Report time

[Jeff Knight]

Originally Posted by jjonas

I met Jeff at a seminar last year. Nice guy, and very passionate about his software. I believe that he was contributing to the thread as an expert on the subject, not as a vendor, per se. Vendors have a habit of getting bashed on this MB. Do a search on this MB, and you will find more than enough reading for one day to answer your questions about his software. He and Dominic have had many interesting discussions here.

Thank you Jeff...that is what I was trying to do. When I try to contribute I am sometimes wary on saying I am a vendor since some think "he is only trying to promote his product". I have been involved in this business for over 12 years and have talked to thousands of inspectors across the US and Canada and have tagged along with many home inspectors watching what they do and how they do it and I feel I have a pretty good feeling on what the issues are that home inspectors deal with on a daily basis. I also listen to their issues and how they try to come up with solutions to them. I would say the #1 issue they tell me is the extra amount of time they spend creating their report. They get frustrated when they have to turn away business because they are behind in getting the reports they have already done completed and delivered yet.

Most inspectors would like to be done with that job as soon as they get in their vehicle and drive away. Most inspectors would like to deliver a nice looking electronic report that looks more professional then a checked off, scribbled on carbon-copy paper form...without spending hours creating it later at the office or in the kitchen.

Inspectors adjust to their own method that works for them and that they feel most comfortable with... some would NEVER bring any type of computer with them ever in the field .... just like some would NEVER deliver a report on site...just like some would NEVER create a Summary report.....just like some would NEVER include photos in their report.

But hopefully EVERY inspector is always evaluating how they are doing their inspection and their delivery process and determining how they might become more efficient and better at their job and product they deliver to the customer. My advice may mean something to some inspectors and to others it may mean nothing. I have learned over the years that the biggest obstacle to us vendors in this industry is "change". It is not that the product is too expensive or that it does not make sense....it is that it is a major change and inspectors are not the bunch that likes to change quickly.

But I do believe most of them will change at some point and if you are the one that happens to talk to them when they have decided that now is the time for a change then you have success...on both sides..a win-win situation.

Whether the solution for you comes from Dominic, Russel, Carl, Will or myself hopefully it will improve your business and that the solution will continue to work with you on improving and making your job easier, more efficient, more professional and help you become a better inspector for the public.

Jeff Knight
Knights Software Solutions, Inc.
www.knightssoftware.com
715-381-1433

P.S. I agree....I would like to see the 30-45 min. inspection....or even the 1 1/2 hr inspection (unless you are in CA and it is a really small house with no basement and you don't get on the roof). My opinion is anything under 3 hrs at the inspection site is not a very thorough inspection. Just my opinion remember and it does vary depending upon many variables.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by Jeff Knight

P.S. I agree....I would like to see the 30-45 min. inspection....or even the 1 1/2 hr inspection (unless you are in CA and it is a really small house with no basement and you don't get on the roof). My opinion is anything under 3 hrs at the inspection site is not a very thorough inspection. Just my opinion remember and it does vary depending upon many variables.

I agree with you Jeff.

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

Originally Posted by mlarson

I agree with you Jeff.

As I do!

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by Jeff Knight

P.S. I agree....I would like to see the 30-45 min. inspection....or even the 1 1/2 hr inspection (unless you are in CA and it is a really small house with no basement and you don't get on the roof). My opinion is anything under 3 hrs at the inspection site is not a very thorough inspection. Just my opinion remember and it does vary depending upon many variables.

If you were a Home Inspector your opinion might have some value.

Also your premise that somehow data entry is faster is different rooms of the house is just crazy. There is not some space time worm hole in one room as opposed to another. Data entry takes the same amount of time no matter where you do it.

And please if you do respond and want to quote me, do not go off on another one of your weird tangents about scribbling notes, or voice recorders. Due respect an all.

[Michael Larson]

Did Jeff *** in your oatmeal or something Brian?

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

There is not some space time worm hole in one room as opposed to another.

How would you report that (if there were)?

[Brian E. Kelly]

mlarson


Did Jeff *** in your oatmeal or something Brian?

Originally Posted by Jeff Knight

I see... so inspectors that are writing notes on a preprinted form or on scratch paper or using a voice recorder and then later on they are entering the same data again on a laptop in the kitchen or at their office at home take the same amount of time to enter their data then someone entering it once in the field as they are doing their inspection. In due respect I would completely disagree. Someone that takes 3 hrs to do their inspection and then another 2 hrs later to create the report adds up to 5 hrs. instead of just the 3 hrs to begin with. Very simple really.

Jeff Knight
Knights Software Solutions
www.knightssoftware.com

Who knows where this came form Michael?????

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Who knows where this came form Michael?????

Perhaps I missed something but it seems to be a valid observation.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by mlarson

Perhaps I missed something but it seems to be a valid observation.

Not an observation from anything I posted. And if it is an observation from his cube, well...........................

[Bob Elliott]

Having read many of Jeff knights comments ,he seems like a stand up guy.
If I ever decided to use a PDA rather than a Laptop I would certainly check out his product.

Closest I come to using a PDA is when I sometimes sync my Remember the Milk program with my Blackberry tasks program and use folders preset with systems and components.
Even that is distracting

[Jeff Knight]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

If you were a Home Inspector your opinion might have some value.

Also your premise that somehow data entry is faster is different rooms of the house is just crazy. There is not some space time worm hole in one room as opposed to another. Data entry takes the same amount of time no matter where you do it.

And please if you do respond and want to quote me, do not go off on another one of your weird tangents about scribbling notes, or voice recorders. Due respect an all.

Since I have been directly involved in this market for over 12 years MAYBE my opinion has value...maybe not.

I never said it takes longer depending upon which room you are in...I think what you are referring to is when I was relating to inspectors that set up a laptop in the KITCHEN for their workstation area and they then need to go back and forth to the laptop as they are doing their inspection to enter the data they are collecting...this makes it a longer process then if they brought it with them as they are doing their inspection to save on the TRAVEL time...which can vary depending upon the size of the house. I have also seen inspectors that have gone back a second time to the area of the house they were inspecting because of forgetting something or not being able to read their own notes they wrote down. Hopefully this helps clear up what I was trying to relay in my previous message. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Jeff Knight
Knights Software Solutions, Inc.
www.knightssoftware.com