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Thread: Red Ink

  1. #1
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    Default Red Ink

    I am curious if any of you use red ink or a way of highlighting defects when writing your reports.

    Have been doing the red ink thing for quite some time because it brings attention to those items in need of repair.

    Of course, the RE agents hate it when they see one but the clients like it.

    Any opinions?

    Rick H.

    Inspection Referral

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    I use bullets. I add yellow when it's also an issue of safety that should be repaired irrespective of who is living there.

    The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
    - Paul Fix

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Red doesn't show up very well in Black & White. On the rare occassions that I actually print a report (instead of e-mailing it) I print it on my laser printer in B&W. So, no, I don't highlight anything in red.

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Not just red ink, but Bold & Red really grabs your attention.

    I use it sparingly, typically for safety issues or grossly deficient items. If you use it too much, it loses its purpose.

    Dom.


  5. #5
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    I don't bold or red ink anything in my reports. As 95% of them are E mailed, I could easily do it, but, to me, it is up to my Client to determine what is important to them. I may emphasize certain things at an inspection, and in some cases, most commonly when a Realtor attempts to trivialize what I say or try to tell my Client what is major or minor, I will repeat it and go into great detail about the matter.

    Last edited by Eric Van De Ven; 08-07-2007 at 06:38 AM. Reason: slippery fingers
    Eric Van De Ven Magnum Inspections Inc. (772) 214-9929
    www.magnuminspections.com
    I still get paid to be suspicious when I got nothing to be suspicious about!

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    I don't use red ink in my reports. Since many of the reports get faxed back and forth between client/agent and agent/agent, the color doesn't show up (or photos for that matter).

    I have no other reason for not using red, other than it would involve more "clicks" when I'm getting the report together. I want my client to read the entire report, not just look for the colored text.
    JF


  7. #7
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    I did not use colors as they did not show up on copies or faxed reports, likewise, bold is lost in some faxes, thus, I used ALL CAPS for those items.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Sorry, while I understand trying to be considerate of all parties, I'm not going to dumb-down my report just in case someone wants to fax it across town. I write the report for the client, and if the color change or bold typeface is lost on the other end of some future fax, so be it. The client is the one person for whom the font change or colored text is included. (And that is only 1 or 2 "altered" words in, maybe, 25% of the reports.)
    Besides, nowadays, most multi-paged reports are emailed around town, not faxed.

    Using the fax analogy would dictate that no photos are included either, because they don't transmit at all. (Well, they do transmit, just as large blocks of black and gray.)

    Just my .02 cents, and to each his own, of course. What works for one may not work for others.

    Dom.


  9. #9
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    One size does not fit all.

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  10. #10
    Ezra Malernee's Avatar
    Ezra Malernee Guest

    Default Re: Red Ink

    I use red for Defective and Safety items in the body of the report and the summary pages along with color photos. Reports are emailed and a hard copy sent out later. No complaints yet by clients, agents are something else.

    Ezra Malernee
    Canton, Ohio


  11. #11
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Nothing, though BEATS ALL CAPS TO BRINGS ONE'S ATTENTION TO A PROBLEM you want to bring their attention to.

    Dom, just something to consider FOR YOUR CLIENT'S BENEFIT.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    Nothing, though BEATS ALL CAPS TO BRINGS ONE'S ATTENTION TO A PROBLEM you want to bring their attention to.

    Dom, just something to consider FOR YOUR CLIENT'S BENEFIT.

    Sorry, Jerry. I refuse to use all caps. It bugs the hell out me trying to read paragraphs of all caps. (Kind of like some of your posts... )
    BUT THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION.


  13. #13
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Quote Originally Posted by Dom D'Agostino View Post
    BUT THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION.
    There, see? It wasn't so bad after all.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    So what I'm getting from everyone is that BLUE would be more appropriate.


  15. #15
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    I use Blue and Red for different purposes, just to set apart recommendations about maintenance is blue and some items in red. I deliver the report directly to 99% of my clients via email, so faxing limitations are not something I consider. If I know the client must have a copy via fax, then I might make a few extra verbal explanations, but even without the different color text, the report will convey all the needed information, it might be little harder to read, but all the information is still there.
    I never use all caps, but italics, underline and bold are all possibilities when appropriate.
    Jim

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  16. #16
    Richard Rushing's Avatar
    Richard Rushing Guest

    Default Re: Red Ink

    When I'm typing an item on my report, I use the F9 key in a macro to auto type:
    "In Need of Repair"

    At the end of the item requiring attention.


  17. #17
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    Smile Re: Red Ink

    Rick, I used to use red arrows or circles. The web-based report system that I use allows me to use different colors. I now use yellow or blue arrows depending on what shows up best on the photo. This seems to not scare people as much, but still draws attention to the item.


  18. #18
    Jeff Knight's Avatar
    Jeff Knight Guest

    Default Re: Red Ink

    Remember that about 8% of males with European origins are color blind and about 1% of females are. The most common color blindness (99% of the cases) are color blind to red and green. I recommend bolding and underlining text instead of messing with the colors to avoid the problems with people that are color blind.

    Jeff


  19. #19
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    So I guess using the term, "POS" throughout the report is not recommended.

    Don't you just wish sometimes you just say it like it is?


  20. #20
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    Wink Re: Red Ink

    I will sprinkle in the word "death" every so often. For example...."furnace flue pipe blocked with deteriorated chimney debris (death hazard - repairs needed)". I find it really grabs their attention .


  21. #21
    Jeff Knight's Avatar
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    I also have heard many times from home inspectors or teachers-for-home inspectors to not be an "alarmist"....my opinion (as a consumer) is that you should be an "alarmist" if it is an "alarming" issue. I am paying you to help not only discover what is wrong in the house I am buying, but also to help me evaluate what things I should be most concerned about....I may be a newlywed couple that knows squat about homes and I am depending on your expertise to help me out... and I could gives a rat's ,you know what, about whether the agent thinks the inspector is being an "alarmist".


  22. #22
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    Fot the last few months, I feel like I'm on the front of the firetruck truck revving up the sirens.
    Is that the firetruck I said needs to be parked out front?

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  23. #23
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    YES SIR IT IS

    And bringing up the rear are the paramedics and I believe I see a hearse coming too.


  24. #24
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    And bringing up the rear are the paramedics and I believe I see a hearse coming too.
    For my old "surviving spouse" and their just deceased partner, no doubt.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  25. #25
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    Default Re: Red Ink

    I remember one magical time (which I repeated several times afterward) wherein a builder asked, after I pointed out some serious design flaws - which were also against code - in the swimming pool of a very expensive new house, "What's that worst that could happen?"

    (Never, never, and I repeat - never - ask a home inspector "what's the worst that can happen". )

    By the time I was done explaining what's the worst that could happen, there were *7* dead people in the pool, each progressively died trying to save the previous one(s).

    The look on my client's faces was priceless, but the look on the builder's face was 'a Kodak moment'.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

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