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View Full Version : ReportHost.com?



Jonathan Clevenger
03-03-2008, 07:56 PM
Has anyone used ReportHost.com?? I intended to get HomeGauge, but I'm thinking ReportHost might be a good alternative for starting out.

Scott Patterson
03-04-2008, 07:41 AM
Has anyone used ReportHost.com?? I intended to get HomeGauge, but I'm thinking ReportHost might be a good alternative for starting out.

Never heard of it.

Why not just email the report to your client in a PDF file? It is very simple and the only cost involved is your Internet connection! Those fees will start to add up over time.

Another option is to post it to your website in a password protected file. I have done this a couple of times before with some really large files that would not work well with emails.

Matt Fellman
03-04-2008, 09:39 AM
Ditto what Scott said... We just email the pdf files.

In the last 5 years since we've been emailing reports I can count on one hand the number of people who have called and needed it re-sent. I have to figure at least that many would lose their access code and have to call anyway.

Lewis Capaul
03-04-2008, 09:59 AM
Has anyone used ReportHost.com?? I intended to get HomeGauge, but I'm thinking ReportHost might be a good alternative for starting out.

ReportHost would be a good option for someone one just starting out in the HI business seeing as you pay "per" report instead oof investing up to $1000 or more on other software.

I've played around with it some, but have never really used it, it appears to be better than many of the other "demo" software packages that I have tried, but I don't believe it's equal to HomeGauge or a few other top of the line products. They do have the new "ReportHost Pro" that I've been meaning to try out on my Tablet PC, but I haven't gotten around to it yet, but it does, from my short view of it, look interesting.

I bought InspectVue 2 years ago, I'd narrowed my choice down to InspectVue or Homeguage, I ended up with IV because they had the software already that would run on my Pocket PC and HG's was still in the works, plus there was the promise of a wonderful new version of IV, Ver 5, that was due out within a couple of months, which has now turned into a couple of years, with more promises of a release in a few months, I didn't renew my "upgreae" membership this year and I'm looking at new software myself.

A hint, if you do try ReportHost they give you 10 or so reports, just name one of them "Test" or something, and use it repeatedly while you learn the system.

Jonathan Clevenger
03-04-2008, 10:29 AM
Never heard of it.

Why not just email the report to your client in a PDF file? It is very simple and the only cost involved is your Internet connection! Those fees will start to add up over time.

Another option is to post it to your website in a password protected file. I have done this a couple of times before with some really large files that would not work well with emails.


It's a whole reporting system. You enter your info on the site, it generates your report, gives you a web address to send to your client, which they can go to and review. You can also email the report, print it out, etc. I can still customize my report and make it how I want. When The client views the report, you can also have a butten that puts a summery of all items of concern/safety/etc.

Richard Stanley
03-04-2008, 04:11 PM
"$1000 or more on other software."
?????????? What else do you need?

Jonathan Clevenger
03-04-2008, 05:16 PM
"$1000 or more on other software."
?????????? What else do you need?


What are you talking about?

It says that on their website saying you don't need to buy reporting software b/c you pay per use with theirs.

mike huntzinger
03-04-2008, 07:54 PM
The reporthost is a free software program pay $5 per inspection after you use up the 10 reports they give you, I have used this system for over one year and is my prefered way to do it. and you don't pay for upgrades like most of the rest of the systems, and you can edit your templet to suit your needs

Jonathan Clevenger
03-04-2008, 08:55 PM
I've been playing around with the Reporthost.com system and also been playing around with the Homegauge demo all evening. I'm really starting to lean towards using the reporthost, at least until I get a good buisness up and running. It will cut down on start up costs a lot for me. At this point, I still would rather use the Homegauge software, but I've also had much more time messing around with they're software.

Trent Tarter
03-05-2008, 01:04 PM
Jonathan I used ReportHost for almost two years. I think that it is a great way to start out. It is an easy program to use once you learn it. I have recently made the change to HomeGauge 4 and have just started using it.

Lewis Capaul
03-06-2008, 08:49 AM
"$1000 or more on other software."
?????????? What else do you need?

Many of the "Big Guys" software sells from $895 and up, looking at the new ReportHost Pro, that you can now put on your laptop or Tablet PC, I don't know if you need anything more.

I just downloaded the ReportHost Pro to my Tablet, I'm in the process of building my own template so that I can play around with the software, at first look it's very good.


the drawback to RH in past years was that you had to print check sheets and then do your report online, now you have the option of having it on your own PC and then uploading (publishing) it to the RH website, just like you do with HomeGauge, InspectVue, and some other more pricey programs.

I believe ReportHost Pro is worth checking out, especially for a new inspector or for a more experienced inspector looking for new software.

Dom D'Agostino
03-06-2008, 02:42 PM
ReportHost does offer a pricing advantage for a part timer, but if you choose the monthy plan, the fee is on-going and exceeds a stand alone program after about 1 year. Another obstacle being that you can't complete the report without an internet connection is worth mentioning.

Dom.

Ron Green
03-07-2008, 03:43 AM
I've used ReportHost for three years now and am just beginning to modify its boiler-plate language to suit my own style. I'm quite happy with it. I also take Report Host Pro to my inspection sites. Filling out the program on site makes the work back home much quicker. I don't mind the $5.00/report fee one bit.

Lewis Capaul
03-07-2008, 11:39 AM
ReportHost does offer a pricing advantage for a part timer, but if you choose the monthy plan, the fee is on-going and exceeds a stand alone program after about 1 year. Another obstacle being that you can't complete the report without an internet connection is worth mentioning.

Dom.

You can't upload or email a Report without an Internet connection either. At 40 Inspections a month, which exceeds what most of us do year round, the cost would only be a couple hundred $$$ more than some of the higher priced HI Software out there, at a more reasonable 20 inspections per month, for a new inspector, the price would be a couple hundred $$$ less.


Having your own software is, in my opinion, a good idea, but ReportHost offers a very good product at a reasonable price for someone just starting out.

Most of the "Big Guys" in HI Software also charge $250 or so each year for "upgrades", in the case of one I know of the $250 is for "upgrades" to make their product work as it was advertised and to fix problems that shouldn't have been there when they sold it. You don't pay for upgrades or fixes with ReportHost.

All of the better software available have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you're looking to buy, get all the demos you can and work with them, check out the companies and their history of support and timely revisions, or their promises of great new features that are never met, along with the annual fees they charge for support and upgrades and if you can sell your software to another inspector if you decide you no longer want to use it.

ReportHost is a good alternative, especially as has been said, for a new inspector, I've been playing with ReportHost Pro since this thread was started, so far it's pretty impressive, especially for the price, a little more work on my template and I will use it on my next couple of inspections and compare it with what I use now, InspectVue.

Erby Crofutt
03-07-2008, 03:09 PM
If you want HomeGauge, get it now. You'll waste a bunch of time learning one system while you really want another. When you do make the switch, you'll waste a bunch more time getting use to the new one.

Commit thyself to what you really want and go for it. Switching midstream is a real pain in the ass. I did it and it was.

I should have just got HomeGauge to start with. I would have saved a bunch of time and effort and stress when I finally made the switch.