NiFast Template

[Casey Patten]

Marcel, if you download Drew's HIP fire inspection template, it covers pretty much everything on the SOP.  He's outdone himself with these 2 things, I say!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I did Casey, but this last SOP is way more comprehensive than the template. It appears anyways.
Maybe it's because it is more broken up in the template. Just looked at it again.
I am just trying to figure out how to remember all in case we have to eventually do it in the field. 

Check list for field use to make the reporting more accurate and easier might be helpful with all this.

Just a thought. 

[Drew Levy CPI]

Wow! Very comprehesive SOP Drew.
Good job on that one.
First thought while reading, was, how in hell will I remember all of this?
Maybe this is one that should be in a check list format during the inspection.

Would look good as a manual too.

Thanks Drew, job well done. 

Thanks Marcel, I can't really take the credit for all of this. Nifast produced the SOP, I provided the framework and input of mine and all of you guys.

Nifast is looking to see if anything in the SOP leaves us too exposed to liability.

[Drew Levy CPI]

Marcel, if you download Drew's HIP fire inspection template, it covers pretty much everything on the SOP.  He's outdone himself with these 2 things, I say!

Thanks for the kind words Casey. Your check is in the mail!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Drew, did it ever cross your mind to have the local fire department chief look at this SOP and see what they think of all this and what we are trying to do?
Just wondering if they would have some constructive input in all of this.
Just a thought. 

[Dominic Maricic]

Marcel, you can just print a blank copy of the template Drew's working on and laminate it since you don't take a computer on site. You'll have everything in front of you.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Good point Dominic. Now why didn't I think of that? 
Thanks.
I'll have to print one out to see how it looks.
Just anxious for the market to turn around here so we get some work. Looks like I'll be out of a job again in a few weeks the way things are working out.
Did an inspection last Saturday, but a referral from a buyers agent. Sellers agents don't want to see me around.
Awwell. One day at a time.
The reports are getting a little easier Dom, but can't seem to cut them any shorter. 165 pictures this time and 30 + in the report.
Maybe I am to technical. 

[Dominic Maricic]

Hey Marcel,

Gotta learn how to stop hitting the keyboard with your club, things will go much faster

Keep working on your site and that'll bring you more inspections. As far as inspection time, can you break down where you're spending your time? Are you writing things down in site off a blank printed HIP Report? You'll enter the data MUCH faster if you have a laminated copy that matches your template.

[Casey Patten]

Marcel, you're right...I haven't looked at the HIP template lately!  I agree, some form of checklist would help.  
No problem Drew...excellent work...any/all checks are appreciated!  

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Hey Marcel,

Gotta learn how to stop hitting the keyboard with your club, things will go much faster

Keep working on your site and that'll bring you more inspections. As far as inspection time, can you break down where you're spending your time? Are you writing things down in site off a blank printed HIP Report? You'll enter the data MUCH faster if you have a laminated copy that matches your template.

I tried that Dom and it slowed me down to much. Now I take all pictures and minimize the notes. Shorten my field inspection by 1/2 hour and once home, download on Picasa and switch from pictures to report while doing it. Works great. Batch download the pics on the reports and did as you said, just caption the ones I need and that cut another 1/2 hour.
Cut out sections for print that I don't use like the garage on this one, and still ended up with 42 pages.
The report is where the time is.
Every item on the report, I have to edit the comments because nothing fits the situation, because they are always different.
I suppose once I get a hundred of them, most likely the comments will be there.
I am a Narrative type of person, so canned comments don't work. Only because they don't fit the real picture that the client is paying me to find out.
Maybe I am just to technical. But that is what they pay me for.
Never would have got this far without your help and I thank you for that. 

[Casey Patten]

Marcel, I agree completely with you!  No matter how much time I invest in typing out "canned" responses, I never seem to find exactly the right one for each house/situation and wind up typing it over! 
Do you use the checkboxes?  I'm thinking of eliminating them totally, as it's just another step in the reporting; my clients seem to have liked the more narrative style, plain English.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I have been using them Casey, and this last one it crossed my mind to eliminate them, cause all I do is check fair all the time. This would save a few seconds and sometimes I find that I forget to check them and only notice after I print the report and have to pencil them in.
I think I will try it next time. But up til now, did not know how to delete them. I am still learning.
This report system is awsome once you learn how to use it.
Thanks to HIP for producing an excellent report system.

Like a Carpenters' new tool, only as good as the one knowing how to utilize it's full potential. 

[Casey Patten]

I'm with you Marcel.  I think for my next trick I will eliminate the checkboxes.  Seems like I often get stuck between checking one box (so the client thinks all subjects are Ok) and checking 2 boxes and trying to explain which item is bad and which is good.  So I know I agonize too much over it!  Just type it out, eliminate the boxes and hopefully confusion...
Did you figure out how to elminate the checkboxes? 
   1.  Go to Report Settings on the top menu
   2.  Report
   3.  Just above the ratings, the little box that says "Check This Box To Include Ratings In This Report"
   4.  Un-check that box

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Thanks Casey, I will do that on the next one. 

[Casey Patten]

No problem!  I hate to see guys lose money when they wield their clubs on their computers! 

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I might shake it a little, but they cost to much to hit with a bat. 

[Steve La Rosa]

Marcel and Casey it is great to hear I am not alone in the fact that I agonize over my reports... averaging 6-8 hours writing...
Got the onsite time under control and still doing more than many guys but the writing time is killing me... Dominic has been helping tremendously! This HIP program is as good as any and better than most... I LOVE IT! Photos, labels take time... [PERIOD!] The more you insert the more time... The comments??? IF YOU KEEP ADDING THEY JUST GET MORE TO READ AND still they never seem to fit the exact condition or situation so I almost have to write new ones... IF THEY COULD BE COMPARTMENTALIZED somehow??? all similar comment sabout same item together but since they are simply alphabetical... Then you guys would know better than I, when I save they seem to wind up separated again or am I wrong???
No matter Thanks for making me feel better, knowing you guys are having similar problems...
Good Luck finding work Marcel... On Li we're BZ but after April 30th who knows?

[Dominic Maricic]

Steve, the comments definitely don't need to be alphabetical! In fact the only way they'd get that way is if you click Sort. Click on Edit Comments to open the editor on the left then use Move Up/Down to rearrange the comments the way you want. You can then insert comment separators like a comment called **GFCI ISSUES** within the electrical page if you don't give GFCI it's own section.

[Scott Justason]

I havn't been here in awhile but I'm still trying to download Drews Nifast template. It shows up in data files with a padlock icon before it. When I open HIP it's not in the list with the other templates. Any helpful hints  out there?

[Scott Justason]

COuld it be a windows 7 issue? I keep deleting it because of the padlock (sharing issue?). I reinstall it and the padlock is back. It's not the Nifast template itself as I tried a couple others and get the same thing. It shows up on the list in data files but not in the template list when I open HIP. Please help anyone?