When I research, I research. Thats why I keep telling you about HIP. I am trying to save people time and money. Just go with HIP for reporting software, SEO, creating websites and more.
Sometimes there are reasons for “fire sales”. As a home inspector I would be very leery of those free giveaways…desperate times call for desperate measures and I would be wondering why these software companies need to start giving things away for free or almost free. You cannot support or advance software when there is no money coming in to do it. In my opinion, it is a last ditch effort to hurt the competition before they close shop. Just my 2 cents.
Dale,
What are your thoughts on a client that would sell an inspection report done for them by you to another home buyer since the home buyer had to sell the house 3 months later and figured it was still good ? It is THEIR report is it not ? They paid for it.
It really depends upon the situation. If the new user needs training and support and the software vendor has to do all of that again to get the new inspector client up to speed it can be a very costly process. But most software companies will let you do it if you discuss the situation with them first and make it so it makes sense for both parties. We have let our clients transfer their software licenses when they call us and explain their situation. Mostly it is because of a hardship and they are closing their business and selling whatever tools of the trade they have to try and recoup some of their costs.
I won the PV software on the daily door prize about a couple of years ago, a week after I had purchased HG. I realized real quick I wanted to stay with HG. I asked PV if I could sell it (or give it) to another NACHI member and the answer was NO:shock:. My HG decision was the correct one;-)
I do not know you Jeff, but how you compare selling a home inspection report to selling a software license which is no longer useful to someone has me bewildered, two horses of a different color. If a client wants to sell “Their Report”, not mine really, I could care less, it says in my agreement the report is for the sole ownership of the name of the person who paid for the inspection and is copywrited by me, which actually might make me the owner in a round about way, but if ever came to going to court regarding who actually owned the report, my copywrite clause would probably be used for toilet tissue.
It would make me think from your post if someone asked you real nice you would consider allowing somebody to sell their license they purchased from you. Well if you allow someone, that is very nice of you.
I am once again glad I purchased HomeGauge years ago, which in my own opinion is the best software available, but I certainly do like Homeinspectorpro. I have looked at yours before (Knight Software) and it definitely is not my cup of tea, no offense, I just do not like the look of the reports.
Dale,
Can I ask what you did not like about the “look” of the report ? It is NOT a checklist style report if that is what you prefer…but if you like the HomeInspectorPro report format that I am confused since the report formats are VERY similar.
I agree that a homeinspection report and software package are apples and oranges BUT they are similar in that you spend time and resources with the client for the product and if the product is switched to another client without extra revenue and then having to go through the same process with the new client can be costly. I do not understand why Loren would not let someone that just won the product give it to someone else …that is completely stupid.
I agree with you Dale. HomeGuage and Inspector Pro is proven software and the best out there. Nothing but praises on this message board for these two products. Bottom line is all the other ones are just Sh!t.
I would think of it a retention. You are going to lose the customer regardless, so why not let the license transfer so the former owner can turn somebody else on to the product. At least you have the annual support income. You may even gain upsells with other templates and what not.
And you wouldn’t think a company should have enough of a problem of people abandoning the software to make it a big deal. You should expect your customers to keep you and to have the support they need to accomplish that, and if you lose some to retirement or other reasons, give them the gift of having used your software and being able to sell it to a fellow inspector.
Just FYI Linas,
Both Russell and Dominic have recommended our software on this message board…you can look through the history on some of the threads if you do not believe me. Not sure why the best proven software companies would have high regards for our software unless they knew that it was a great product.
I agree completely. I would only sometimes require that the new client pay for a years worth of support/training to compensate for that expense portion. I would never require the new client to pay for the software over again. We have only had the situation come up twice over the last 10 years in this business with well over a thousand inspectors so it is not a common occurrence.
Jeff Knight does have good software (there, recommended it again), but my competitors are only dreaming if they read into that I sold some bulk licenses to Nick because I was hurting in some way. Not so, Nicks idea and I was happy to oblige.
HomeGauge is debt free. We don’t have any other partners with interest in the company. Even in these tough times HG still has 10 employees, 3 full time programmers in house and a bunch of features and benefits in the making.
4.2 due out by Jan 2009 (less than 2 months) adding a drawing tool for pest control reports and more.
New ideas planned in 2009 to add to our internet tools HG Services so stay tuned. It gets even better!
Russ,
Thanks for the verification of our software and I also stand behind Russ on his software. Their internet tools are the best in the industry. I also want to quantify that my previous statement on a particular software vendor giving their software out for free really did not include HomeGauge since they did not do it for free or at a very cheap price since $1,000 per license would not be considered giving it away in my eyes. Just a great 100 license deal for Homegauge and for the InterNACHI members through Nick.
