rbaake

Word has drop-down boxes also. I use them all over my reports. Picture below is from my invoice... Download Attachment: dropdown.jpg 30.41 KB

Thanks guys, this is the solution I came up with. Since I don't like my reports to read like one big disclaimer, I decided to link out to the SOP included in the report. An example is below. If you click below the Exterior section title (NJ HIAC…) you'll be taken to that section of the SOP. It's things like this that make me love Inspect Express working out of MS Word... Download Attachment: SOP Disclaim.pdf 32.94 KB

Anyone have any verbiage regarding items not covered in their standards of practice (irrigation systems, low voltage lighting and such). "An irrigation system is installed at the residence. The condition of this system is beyond the scope of a residential home inspection as defined by the State of New Jersey Home Inspection Advisory Committee. We recommend consulting with the current homeowners for any special knowledge regarding this system and its operation." My pre-agreement mentions these items in detail and I do include a copy of the state standards in my report, However, from experience, I can say people skim-over them at best. I'd like to add a line or two in my Exterior section as I feel most clients actually read that section.

When I started my business in 05' my phone never rang, looking back it was the best thing that ever happened. With nothing to all day and plenty of time, I did what I always do…hit the library and learn something new. For me it was HTML & CSS, a daunting task at first but after a good six months in Dreamweaver, and 3 (not-so-good attempts) I got my site up and running. It's not great, just good enough. Website, brochures and business cards say so much when done right…you need to always look like you know what you’re doing if not, don't do anything, have someone else do it, just my opinion. In the beginning I’d say 80% of my work came from my site. I worked on it every day all day. Clients seemed happy and the word of mouth started. I never have or never will kiss any agents asses or marketed to them directly, but quite a few now recommend me all the time. I think the failure-rate in my state (NJ) is something like 75% for new inspectors… Ask yourself, what am I good at? I have to admit that my graphic arts background (amongst other things like a minor in art history…what the hell was I thinking?) have helped considerably. I never, EVER thought the time I "wasted" learning those things would EVER help me do anything. I was wrong. I haven’t seen your site (where’s the link?), but it sounds pretty bad. I sometimes go through the NACHI, list of inspectors and look at websites at random. I can’t believe some of the things I see! Computer shit has snowballed for me. Just recently I've passed my CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator) so I’ll have something to fall back on the next time the real estate market shits the bed...

Anyone familiar with this heating unit? Higher end home with WM boiler. Radiators throughout with this at the toe-kick below the kitchen sink area. Switch for high, low & off (for integrated blower). Copper visible so I know (ok, I think) hot water is coming from the boiler. Throws off a lot of heat... See them occasionally in newer homes. Click to Enlarge 56.56 KB

Great advice all, thanks for your comments...

Also, from experience, I think it's more difficult taking a picture of a reflective data plate then just writing down the numbers. Turn off the flash, put the camera in macro mode...I take one every-time but their never legible. ...yeah, I need a a girl, 20-25yrs with photo skills...tattoos and a passion for the written word...

Kurt, no...business is good, hence the dilemma. As for Word, 2 monitors drag and drop. I think I may need a girl to answer the phone, Extremely hot, great voice and never ask where I've been all day... Funny, I remember when the phone never rang....

Bill Kibbel... ...I've spent some time with Pete Wilden, he NJ mentored me a couple of times and I see him occasionally at ASHI meetings (way back in 2005 when Pete was treasurer). I think Pete had more influence on me than anyone! Good too her from old Tri-State ASHI, David & Dee, and everyone else enrolled!

As for charging accordingly, I have been trying to do that for a while…It’s hard, especially in tough economic times. Price is the number one factor in so many people’s decision! I know who’s on the list of “recommended inspectorsâ€

Jerry, if I didn't have the serial number from the furnace at the time of the original inspection I wouldn't have been able cross reference the numbers. When the client an I looked at the numbers from my report, we both immediately realized what most likely happened.

Scott, thanks for your input. Like most I have tried most of the popular software available and can say that Inspect-Express's BEST feature is that it works in Word, the world’s best word-processor (and I'm use a Mac and generally hate Microsoft, but I'll give them that… Ha). However, once Acrobat “printsâ€

As for serial & model numbers I see a valid reason to include them. I did an inspection a few years back where the original homeowner had switched out a newer furnace and replaced it with an older unit after the inspection, right before moving. I think having that information saved me when the client called me back to the property because her heat wasn’t working properly. Also, I like to match compressor/coil for proper sizing and date everything I can. I like to think my reports are always improving. When all said and done the clients are ONLY left with what I've said. I keep a folder on my computer of reports that I acquirer on a day to day basis, some from clients, others from inspectors web sites an some from agents to name a few. Some are good and some are not in my opinion. A women showed me a report she had received from a well known nationwide franchise recently from a property she had purchased. Roughly 30 pages that included a "Hot Tube section an a Garage section" neither existed at the residence. Personal service, I think not.

I have been using Inspect-Express for several years now and I have to say I’m happy with it. I think I’ve tweaked it well (boiler plates, custom templates, Mail-Merge contact info in word, Auto-Text when needed ect.) for speed however, I still spend roughly 4-5 hours average writing my narrative reports for single family homes (I write all reports back at my office after the inspection). I include serial & model numbers for major mechanical items, date them and include hyperlinks to manufactures websites (information, on-line manuals). I also include 10-20…30, photos if needed (each resized for PDF delivery of 800x600 and annotated in Photoshop). I include a summary which highlights the major findings, safety issues and recommendations found in the individual sections of the main report. I then number all the finding (thanks john Dirks, it does make it easier when various parties are discussing the report over the phone), create a PDF from word (a great option when using Acrobat as it creates bookmarks in the PDF for ease of navigation) and include the 800x600 photos as attachments. I then combine the PDF report with a PDF home warranty (if applicable), password secure the resulting report in Acrobat so no one can change what I write and ftp a copy to my web server. I do this because some web email clients do not support attachment over 5MB (rare but reports with over 20-25 full sized photos can approach 5-6MB. Also, after a year I file the reports on a DVD, if a clients calls regarding an inspection over a year old I just type the report number into my browser address bar ((password protected of course)) and I have it. I also like having multiple copies). I then send out an email with the report attached. I like my reports an my clients seem to as well! Problem is at 4-5 hours each it’s almost impossible to do multiple inspections in a day. My question is, how are other inspectors preparing their reports and how much time do you typically spend writing them? Narrative or checkbox? PDF delivery?

...yeah, what concerned me most was the client didn't seem to mind, "we'll just add some space heaters to the upstairs" This bothered me more, I hate space heaters, whole other set of issues. Small house with 90,000 btu's, seems sized pretty well. Investigate Further: No heat is directly supplying the upper level of the home. Two floor grates are provided to allow heat from the lower level to radiate to the upper level bedrooms and bathroom. This is an unusual installation and we recommend a consultation with a reputable HVAC contractor to discuss improvements and heating supply options. Comments: The normal sequence of operating modes was executed with no obvious defects noted except as noted above. All lower level rooms were checked for a heat source (delivery register) with no defects noted. Temperature readings at all delivery and return registers were found to be within normal tolerances.

Two story single family home built in the early 1960s. New Carrier gas furnace installed in 2005 in the basement with metal ductwork supplying the lower level only through conventional registers. Two square grates in first-floor ceiling (about 1.5 sqft total area each) allowing heat to enter the upper level sleeping areas and bathroom. No other heat supply to upper level (and cold) Never saw this in my area before, any comments? Picture below Download Attachment: UpperHeat.jpg 85.66 KB Click to Enlarge 59.37 KB

Marc I'm assuming your using the "Open Full Acrobat Search..." under the "Find" dialog box. You should be able to browse a location (All pdf Documents In...), type some numbers in the box below and have it search. This is a good idea. I've been debating doing this in in Word while writing the report and having it search an MS Access Database. Where did you find the PDF with all the serial & model numbers?

...I'm a little late but what the hell. Consider getting VMware fusion so you can run windows. It's the best $79 I ever spent, great product. I us Inspect Express which requires the use of MS Access which is not available for mac. To be perfectly honest, Windows runs better on my Mac then it ever did on a Windows machine.

Thanks Dom, seems the Vista hack did work after all. Just a bit different interface in windows 7 (set UAC to "never notify" under user accounts)

Has anyone successfully installed Inspect Express on Windows 7? Cant seem to access the IE database. Vista UAC hack not useful in Win-7

Hank, thank you...I just sent out the report saying " from the ANSI provided I would estimate system dates from the mid nineties" Seller told my client HVAC was replaced in 05...did not believe it either, hence the post.

Anyone familiar with dating Armstrong HVAC products (I believe they are a division of Lennox) although the dating codes don't seem to follow Lennox's strange standards! Unit is an "through the wall" package system in a one bedroom hotel/condo conversion, gas fired. Model: 64HWC182-2 Serial: A-10573JNA Ansi number of 1990 Thank You

On the subject however, and don't judge them by their name...but perhaps the finest printers you'll find on the internet (or anywhere for that matter) is: www.printingforless.com The New York Times wrote a great article about them a few years ago...Google it. More importantly, they will walk you through the process of four-color printing, a VAST subject! If you need help with this please contact me via my website below.

A little off the subject, but for some inspiration check out this from Creative Bits: http://creativebits.org/cool_business_card_designs ...some of the designs here really reinforce the the old saying "You only have one chance to make a first impression". I hope someday to see a home inspectors business card on a list like this...naa, where not that cool, nor do we care to be. There is an art and science behind business card design that most people would never believe. I only know this because I was involved in the printing business for several years. I'm sure most, if not all reading this will disagree with this comment but here it goes...HIRE A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER!!!!!!!! Think of it this way, we sit here and tell people all the reasons why they need a professional home inspector and why we think we know more about the business than their uncle bob who was a construction worker for forty-years. Bob however, may have missed the fact that the scorched wires in the Federal Pacific panel are double tapped and the Stab-Loc breakers are dangling from the bus bars...but how did he miss that, it's right in front of his face? Well guess what...a good designer can look at your business cards and see things that you can't, even though it's in front of your face. Your business card is the first (and sometimes) the only thing standing between you and your next job, if it doesn't end up in the trash.

Keep in mind that by default, most email clients (especially Microsoft Products) will not download images in emails. It's very important to keep this in mind when formatting HTML emails. Looks great...I use them myself.