly adjusted,
so that, by virtue of such Change in Control of the Company, each Optionee shall
have the right to purchase [i] that number of shares of the Successor which, as
of the date of the Change in Control, have a fair market value equal to the fair
market value of the shares of the Company theretofore subject to an Option, [ii]
for a purchase price per share which, when multiplied by the number of shares of
the Successor subject to the Option, shall equal the aggregate exercise price at
which the Optionee could have acquired shares of the Company under such Option.

                  The granting of an Option pursuant to this Plan shall not
affect in any way the right and power of the Company to make adjustments,
reorganizations, reclassifications, or changes of its capital or business
structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or
any part of its business or assets; provided, however, that the Company shall
not, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to, recommend or agree or consent to
a transaction or series of transactions which would result in a Change of
Control of the Company unless and until the person or persons acquiring or
succeeding to assets or capital stock of the Company or its Subsidiaries as a
result of such transaction or transactions agrees to be bound by the terms of
the Plan so far as it pertains to Options theretofore granted and agrees to
assume and perform the obligations of the Company and its Successor under the
Plan.


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         9. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS.  Upon the
exercise of an Option at a time when there is not in effect a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable state
securities laws (the "Securities Laws") relating to the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise thereof and available for delivery a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Securities Laws, the shares of Common Stock may be
issued only if the Optionee or Optionee Representative represents and warrants
in writing to the Company that the shares being purchased are being acquired for
investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof. The shares of the
Common Stock shall contain such legends or other re strictive endorsements as
counsel for the Company shall deem necessary or proper. No shares of Common
Stock shall be purchased upon the exercise of any Option unless and until there
shall have been satisfied any applicable requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission or other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction and of any
exchanges upon which stock of the Company may be listed.

         10. NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER. No Optionee or Optionee's Representative
shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to Common Stock subject to
Optionee's Option before the date of issuance to the Optionee of a certificate
or certificates for such shares.

         11. NO RIGHTS TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. The Plan and any Option granted
under the Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect to
continuance of employment by the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall it
interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary by which an
Optionee is employed to terminate Optionee's employment at any time.

         12. TERMINATION. The Plan shall terminate on May 29, 2007, ten (10)
years from the earlier of the date it was adopted by the Board or approved by
the shareholders of the Company, and may be terminated at any earlier time by
the Compensation Committee. No Option shall be granted after termination of the
Plan. Termination of the Plan, however, shall not affect the validity of any
Option theretofore granted under the Plan.

         13. AMENDMENT. The Board shall have the right, at any time, to amend,
suspend or terminate the Plan in any respect that it may deem to be in the best
interests of the Company, except that, without approval by shareholders of the
Company holding not less than a majority of the votes represented and entitled
to be voted at a duly held meeting of the Company's shareholders, no amendment
shall be made if shareholder approval is necessary to qualify the Plan under the
Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3. No amendment of the Plan,
however, may, without the consent of the Optionee or Optionee Representative,
make any changes in any outstanding Option theretofore granted under the Plan
which would adversely affect the rights of such Optionee or Optionee
Representative.

         14. TAX WITHHOLDING. Upon the exercise of any Option granted under the
Plan, or upon the disposition of any Common Stock acquired by the exercise of an
ISO granted under the Plan within two (2) years from the Date of Grant or one
(1) year after such Common Stock is trans ferred to the Optionee, the Company
shall have the right to require Optionee to remit to the Company an amount




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sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and local withholding tax requirements,
or, alternatively, the Company shall have the right to retain Common Stock
otherwise payable to the Optionee pursuant to exercise of an Option in an amount
sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements, before the delivery to the
Optionee of any certificate(s) for shares of Common Stock.

         15. GOVERNING LAW. This Plan and the Option Agreements entered into
under the Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of the State of Georgia.

         16. EFFECTIVE DATE. The effective date of the Plan shall be May 30,
1997. The Plan was adopted by the Board on May 30, 1997, and approved by
stockholders of the Company holding not less than a majority of the shares
represented and entitled to vote on May 30, 1997. The Amended and Restated Plan
was adopted by the Board on June 16, 1998 and approved by the stockholders of
the Company holding not less than a majority of the shares represented and
entitled to vote on June 16, 1998. The Second Amended and Restated Plan was
adopted by the Board on May 27, 1999 and approved by the stockholders of the
Company holding not less than a majority of the shares represented and entitled
to vote on June 15, 1999. This Third Amended and Restated Plan was adopted by
the Board on November 24, 1999 and approved by the stockholders of the Company
holding not less than a majority of the shares represented and entitled to vote
on November 24, 1999.


                                    PRIMIS, INC.


                                    By: __________________________________
                                        Leslie H. Schreiner, Secretary and
                                        Chief Financial Officer


ATTEST:


_____________________



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                                    EXHIBIT A

                     (COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT)