Report Writing Programs - InspectionNews

John Thompson · #1 (**permalink**) 04-24-2007, 12:42 PM

I'm using the 3D program and I'm not terribly happy with it's ease of use. It puts out great looking reports, but navigating the software is a pain to say the least. Any thoughts on other software? I met the guy from Porter Valley Software who wrote the InspectVue program and (suprise) he thinks they have the best stuff out there. I'm also thinking about getting into commercial inspections so I'll need additional software for those.

wayne soper · #2 (**permalink**) 04-24-2007, 02:31 PM

HOMEGAUGE,HOMEGAUGE,HOMEGAUGE, the best i,ve ever used and the support is second to none, check it out. Home Inspection Software and Reports - HomeGauge.

Jack Feldmann · #3 (**permalink**) 04-24-2007, 05:17 PM

I've been using Inspectvue now for a few years and like it a lot. With any software, you will have to spend a good amount of time, tweaking it to fit your needs and reporting style.

Something more important than how the report comes out, is what kind of support and updates do you get from the software company.

Richard Stanley · #4 (**permalink**) 04-25-2007, 07:42 AM

whispersolutions.com

Trent Tarter · #5 (**permalink**) 04-29-2007, 09:26 PM

Jon I use Reporthost, It is a web based report writing service that I have used this first year in business. It is free to try, but like most report software it takes a little time to figure out.

tom p · #6 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007, 07:36 PM

Check out Home Inspections, Inc. they allow you to download a FREE trial for your PC or laptop which is limited to 10 complete reports. after that, you have to buy and depending on the program you choose, the price seems fairly reasonable, especially if you are just beginning in the field as I am.

I have also been looking at Home Guage but right now that is a bit out of my price range until I start making a few dollars.

Ken Larson · #7 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 02:55 PM

For Texas, I just use a Word program that has the State Template and I fill in the individual sections using a combination of a pull down auto-text I created and a printed copy of defects that I commonly find on home inspections. That way each problem is written in a similar fashion.

The report is then printed to a password protected .pdf that has my own personal water mark imbedded into the document to protect it from the possiblility of anyone making "innapropriate" changes to my report. The report is then posted to my website for my client to print off as needed.

Entire report prep time is usually between 1 to 3 hrs depending on how clean the house was.

Ken

Mike Schulz · #8 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 03:10 PM

Home Gauge. Training is great. Many templates to choose from. Tailor it to your satisfaction. Support is second to none. They also have a forum so you can ask questions and get answers from fellow users.

Jim Robinson · #9 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 03:25 PM

I would love to speed up my report writing. How long does it take you on average to create the reports with the software? I spend about 1.5 -2 hours on each report, depending on how much time I spend on Inspection News and watching porn.

Mike Schulz · #10 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 04:08 PM

Clean house 1 hour or less. Seldom found so 2 hours is typical because of all the findings. Real bad 3 to 4.

Jeff Knight · #11 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 10:05 AM

Guys,
You need to stop using "Reporting Software" and start using "Inspection Software"... and until you do you will always be spending hours every night reentering your inspection data no matter what "Reporting Software" you use.

"Reporting Software" is geared towards helping you create an inspection report AFTER you have done your inspection...."Inspection Software" is meant to be used AS you are doing your inspection.

If the interface of the software looks like it is helping you create a report then it is "Reporting Software"...if the main interface does NOT look like it is creating a report but concentrates on making it very flexible and easy to collect data as you are doing your inspection and it creates a report for you AUTOMATICALLY based on that data then it is "Inspection Software" and eliminates the need to rekey data at the end of the inspection.

If you need help in designating which software is which let me know.

Jeff

Erby Crofutt · #12 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 05:44 AM

C'mon Jeff, you ain't going to tell us which software company you represent??? Or at least that you DO represent one of the software companies??

Y'all just get HomeGuage software and it'll help you collect inspection data easily AND write your report easily.

Best combination of "inspection software" & "reporting software" & "tweakable for each persons preference" around. I've tried most of them's free trials.

Support and trainings is great along with the message board for HomeGauge users to share ideas on how to tweak the software

Home Inspection Software and Reports - HomeGauge

Mike Schulz · #13 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

creates a report for you AUTOMATICALLY based on that data then it is "Inspection Software"

And Pigs Fly

Sounds Like can spam to me.

Jeff Knight · #14 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 11:16 AM

Erby,
No...I am not trying to promote our software.... but I am actually trying to get inspectors to understand the difference in the MANY software packages out there. With over 10 years in the software business for home inspectors I have a pretty good idea of what inspectors want and the confusion that seems to come over them after going to a big show like the national ASHI convention and not knowing the differences. All the software companies do their fancy demos and show all the neat things they can do to their reports but never tell them how much TIME they are going to spend doing all those fancy things to their report. I can tell you are a devoted HomeGauge fan and I have known Russell and Shawn since they first started their company and their software has come a long ways and I am not a person to bad-mouth any of the competitors but most inspectors that use HomeGauge reenter their data after the inspection process as I believe Mike S. in this thread said he does.

Mike...sorry to tell you but there is software out there that is being used that inspectors are actually using data collection software as they are doing their inspection and then printing right on site from that data WITHOUT having to rekey the data again later...or they are creating the Word document equivalent of it automatically....and it is not "canned"...it is the data YOU decided to put in the report....if it seems "canned" then it is because that is the way you worded the comment...not because of the software.

Some inspectors want "Reporting Software" and will never feel comfortable collecting the data electronically while they are doing an inspection and would much rather use a voice-recorder, or use a camera with a lot of pictures, or a pad and pencil, or a clipboard and form or even just their extensive memory. Every inspector has their preferences. I am just trying to help inspectors understand the differences in the 2 main types of software out there.

Jeff Knight
Knights Software Solutions

Erby Crofutt · #15 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 12:32 PM

Thanks Jeff. I just think you need to let people know "upfront" that you do represent a software company.

I'm sure you have many good ideas that work for some inspectors.

I don't know why anyone would "reenter" stuff. If you plug it in on site, you don't need to "reenter" anything.

I do "enter" some data off site (my choice NOT to keep customers and real estate agents sucking their thumbs waiting for me to get done "entering" data along with perceived value of the quickie report versus one delivered later.

I certainly understand the "confusion" issue after vendor shows. I got sucked into that when I started. Cost me about $3,000 bucks and I certainly didn't get what I needed. Of course, back then InspectionNews was barely a gleam in Brian's eye with, if I remember right only about 2 or 300 inspectors signed up and even less participating. (I kinda miss the numbers Brian used to post about how many inspectors are signed up. If I remember right it was about 3,000 the last time I saw it posted.)

But, live and learn. Now I have what I needed and do pretty dang good at it without "renentering" data.

I agree with you on the "canned" stuff. The report should read like you talking. Not what some English professor wrote. I just kinda shrivel up when I see inspectors using that "further evaluation and repair" crap. It's broke. Fix it. But the schools keep preaching it?? Go figure.

Scott Patterson · #16 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 12:40 PM

I have been in the profession since 1994 and full time since 1995 and I have seen just about every type of reporting method you can think of. For the longest it was the fill-in the blank 3-part on site report. Then the computer age made its way to the profession and folks started printing reports and delivering them to their clients. Then for some unknown reason some idiot (IMO) started doing on-site printed computer reports. Then the swing started back to collecting the information and producing the report off site that is then emailed to the client or it can be retrieved from a 3rd party website.

I have done them all! My hands down favorite is emailing the report from the comfort of my office, or if needed from a coffee shop or my truck. I have found this to work the best and cost less than any other method.

Jeff Knight · #17 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erby Crofutt

I don't know why anyone would "reenter" stuff. If you plug it in on site, you don't need to "reenter" anything.

Depends upon what they use to "plug it in on site"....if they are writing it down on a paper form on a clip board in the field or voice recording their findings in a voice-recorder and then having to either retype it or select the text from a drop down in the software at home then I consider that "reentering" of data. They in essence had to enter the same information 2 times using 2 different methods....and there are a LOT of inspectors doing just this still across the country.

Jeff Knight
Knights Software

Scott Patterson · #18 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Knight

I don't know why anyone would "reenter" stuff. If you plug it in on site, you don't need to "reenter" anything.

Depends upon what they use to "plug it in on site"....if they are writing it down on a paper form on a clip board in the field or voice recording their findings in a voice-recorder and then having to either retype it or select the text from a drop down in the software at home then I consider that "reentering" of data. They in essence had to enter the same information 2 times using 2 different methods....and there are a LOT of inspectors doing just this still across the country.

Jeff, are you a home inspector?

I have found that the more time an inspector is in the profession they tend to take less notes. They rely on their memory and take more digital photos so they can view later. Photos can show more at times than one might see in person.

I use a PDA or laptop depending on the job to collect my information. When I'm done, I can compile and email a report in about twenty minutes.

Mike Schulz · #19 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 03:39 PM

Thanks Jeff, Good info. I don't re-enter any information back at the office. I choose to use the software that best suits me. I could do the inspection on site and that is how the software is designed. I collect all the data about the home in my PPC and sync it when I get back with my laptop. Then I insert pictures and comments. I do have certain comments saved that is in my own language and insert that when possible. But there is to many variances in defects that need explained and I choose to write it when I get back. The library would be to large and time consuming to scan through the comments to see what fits the certain situation. It can be done but I choose not to.

Erby
Our Licensure board requires us to write repair or further evaluation. If not we will face the board.

Scott Patterson · #20 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schulz

Our Licensure board requires us to write repair or further evaluation. If not we will face the board.

Well that is another stupid regulation! Ranks up with KY, not being able to report a code problem.

Just hope that NC does not end up with a standardized report!