What camera are you guys using? or is anyone just using a smart phone nowadays? Also does Inspection apps like Spectora make it easier for you?
Many here are having a difficult time getting that software to work. There’s a lot of home inspection software available with a free trial period. See what works for you. They should all have an integrated photo feature.
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If you have a decent phone, it will be fine for pictures. No need for a separate camera. Report writing software is a must, in my opinion. You would have a hard time passing muster nowadays with hand-written or checklist type of report. Most clients and agents don’t even want to see PDF reports anymore, so go with a software that provides a nice HTML report (with the option to convert to PDF if necessary). The upper end software like Spectora give you some great “back-office” features not available with the lesser options. But it just depends on what you want.
Thank You Martin!
Appreciate the feed back it Ryan. Thank You
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If you have a fairly new phone the pictures will likely be too big for reports that will be viewed online. Although some “cloud” services (which I don’t use) may allow storage of huge pictures there is little need for massive pixel count for viewing on a screen that doesn’t have that kind of resolution. If you email reports size is also a consideration. Some free photo software can batch reduce the pictures to a more manageable size (Fast Stone). An alternative is to use an older camera with less pixel count.
Quite an assumption… most clients buy a couple houses in their lifetime. My doctor gives me results via PDF and I somehow manage to hold my nose and view them. Not trying to be difficult but I think we all sometimes get a bit out over our skis with new technology in our industry.
Buyers (and agents) don’t care about us… they want information. They would take a report on a cocktail napkin if they thought we knew what we were talking about and it was relevant. Basically, a good inspector/inspection with a PDF report is going to leave some newbie with a state of the art, glitzy report far in the dust.
Always remember, software isn’t developed to help us at all… it’s developed to sell software.
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I use my phone (iPhone 15 Pro) for four reasons: 1) It takes great pictures in low light settings, 2) has great battery-life (I can take 300+ pictures on a single charge), 3) with the OtterBox protective cover, it is fairly rugged and darn near waterproof, and 4) it easily fits in my pocket. I have long considered getting a stand-alone camera (with swappable / rechargeable batteries) to be able to take more pictures and reduce reliance on my phone, but have yet to find one that meets all my needs.
One thing you are perhaps giving up when you use an older lower-resolution camera is the ability to really zoom-in on the images back in the office and spot things you did not / could not see while onsite.
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Dude… this ain’t the sixties!!
I’ve never had any of those concerns with any decent quality camera. I would bet there are more issues and complaints from Reports generated with phones than cameras!
Shhhh. Apparently his software doesn’t have PDF capability 
. Most real estate agents print off a copy of the report for their records. This is very easy when it’s in PDF format.
For the work I do I just attach a PDF file to the clients email. They forward that document to the builder for review and repair. It’s very simple. Nobody has to login to a website portal that’s probably down.
Experienced home inspectors appreciate simple and easy to understand reports. Their clients will too.
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If you didn’t see it on site - shame on you! What makes you think you’re going to see it at the office? A camera is just a tool. Like any tool you need the right one for the job and the knowledge to use it properly.
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Actually, just two clicks if the client or agent want to convert to PDF and print/read the report that way while they watch MASH reruns on VCR tape on their tube TV. 
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Someone’s bipolar
Someone maybe can read, but can’t comprehend. 
It is ugleeeeee…but it is there, you ain’t wrong 
Agreed. I don’t spend a lot of time reading Spectora reports. And too often, when I do, I find them clunky and difficult to navigate. If I had more practice, they would be easier. No homeowner is going to get “more practice.” The home inspector is far more impressed with their report software than the home buyer.
However, no Spectora report is the same. Some inspectors have taken control of their software and can publish a clear, concise report. I applaud them.
Years ago, I was building a self-defense longarm on an AR-15 platform. I liked all the gizmos—the laser, scope, grip, etc. I showed it to a law enforcement friend. He had me strip all that crap off. Then add back a red dot and a quick-release sling. Point. Shoot. Done.
In my opinion, that is how an inspection report should be. If it were only that simple, eh?
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I’ve been using a phone for a number of years now, my currenbt phone is an S-21 Ultra and I’m amazed that it’s still going strong, I used to replace them at least every other year. I also carry a camera with a good zoom if needed, or if I need to use it with my camera pole.
The software I use allows me to take the picture using my phone and the picture then gets inserted on the line in the report that I want. If I take pictures using my zoom camera or drone, I then am able to easily add them back at the office as I put the final touches on a report.
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It’s there, and it’s easy to find, and the lead in to the report instructs the user how to generate the PDF if they require. The PDF isn’t great though, I agree with that. Although, one can format their report for a better PDF. But that would not be wise, in my opinion, as the HTML version might suffer. And the HTML version is the primary output of Spectora, again, in my opinion.
People may not know this but HomeGauge has an HTML version and the .PDF is beautiful. It also has a repair list generator etc.
I am not selling HG to anyone over any other software. It does its job, I don’t love it, I don’t hate it.
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I would assume HIP does as well?
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