My Sample Report - Opinions Wanted

[David Macy]

Please offer your opinions.

[Dominic Maricic]

Dave,

I think you did an excellent job. You dove right in after switching from another program and created your own template from scratch. Nice job!

[David Macy]

I made some changes to the plumbing section as I just had fixtures. That is kinda vague.
Thanks Dom

Wish I could figure out the item seperator and description. I keep changing to bullet and none for some areas and the program keeps putting it back. I am saving report and template.

[Dominic Maricic]

As long as you save template you'll be set. Just remember that the separator and description are unique to each section. So you need to change it in all of them if you want it in all of them.

[Mark Burnett]

Dave,

Your report looks very nice.  I like the template design.  I follow ASHI standards so I have an even greater appreciation for your style report.  I'm a new HIP user and I'm working towards a template design like this one.  Take care, Mark...

[David Macy]

Thanks Mark

I would be glad to share my template with you.

It does take a lot of thought and time to set up.

I have added Illustrations from the Carson Dunlop program and others from pictures posted on various boards

Dominic has been a tremendous help.

Make sure to save and backup because one wrong move can mean a lot of wasted time.

[Mark Burnett]

Dave,

That would be great if you would be so kind as to share your template.  It would be very much appreciated.  I'll make every effort to return the favor.  In attempting to design a template I've had numerous thoughts and ideas as to how to do it (I've never tackled something like this) trying not to miss anything and trying to formulate something that isn't to entailed but to the point, and most importantly easy for the client to follow and understand.

Are the illustrations from Carson Dunlops' Illustrated Home CD/series?  They're a very useful addition.

I agree Dominic is the best.  You don't find people who are as responsive and helpful as he has been.  I know I couldn't ask any more of him.  Anytime I've had the slightest issue/question he has been on top of it and works to a resolve.

Thanks again, Dave...

Mark
 

 

[Dominic Maricic]

We're actually working on a deal to resell the Cardon Dunlop's illustrations so that HIP members can get easier access to them. They really have put together a great set of illustrations.

[Mark Burnett]

Dominic,

Any idea when that will happen?  They are/can be a great resource and point of reference..

Mark

[Dominic Maricic]

I'll know more soon. I'm waiting on an email back.

[David Macy]

Mark

I have the older version of the black and white CD illustrations on disc and I also have some colored ones from the ASHI smart track program.

If there are certain ones you want I would be glad to email them to you.

I would say there probably are about 50 that are worth having.

[Mark Burnett]

Hi Dave,

I'd really appreciate it.  Not knowing what's contained in the fifty that are worth having if you could e-mail those that would be great!!  I hope it wouldn't be an entailed process on your part, if so a partial list would be to say the least, much appreciated.  Thanks very much for extending yourself. 

My email address is mburnett44@wildblue.net.

Thanks,

Mark   

[David Macy]

Here is a copy of my current template. Needs a lot of work.

By the way thanks to all the inspectors who have posted there templates and samples as it has been a big help in getting me started with HIP.

[Dominic Maricic]

Just an FYI guys. Watch the name of the templates you download to make sure they aren't the same as another on your computer. If they are, download them and rename the file before copying it into your data folder. You don't want to overwrite something you've made.

[Scott W]

David,

Thanx so much for you template. Its freedom to me.. I would appreciate your latest version and then I can start tweaking it for myself ant then share it with you. Your report sample is just as great.

[David Macy]

Scott

This is my latest template.

I change daily.

Still need a lot of work.

I just want to tab, click and batch photos, review and email. All in about an hour.

[Dominic Maricic]

I heard you did it in 45 minutes today You'll get even faster the longer you use the program.

[Scott W]

Thanx AGAIN. 

[David Macy]

Dom

To be truly honest. This one today was more like 30 minutes.

I had everything done on site. Only had 35 photos. Spent 10 minutes on the Nachi site finding an image and doing some research.

I just told you 45 minutes as my previous record was 55.

This was a clean house and my template was perfect for this house.

It is the 75 photo fixer uppers that take me 90 minutes. (Used to be 3 hours with previous system)

And I hardly ever bother you. (Except when I do something stupid like emailing to the wrong client)  Yes this is a good reason to use the upload service!!

I would think that by next season I will be able to consistently do my reports in 30-60 minutes.

Also I have been getting compliments/Calls from my website since I changed to HIP.

[Dominic Maricic]

All great to hear

[Jay Markanich]

Hey Dave - I think it looks great!  As to first impressions, the first couple of pages are all in red.  Are they all "major" or "safety" concerns?  If I were a buyer it would appear so to me.  Also, pay attention to typos and grammar - e.g. "21 year od central air system."  Other than those two comments, I think it is very well done!

[Dominic Maricic]

Yes, the first few pages are the summary (can be at front or end of the report). It does say Summary above the red comments. Obviously it's up to the inspector what they want on there be 99% put major and safety issues.

[Harvey D. Speakman]

Hey guys or gals. Justing getting started in the home inspection business. Would appreciate a good template for tennessee to get started. Lord only knows I need the assistance!

Thanks....Hope all is doing well in this profession

[Dominic Maricic]

Hey Harvey,

Quite a few of the templates the guys have loaded on here would work great in TN. Just take a look at the PDF sample and if you like how it looks, download the template so you can start using it! There's instructions on how to load the templates in the first post on this board.

[Harvey D. Speakman]

Dave,

I am just getting started in home inspections here in Tennessee. I like your report. Could you help me out so that I could get a similar report made such as yours. By the way I am originally from Columbus Ohio but made TN my home. I would appreciate it.

Harvey

Please offer your opinions.

[Harvey D. Speakman]

Thank Dominic

[Dominic Maricic]

No problem, the direct link is here: http://www.homeinspectorpro.com/inspector-forum/?topic=210.msg4710#msg4710
Check out the NOVA templates too as Serge built off of David's template here.

[David Macy]

I would be glad to share my template with you.

Dominic is right Serge took my template and did one of the best jobs with it. It is unbelievable good.

Now since I have been using HIP for about a year now there are 2 major factors in a good template.

1) The end result. This can get you referrals. I have had a lot of agents call me, refer me due to the quality of the report.

2) Time to complete.  This is where I am always trying to edit report/template. My template is still not field friendly. I want to get done with report in 1 hour.

I would use Serge's and you are more than welcome to use mine.

[John Dalton]

Scott

This is my latest template.

I change daily.


Still need a lot of work.

I just want to tab, click and batch photos, review and email. All in about an hour.

Just curious, I downloaded your template and noticed no bedrooms.  I've also downloaded another members template and again, no bedrooms... was it just an oversight or is there a reason?
Thanks
J.D.

[David Macy]

I do not do a room by room report. This is why no bedrooms.

I do a narrative report. You can find all the components of the bedroom in my interior, electrical and heating sections.

Windows, doors, walls, ceilings, ceiling fans are in interior. Ceiling fans can also be in electrical along with the lights, switches and outlets. Supply and return is in the heating section.

I used to do a room by room report and I now do a narrative.

The template you have of mine is older and I have updated it many times. It is getting there.
I update on a daily basis.

If I had a specific issue with a bedroom I would note the location in that section of the report.

Like if I only had one broken receptacle and it was in a bedroom the report would specify the location.

[Dominic Maricic]

One of the cool things about the program John is that inspectors can customize the template to their own special design

Some have a bedroom section for each bedroom. Some have one section for all the bedrooms, and some like David, now have no bedroom section! Some vary it depending on the house and how many problems it has as well. A very old , larger house with lots of problems will be easier to do room by room. A half way decent house can be condensed using a system by system style.

[John Dalton]

Nice, sensible explanations!  I stayed up for a while last night checking out the tutorials, wish I woulda done that first!!  Now I can't wait till I get home from my day job to really explore HIP!

[John Dalton]

I do not do a room by room report. This is why no bedrooms.

I do a narrative report. You can find all the components of the bedroom in my interior, electrical and heating sections.

Windows, doors, walls, ceilings, ceiling fans are in interior. Ceiling fans can also be in electrical along with the lights, switches and outlets. Supply and return is in the heating section.

I used to do a room by room report and I now do a narrative.

The template you have of mine is older and I have updated it many times. It is getting there.
I update on a daily basis.

If I had a specific issue with a bedroom I would note the location in that section of the report.

Like if I only had one broken receptacle and it was in a bedroom the report would specify the location.

Dave, I failed to mention that it is a great looking template, I may use it for another practice inspection and post the results for critique.
Thanks for making it available!