I have a Request!!

[David Macy]

I would like to ask inspectors that are using HIP and either finish there reports on site or get done at home within 1 hour report time to please send me or post a sample of the report.

The home needs to be older, with average to above average defects. 50+ pics. Crawl or basement.
In Cleveland most homes are older and are more typical quality or somewhat below.

I can get done quickly on newer build average to above average properties. 30-45 minutes.

I still struggle with report time on the requested samples. I would like to see what you are doing and what I am not.

Thanks for the consideration.

[Bert de Haan]

Posting here would be good so I can have a look at it as well. (Or send to both of us.)
The report takes me a long time as well but I feel anything I try to cut down the time also reduces the quality and detail.

[Bob Hintze]

I've done three basements in six years here in Florida so I can't help you (down) there. Here's a sample from a house that I did; I put on my website because it's an older house (1969) but may not be quite what you're looking for. I'm still tweaking my software even after 2+ years. Shoot me an email at bob@waypointinspection.com and I'll send you the template.

Sample report: http://www.atampahomeinspector.com/system/files/userfiles/reports/Jones_Inspection_2-01-2011.pdf

Regards,
BH

[Dominic Maricic]

Bob, what's your average report time?

[Bob Hintze]

15-20 minutes post inspection.

[David Macy]

Yesterdays report. 2 hours time at home.

No dinner/snacks/bath breaks.

Bank owned with lots of issues. I probably did not need the repetitive roof drainage pics.

Hope todays goes smoother.

Thanks for posting.

[Dominic Maricic]

Thanks Bob, good looking report How are the lists working for you in the template?

[Bert de Haan]

15-20 minutes post inspection.

Very impressive.  When I grow up I want to be just like you.

[Bob Hintze]

Drop down lists are a definite time saver. I redid the report in December and will tweak it again on my flight to Vegas in October. Keep the great updates coming.

[David Macy]

Bob

Finally had a chance to look over the report, looks good and considering the time works good.
I see you use the newline/bullet item separator.

Question.

Do you use terms other than serviceable to describe the report? Is the red text how you describe the defects? How to you separate a safety issue from a repair? Do you have a comment section that explains the terms used to describe the report?

With my format I can not use the bullet, new line as I need to insert the report convention like Repair or safety.
I like the look of a new line/bullet.

If a system had multiple defects how to you keep it in one line and not have multiple lines of one comment?

Thanks for sharing

[Cameron Anderson]

15-20 minutes post inspection.

Bob,

I looked through your report, real nice.  But PLEASE tell me you do some of the reporting on site.  I'm just starting to use the HIP system and it takes me about 10-15 minutes just to insert the photos, assign them to their correct section and later come back and assign captions from my notes.

Do you take 15-20 minutes to do the whole report or is there more time spent onsite filling in the report?  And if so, how much total time is spent doing the inspection, onsite and post?


Thanks

[Dominic Maricic]

I know Bob uses the CTL2Go to do data entry while he inspects so I'd say he basically finishes up photos and he's done. But I'm sure he'll jump in and clarify!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

15-20 minutes, wow!

Takes me well over 1-1/2 hour just to go picture after picture to add comments and send it to the right place.
3-1/2 just to do the report itself and 3-3-1/2 hours on site.
I take 100 to 125 photos on site with no notes to speak of.
Batch load the pictures in the report, but still have to go through them 1 at a time.
I do the report first and pictures last.
My pictures are downloaded in Picasa so I can reference them on a seperate screen view for reference.
I surely must be to technically exhaustive. Most reports are 60 pages or more.

Of course I only do an inspection once in a blue moon, but still. I never use serviceable.

I do like that bullet system though. I'll figure that out somehow.
Nice sample report. 

[Drew Levy]

It takes me about 1.5 hrs to a NJ POS with a basement after the inspection. That's down from 3.5 hrs previously. The merge feature may help a bit.

[Bob Elliott]

Takes me an hour just to edit photos.

[Bob Elliott]

I've done three basements in six years here in Florida so I can't help you (down) there. Here's a sample from a house that I did; I put on my website because it's an older house (1969) but may not be quite what you're looking for. I'm still tweaking my software even after 2+ years. Shoot me an email at bob@waypointinspection.com and I'll send you the template.

Sample report: http://www.atampahomeinspector.com/system/files/userfiles/reports/Jones_Inspection_2-01-2011.pdf

Regards,
BH

Looks great if your time is fast as you say.
Do you save a prefilled template to copy or just go all from scratch?

Only critique would be your using the component name over and over as it is already under your section or item name.
Example below:

.Condition of Water Heater 1
Observations:
• Water Heater appears serviceable. Operated under normal conditions.
• Water Heater piping connections are serviceable.
• Water shutoff valve is installed.
• Temperature relief valve (TPR) is installed. (Not tested.)
• Water heater should have a catch pan routed to the exterior installed.

[Jim Keilson]

I love HIP and Dave you helped me out when I first started with it:)  and Dome has been awesome for me.  My reports come out great, clients rave about them but they do take me 3+ hours to do a good job.

[Dominic Maricic]

That's way too long. Where are you spending your time? Is the TV on? Kids, wife?  Are you batch adding photos? Are you saving template each inspection?

[Jim Keilson]

I do the report first, then I go through and chose photos and edit them and add them to where they belong, the photos take an hour alone on most inspections. The process of simply going through every section, and adding the proper notes/comments and any other narrative takes 2 or more hours.  I don't mind as my finished reports are something I am proud of and always get good feedback on.

[David Macy]

Jim

I enjoy working with the program and report like you do.
I wanted to ask if you could email me or post here a copy of one of your latest reports. I am sure you have some great ideas and verbiage that I could benefit from. If not I understand your decision.

Have you tried the Macy Merge feature that Dom added, it has helped me big time.