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Kamloops, BC
Posts: 8
Joined: Nov, 2011
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Dallas, TX
Posts: 1075
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 Changing Software
[#2] Posted: 06/18/2012 - 7:22:54 PM |  |  |
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My personal choice is: Whisper Reporter
There are many options and good applications out there to consider, take for test drives and see which one works best for you.
Most of the good applications leave it up to you (the inspector) to develop your own comments, prepared text, etc., etc.. But you already know that.
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Cheers,
Nolan E. Kienitz
Nolan's Inspections, LLC
Dallas Home Inspections
http://www.NolansInspections.com
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Gaston, Oregon
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Kamloops, BC
Posts: 8
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Changing Software
[#4] Posted: 06/18/2012 - 11:52:27 PM | | |
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Jim, I'm not sure to tell you the truth, I've mostly looked at some sample reports. I've noticed some focus on a narrative or general description rather than the actual condition of the house, I know on the report that was done for my house each component included a vague description "the roof material is vital as it keeps water from penetrating your house" I find it muddles the report and creates many more pages and much more reading than required.
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BC Home Inspector - Red Seal Carpenter - Gold Seal Project Manager
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Georgetown, KY
Posts: 2179
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Changing Software
[#5] Posted: 06/19/2012 - 03:12:24 AM | | |
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The software should be a skeleton that does the the computer programming for you, let's you arrange the skeleton to suit yourself and then YOU add the commentary as you see fit.
I switched from Palm-Tech to HomeGauge several years ago..
BUT, expect all of them to have crap commentary the one one you have above.
Whichever you buy, make it your own.
Most offer a free trial version. Download them, play with them and then decide.
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Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, KY
www.b4uclose.com
www.kentuckyhomeinspections.com
https://www.facebook.com/B4UCl...pections
Kentucky Home Inspections
Kentucky Home Inspectors
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Lafayette, Louisiana
Posts: 3858
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Collins, NY
Posts: 3143
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Changing Software
[#7] Posted: 06/19/2012 - 06:45:07 AM | | |
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Hmmm? Are you volunteering? 
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Tom
http://clearcreekhomeinspection.com/
Life is tough enough as it is, it's tougher when your stupid. Don't do stupid things.
Dr Joe Lstiburek |
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Chicago, IL
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Changing Software
[#8] Posted: 06/19/2012 - 07:24:46 AM | | |
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Clarity, brevity.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Kenmore, WA
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Changing Software
[#9] Posted: 06/19/2012 - 10:09:43 AM | | |
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Hi,
Inspect Express by our sponsors, DevWave, does what you want and works off a handheld thingy also. It's ideal for the non-techie. The boilerplate comments are easily edited with s simple right click and then saved. There's a selection button in there when you set it up that allows you to use it in full-narrative mode or in semi-checklist mode.
I agree with what you say about the fluff. IE has some of that too. You won't like some of the boilerplate. There's fluff comments in there as well as passive inspector speak that drives me nuts that I'd never use.
Still, just about everyone tailors boilerplate to their own taste anyway and the engine is user intuitive, easy to learn, and once you get used to it you can edit boilerplate on the fly and just keep on adding and customizing it to your heart's content.
Download their trial software and give it a shot.
ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!
Mike
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Kamloops, BC
Posts: 8
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Changing Software
[#10] Posted: 06/19/2012 - 2:05:52 PM | | |
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Thanks for the replies, they all sound quite similar in that if you do the work on the back end it will make a customized report for you.
I'm doing on on Home Pro today using their demo version, will let everyone know how it compares to Palm Teck.
I have to admit that while technology doesn't make me cringe its not my favourite thing in the world, the general feeling I get is that windows based systems are better than android so now I've also got to decide between using my phone and an app and getting a windows based tablet and running everything off that.
Erby, just wondering why you switched from Palm-Teck it seems to be one of the industry leaders.
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BC Home Inspector - Red Seal Carpenter - Gold Seal Project Manager
www.kamloopshomeinspections.ca |
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Victoria, British Columbia
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Changing Software
[#11] Posted: 06/19/2012 - 6:01:05 PM | | |
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I wouldn't want to rely on a tablet that might just go black screen in the middle of a job. Or blue screen or whatever. I know we are heading that way but not for me not yet.
I used to use Palm Pilots for forestry and learned to despise them, so I am biased, I guess.
A laptop plugged in to a wall outlet, yes, I can work with that. 
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Charleston, SC
Posts: 212
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Changing Software
[#12] Posted: 06/19/2012 - 6:57:55 PM | | |
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I second Nolan and suggest Whisper Reporter. You can download the full version and play with it. It's going to seem overwhelming at first, but the salesmen Larry has about the best customer service out there and will literally help you every step of the way. Sounds like a plug I know, but if you learn the program it's quite nice.
I'm using Whisper reporter with my Asus Eee Slate EP121 and it's amazing! It's a FULL PC with touch capabilities that uses Windows 7 and a CORE I5 processor. One of the best features is the 18 second start up. The stylus is the best on the market the handwriting recognition is awesome. The screen is made of Corning Gorilla Glass and is virtually indestructible. Prices are down to the $900 range because of Microsoft releasing the Windows 8 computers that are more "touch" friendly.
All in all find what's best for you. Most reporting software has free trial downloads. I would never consider a software that I could't try before I buy.
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Georgetown, KY
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Kamloops, BC
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Changing Software
[#14] Posted: 10/27/2012 - 11:05:52 AM | | |
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So a quick update/review if anyone is interested.
I tried Homeguage, it seems great, easy to use, very intuitive, a few different ways to organize the report. I imagine once you get familiar with it and can play around with it it gets even easier and better, but pretty impressive right out of the box. One thing I would change is that you check inspected or not, there is no box to allow you to report on the condition, good, marginal, defective etc. However this might be able to be changed I havn't played around much with the software. Other thing I did not like was after doing an inspection I found out you can't save as a PDF to send to a client with the trial version, live and learn I guess.
I also tried Home Inspector Pro, it looks easy to use and has some good features, mainly the ability to add comments very quickly, however I still havn't been able to figure out how to edit the comments so I have not completed an entire report yet. Also it seems odd that pictures must be added in a separate section of the software, as opposed to adding them as you write of each component of the house like most software allows you to do.
I'm trying to get Inspect Express but having some troubles getting the trial software off their website, will update once I get a chance to use it. It seems that the user reviews are right up there with Homeguage though and everyone seems to like it.
The more I look into different software I am starting to realize there is no perfect software that will write the report for you, someone should work on that.
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BC Home Inspector - Red Seal Carpenter - Gold Seal Project Manager
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Georgetown, KY
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Changing Software
[#15] Posted: 10/27/2012 - 6:55:18 PM | | |
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HomeGauge lets you easily change the titles of those boxes, the name and order of the sections, the names and order of items within the sections, easily exclude or include sections either one time or always.
All the trial versions are somewhat feature limited, but it's been so long since I've tried the trial I don't remember which. I know that the HomeGauge full version lets you print to PDF and either e-mail it or upload it to your file servers at HomeGauge. I choose to upload it as HTML and use the HomeGauge report delivery and filing system.
I open up my picture film strip and just go down the strip writing the comments and placing the pictures as I go down. The order I take the pictures dictates the order of the report writing as I choose to do it. Though you get to choose your own method, it's easier to flip around the report sections than to run up and down the film strip trying to find the picture you want. When I'm done with the film strip, I'm pretty much done with the report.
All of them have sucky narrative. Easier to write your own in your own writing style.
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Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, KY
www.b4uclose.com
www.kentuckyhomeinspections.com
https://www.facebook.com/B4UCl...pections
Kentucky Home Inspections
Kentucky Home Inspectors
502-570-4054 |
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Kenmore, WA
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Changing Software
[#16] Posted: 10/27/2012 - 11:35:28 PM | | |
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If you are having trouble downloading the trial version of Inspect Express, just email Mike Brown, one of the developers, at DevWave for help. his email address is mike@devwave.com.
Heck, they're right there in B.C.
ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!
Mike
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Sykesville, Maryland
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Changing Software
[#17] Posted: 10/28/2012 - 05:20:01 AM | | |
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I'm like Erby, I downloaded a bunch of the free trial ones three years ago, went with HomeGuage. Delete all their wording, easy to create your own. I like how easy it is to put drop-down selections in sentences so you can make one sentence fit a lot of things such as a "Room" drop-down to choose which room you are talking about or a "Fixture" drop-down to choose which bath fixture you are referencing. Easy to make the report look like whatever you want, easy to add text and markers to photos. I use a camera with an SD card, just take the SD card from the camera, plug it into the laptop, tell the HomeGuage where the pictures are and it loads them all into a strip. Write or plug-in a pre-made sentence that you have created, and then double click a picture - done, go to the next one. Instead of making notes, I just take pictures, so as I run through the picture strip, I have all I need to complete the report. Save the completed file as a PDF and either print on site or e-mail. I haven't used the HomeGuage site for delivery.
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Oswego, NY
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Changing Software
[#18] Posted: 10/28/2012 - 06:37:32 AM | | |
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HG also does an outstanding job with support, has it's own forum for users to help each other, can be brought to a new computer in a minute, with all of your boiler and templates, and allows you to use video in the report.
It also has great online tutorials to get you started.
And, if you need some amusment during down time, the spell check is absolutely hilarious. My one and only complaint.
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I'm Gary Blum and I approve this message
www.gtbinspectionservices.com |
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Georgetown, KY
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Nazareth, PA
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Changing Software
[#20] Posted: 10/28/2012 - 1:53:21 PM | | |
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Erby:
Your sample reports are the only HomeGauge reports I've seen that didn't have the HG logo prominently displayed on them. I assumed that was something that couldn't be changed, so for that reason, I didn't even consider HG when report software shopping a few years ago.
I decided to go with Inspect Express. I bought it nearly two years ago, but the task of setting it up, and also replacing the boilerplate with my own seemed so herculean a job, that I haven't done much beyond installing it and playing around with it a bit.
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Joe Hancaviz
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Oswego, NY
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Changing Software
[#21] Posted: 10/28/2012 - 3:09:02 PM | | |
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Joe,
You can take those logos out in a click and ad your own in the same amount of time. Mine is set up similar to Erby's style and automatically drops a small GTB logo before any comment on a defect. I did it to draw attention to the comment and to make the report easier to follow.
I hope the IE guys take this the right way!
I had a very frustrating time with the trial. I played with it for more than a week and just couldn't make it work before I finally gave up on it. Probably something I was missing.
Erby, that's a great looking website.
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I'm Gary Blum and I approve this message
www.gtbinspectionservices.com |
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Rochester, New York
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Georgetown, KY
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Changing Software
[#23] Posted: 10/28/2012 - 6:21:16 PM | | |
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Anybody that uses most of the stock comments with any software probably oughta do a REALLY good job of proofreading to make sure the comments are really saying what they want. Most don't.
Joe: Almost all the software guys want their logo someplace. HomeGauge let me replace all but the "prepared using HomeGauge software" someplace in small print way down at the end.
Gary: Thanks. One of these days I need to update it a bit though.
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Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, KY
www.b4uclose.com
www.kentuckyhomeinspections.com
https://www.facebook.com/B4UCl...pections
Kentucky Home Inspections
Kentucky Home Inspectors
502-570-4054 |
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Victoria, BC
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Victoria, BC
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Victoria, British Columbia
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Changing Software
[#26] Posted: 10/30/2012 - 5:08:20 PM | | |
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I bought Home Insp Pro when it was on sale.
Pro - The support is very good, not just for the software, but SEO and other..
I batch load pictures, like 130 pics at once. Then label the ones I want to use. It's quick and easy. I throw narrative in with the pics, works for me.
Con -Now the new version is out and they want me to pay again to get the upgrade.
Java 7 screws the old version up, so I have to make sure to uninstall Java 7 to run my old program. If not, I could lose a whole evening's work in one click.
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