Our goal at HomeInspectionSoftware.com is to help you realize the difference between ordinary inspection software, and feature-packed, time-tested home inspection software.
As a new inspector, you might be confused by the bewildering variety of choices available to home inspectors. Looking at all of these programs, you might have questions such as...
- What features do I look for?
- Will it handle residential and commercial inspections?
- Will it be able to be modified to meet my needs as a home inspector?
- What should be included and what should I expect to pay extra for?
What features do I look for?
That depends on what you are looking to do, but here are some starters...
A single screen interface. A single screen interface allows you to read through your entire inspection report by scrolling up and down through one window, kind a like a word processor. A single screen interface allows you to see where you have been, and where you are going...
Many home inspection software programs require you to jump in and out of various windows, and sub-windows to see the comments you have already entered into your report.
A single screen interface is the most important feature to have if you wish to create home inspection reports in an efficient manner.
Will it handle residential and commercial inspections?
A home inspector may initially begin their business only performing residential inspections. We have found that eventually, many inspectors will want to do commercial inspection reports as well.
A good home inspection program will include residential and commercial inspection forms. Some companies actually charge you $1,500 for a separate program. Why? If the program they created for writing an inspection report is generic in nature, shouldn't they just be able to provide you with another template or form for creating a commercial inspection report?
The quick answer is that the better inspection programs do this. They provide a general purpose inspection software that is capable of running various plug-in forms. The plug-in forms vary, but may include such categories as home inspection and commercial building inspection.
Some companies even include a program that will allow you to create your own inspection form from scratch. Yes, you can actually start from nothing, and make a complete inspection form encompassing all the areas that you normally inspect.
Will it be able to be modified to meet my needs as a home inspector?
Each inspector has their own style for writing an inspection report. You may want to create a very detailed, textually rich, narrative inspection report. Or you may like to create inspection reports that have various checkboxes that allow you to note each item as "inspected, not inspected, not present, etc", with a minimum amount of text next to each checkbox. Or you may want to create an iconic style report that features icons that draw attention to defects, such as a hammer icon for a repair, or an icon of someone falling down stairs to represent a safety issue.
A flexible inspection program will allow you to create all of these styles, and will not limit you to one or the other.
The ideal program would allow you to design a report that is exactly the way you want it, including font sizes, styles, photos, and any final printed look that you would want.
What should be included and what should I expect to pay extra for?
There are a variety of features that at one time may have seemed like an amazing technological breakthrough... But we now feel the following features should be free in any inspection software that you buy...
Your software vendor should include all of the following at no additional charge
- Report Hosting - this allows you to upload your inspection report to a website on the Internet. The inspection software will then automatically send an email link to your customer so that they can download their inspection report from the website in PDF format, and print their own copy. The better software programs will also allow you to upload the report to your own website, if you have one.
- Office Management - a basic form of office management functionality should be included, such as the ability to track basic job information, clients, and buyer's agents. It should allow you to customize, print, and email invoices and work orders, and print mailing labels. You should be able to merge job and client information into inspection reports and summary documents with one click.
- Technical Support - you should be able to get free technical support. Ideally, this would be provided by multiple methods, such as live phone support, email support, online forums, and an online knowledgebase. This should all be free. Some companies may charge extra for technical support.
How does the competition stack up?
If you are looking to see how the competition stacks up, check out the following home inspection software vendors and see which ones provide you with the important features mentioned above. Also, add up all the costs associated with owning the software, including the services you might use, such as report hosting and technical support.
You might also wish to try out one of their demos and figure out the differences. If you are looking to purchase home inspection software, you owe it to yourself to take a day and evaluate the following home inspection software packages. Most companies provide a free evaluation version that you can download.
We think you will find one that meets your needs...
In alphabetical order...
Sincerely,
HomeInspectionSoftware.com Staff