Starting own home inspection business

January was the freebies :wink:

February it became income positive. Better? :slight_smile:

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The only way it can become income positive is if it saves you enough time to generate income from other sources. And the possibility a pretty report generates more sales. I would argue that is negligible.

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That typically isn’t a software problem, but a user problem for not learning how to set-up their template properly… no different than the work you need to put into Spectora to make it what you want it to be!

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What, Me?

me-shocked

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image

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Just realized… WIN 95 wasn’t even out yet, so now I question your ability to honestly compare any software!!

Emoji - Hmm

You’re right. After a handful of hours futzing about with Homegauge, I tried Spectora. I was writing a report in minutes.

In the 1980s, the leader of Bell Labs told his engineers, I want every product that comes out of here to have one button and no manual. It was a principal of development, not an edict to be strictly adhered to. If you owned anything made by Bell or AT&T in those days, you remember how easy it was to work with.

I wrote front end software for 25 years on lasers, commercial inkjets, and a host of other factory equipment. We had a bunch of PHDs running the machines. PHD = Push Here Dummy. I used the same Motto for any software I wrote. I was a principal application developer for a multi-national and I KNOW good software. You can pick it up and use it but it still has the tools available to allow access to all the levers of control. I found this in Spectora, not in HG. I’m sure HG is powerful, I have no doubt of that. How you get there is my issue.

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Windows for Workgroups and Windows 3 were out for quite some time back then.

I believe this to be true. But (and I am not judging for I do not know) was the end product really a “report” worth publishing within minutes?

I suspect the back-end modifying, adjusting, changing templates, etc. has been very time consuming. You are going to put in the work one way or another is my point.

End the end it is a tool. If HG closed shop tomorrow I would hop into another software asap without much to-do about it. I need the tool. I have seen some pretty great spectora reports. Mainly because the inspector was good. I have seen some pretty great HG reports, HIP reports and even Word documents, all for the same reason.

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Well, it made it possible for me to do the job at all. I would not have been able to add inspecting to my service business without the software. I guess any software would do, but it was easy enough for me to figure out and be up and running without cutting into time with my other services. So yeah, it made all that possible.

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Well, the goal was to even see if I could do it without a steep learning curve.

The fact that I pretty much knew immediately how to edit stuff and update it meant I could get there from here.

Yes I continue to tweak my reports and add things. I did so just today with your toilet narrative. The difference was is that I was able to get out of the gate without weeks of work to make something presentable. I did NOT start with Big Ben’s template, I started fairly blank and added stuff in later. But it was trivial for me to do.

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Most of the bigger names are pretty good. Spectora isn’t the only game in town, even though I use them, for now. The others are putting out a pretty good/competitive product also. And that’s good for us!

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That’s good and I’ll jump ship too if it comes to it. Software is like a pair of socks. By the time you get comfortable with 'em, you notice the holes and need to get something new.

I wanted mobile friendly, easy start up. Spectora ticked both boxes. Compared to out of the Box HG, I think it’s better. Some folks clearly make great HG, HIP, Whatever reports and maybe I’ll need one of those once I dip my toes into a commercial venture when I get this residential thing sorted in a couple years.

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The one thing I know, I want them all competing for my money.

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Guilty as charged as the author of the auto receipt comment lol.

I went with Spectora after an awful experience with PalmTech… I know that you use HomeGauge, Brian; I think they produces a really nice report. I just heard some issues about them similar to that which circulate about Porch and that rubs me the wrong way.

HomeGauge and Spectora are very similar in regards to modernity though. Eneris reports look really nice. The new PalmTech Plus looks great but like I said I had some terrible experiences with them, namely their server inexplicably deleting my template.

My issue with some of the older softwares is that the comments and photos are separated in the report. In 3D and the older version of Palmtech, for example, you would have the text for deficiencies separated into paragraphs, and then underneath you would have a series of photos to correspond with the comments.

The thing I really like about Spectora is that the defect comments and photos are connected in a box, and informational comments are arranged in a separate field above.

Again, reminiscent of HomeGauge

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Rubs me the wrong way as well. I own the desktop version of HG and I have developed some ways to workaround their “data collection”. But it is not perfect.

I do like how spectora attaches photos specifically to the defect. You do not get lost in the scroll trying to figure which photo/narrative section you are in.

I have reasons for not using spectora which has more to do with commercial report format. And I am certainly not going to switch back and forth between two types of report software.

Also, I do not do onsite reporting so that feature is not of use to me. I hope this back and forth comments about these systems help other people.

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Yeah screw that, it took me a month to get my template the way I wanted lol.

One thing that makes me laugh when it comes to any software—it should never be used as is our of the box. Just look at the heating and cooling sections in Spectora—not very good for thorough documentation on any furnace or ac system beyond heat type and energy source ha. But you can break it down as far as you need to offer a thorough inspection from operation to component conditions.

When people imply that anyone uses a software as is without permitting the possibility that they have massively overhauled the template layout, I just can’t take their argument seriously. The insinuation is very transparent and… “so sad”

Btw Bri, on an unrelated note I appreciate your comments on various current events. It isn’t worth it to me to get into the fray, but some people have me wanting to pull my hair out with their, insert the proper word.

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I appreciate that. It typically feels like most people are mad it me. lol. Which I understand, it is all about perspective.

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The fighting about report format/brand is so funny… I hope you all realize the average consumer buys a house a few times in their lifetime and thinks about our software and report about as much as they do the radius of the trap their poop exits their toilet through. Agents? They might give it a couple more thoughts as they skim your report hoping you don’t kill their deal, but it isn’t going to make them refer you or not. Accuracy and reporting of findings is what agents want. Good ones don’t mind problems… just make sure they ARE problems, don’t make shit up and don’t be wrong.

Knowledge, communication and delivery on site are what make or break 95% of your business. Timely delivery of a somewhat coherent report is the other 5%. Point being, get a software/office system that works for YOU. Expecting a report system/format to differentiate you from your competition is laughable. A good report/system can (somewhat) bolster an already good inspector but it’s never going to make or break your business. I’d put my money on an experienced inspector that presents well and delivers a basic PDF report over some bullshit flashy Spectropalmomaticgauge crap anyday.

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I have been inspecting in FL for 10 yrs. I use the Vanguard report from Bestinspectors.net. Once you purchase it you own it and can customize it to fit your needs. Now monthly fees and no concerns about client information. Costomer support will walk you thru setup and use via online remote. There is a contract included that you can also customize depending on your state requirements. Check out all of them and see what works for you.
I use NITRO for sending contracts and reports for signature. One time payment for the software and service. No concern abour client info and you can do everything in PDF’s without the fees of Adobie or other 3rd parties.
Always get payment prior to or at the inspection. I use PayPal. The fees aren’t great but I don’t have to wait 3-5 days for processing. If the client is attending the inspection I tell them to bring Cash or Check.

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