New Report Upload Technology

[Richard L. Bennett]

Are there any thoughts out there about allowing a company that is also in the inspection business having access to our data??

The "Virtual Inspector" subject is also something that falls in the same area. Of the people that are using it we know that you like it but what about the people that have tried it and said "NO"

rlb

[ddinwoodie]

Originally Posted by dsmith1

What would be the advantages of delivering my reports using your system. I have been emailing my reports in password protected PDF format for years and have had very few problems. With your system my client will still need a PDF reader installed on their computer. My clients are resposible for distributing their report to who ever they chose.

Just my opinion, but I have found 1 upload to be far easier than e-mailing the report and then dealing with the questions like:

"I deleted the e-mail by accident, can you resend it"
"Can you e-mail a copy to my realtor?"
"My e-mail box is full, can you send it to x instead"
"The attached report is too large for my email system"

Upload once and resolve all e-mail issues.

[Richard L. Bennett]

Dave

The issues that you outlined are not normal with a pdf file. The lost or deleated email is sort of the same problem of the person loosing the email link with a password.

rlb

[mrowan]

Richard

Our whole focus is on automation and business development.

The objective of our company is to provide proven and tested systems to the independents in our market so we don’t follow the footsteps of the hardware industry and real estate industry. How many small hardware stores are left apart form those that are connected to True Value? Like resale estate, how many mom and pops are still in business or is real estate mostly controlled by the large franchises. I met with many mom and pops years ago and of course they said the internet will never effect our business. Just look at the travel industry! Our industry will look no different in 10 years.

The franchises will have a much larger market share in years to come as they now focus on business development and not franchise development. They are developing more powerful systems every day for their franchises that most independents have no clue of. This will continue.

If we were to start selling systems and products that never made it to the shelf I would understand your concern, but we are not. We do have many if you are interested!

We are selling and licensing the success systems that we use every day. We do have a successful inspection business in terms of our industry and to my knowledge we are the only ones offering multi inspector and business management and marketing systems to the market that are test driven. Our entire operations and procedures manuals are for sale, as is our recruitment policies, marketing policies etc. How many competitors do you know that will actually do that? If NACHI members were to emulate anyone, I would assume it would be a proven and successful company!

The only other companies with these similar products are the franchises. Single operators and independent multi inspector companies are not going to get their hands on this information and the cost to develop is far to expensive both in terms of time and dollars. Take for example our real estate educational seminars. I spent approximately 100 hours developing one of those seminars alone. There are 11 of these seminars ready to go on our shopping cart for just $300. How many inspections did we benefit from these seminars? How many can you?

I would also mention that most vendors are previous or active home inspector companies. Carson Dunlop has by far the most invested in training materials and the best from the technical side; THEY TOO ARE A VERY LARGE MULTI INSPECTOR COMPANY! Should we now not purchase some of the best training materials in the industry? How many inspectors both in Canada and here in the US have a CD book on their shelf?

I personally take a lot of pride in our systems. I thrive on satisfaction from success and try to live in the glass half full at worst. Success to me comes in many ways. I love to hear that other inspector has received business or bettered their business from our systems. That is all that matters otherwise nothing else will. We have so many successful companies that have come through our school it is amazing, and yes they are using our systems. I even have local inspectors in our office weekly picking up systems and yes taking our business. But they are also taking every else’s business also. They even get help at various presentations that they do if they wish!

You data is not important to me, your success is.

If our virtual inspector can bring you one more inspection a month, it has paid for itself 20 times over and more. If our virtual inspector completely automates your inspection processes and procedures and saves time, then it has paid for itself over and over again. If Virtual inspector enables you to automate you Brinks reporting, the revenue stream will pay for the technology over and over again..

If our home inspection software enables you to complete inspections in the field completely and saves 20+ minutes per inspection, then this will help you also. If our new construction technology enables you to conduct many more inspection types for remodeling inspections, roof replacement inspections, window replacement inspections, storm damage inspections, then we have again put more money in you pocket and every inbound call is turned into earned revenue.

As we have moved through the last few years in technology, our entire focus has been on automation and business development. Our report software is excellent, but our managements systems are superb. We only develop systems that make sense for a multi inspector perspective. It must have return either from time savings or actual business. That is the difference and the approach that almost all multi inspector companies and franchises are moving to.

As far as myinspectionreport.com, this is another form of automation. An excellent piece of technology that can help you manage your report and client functions, headache free.


Every Inspection Depot Customer is our priority. We are invested in your success whether you like it or not. If it works for us it will work for you. Again, notwithstanding the liability and ethical position, your data is of no interest to us.

We want to build virtual inspector as the first Expedia of home inspection. Let it work for you.


Regards and thanks for your honest feedback

Michael

[Greg Bell]

Hi Michael,

You have to realize that there are some like Richard that don't want to be anything more than a plain Jane home inspector. They spread their words of negativity simply because they don't want anyone else moving ahead of them. There are many more NACHI Members that want to move ahead and become more than just a plain simple home inspector. I have no doubt that technology and credentials are the future of our industry no matter how many people we have that don't want to move forward.

[Fred Duemig]

I tried the system and I think it is great.

I do have a question/suggestion:

Can the inspector request a copy of the email that goes to the client? There could be a check box or an additional drop down to add another email address.

Could there be a section for inspector comments to add. If the inspector wanted to send a short message along with the report, could that be done?

Thanks,
Fred

[cdemsky]

Fred,

Those are great suggestions. I will put them on our list to bring up when we meet next to discuss upgrades.

Catherine

[Richard L. Bennett]

Mr Rowan

Thank you for the direct reply. Having met you in person and established a general opinion of where you are at and where you are going in this profession, I do understand what you are saying and respect your point of view that the franchise is the way to go. While I do not 100% agree, many of your points are to be well taken.

A simple statement that you will not use any of the information or data that you gain from your competitors would be reassuring. I too would become a vendor if I was able to invent a new mouse trap for HI's based on my field exp. This is enterpenuership at its best driven for a larger $ reward at the end of the month. Not a problem. If I do invent a new mouse trap your company would be one of the first that I would contact about marketing it. Business is business and $$ are $$ go with the best.

While I do not agree that a PROFESSIONAL service can adopt the business model of the independent hardware stores and True Value, there is an economics of scale in relationship to training, insurance, advertising etc., but the spread sheet is very tight in this area (trust me I ran the #'s using the franchise model)

As far as Mr Bell's support of your ideas at his negative post as to my and others position in the profession, I have the following to say - I would never expect YOU to express yourself in his professional manner. We all are for progessing for a better profession and making more $$ at the end of the month. If Mr Bell's opinion of members of our profession is the same as yours then you have lost a large market. A large number of inspectors will never be clients and thus your business model will be harder to achieve. It is never a good idea to call a potential client an *** even thought he is one. Now - how many people has he turned off about going to ICC boot camp or conducting any level of business with him?? At one time he wanted me to come to one of his chapter meetings (I do not know if it was the chapter that he has now or the one that he started and failed??) to do some training. Time change

If one can put an inspector on staff and pay him or her $40,000 a year in central Florida then the franchise is the way to go (200 inspections at $200 each in a year is = to $40,000) If the franchise can not pay an inspector this then one is better to go on their own and charging $250.00 or more for the same or less work.

As far as the Internet and computers go, you are very correct. Technology is where our industry is today. If I can take a person right off the boat so to speak and give them a PDA and send them on an inspection to do a first class job and pay them too much $$ WE ARE THERE. In short I do not want any of my staff thinking on their own with out checking with the home office including how to use the company car. I supply the software, car, camera, insurance and pay check. They do it the company way or hit the highway. Thank you Nextel "GPS" At this time we are not quite there yet. We need thinking and educated inspectors but the day is coming.

Mr Rowan - One quick question -- Save me some time -- does your new construction reporting software report and quote code by number and verbiage? I do apologize I have not checked it out. If so I am very much impressed -- ones knowledge of code should be reduced.

Also without standing on the fence are you instructing your inspectors in the area of ICC and is your company doing new construction phase inspections?? This seems to be a hot issue at this time your thoughts please sir



Thank you again -- good software and getting better


Thank you again for the direct reply

rlb

[John McKenna]

Suggestion:

There is no method to delete clients or realtors from
the system once they have been entered. Sometimes
this is needed. Also, some larger companies might like
the option to delete inspectors from the system.

Keep up the good work. I look forward to your new
update that places the sign in box on our own web
page.... cool.

[Greg Bell]

Richard

My opinions are my own. They in no way are a reflection on what anyone else thinks. What I stated is my opinion of you and a reflection of your tactics.

[Richard L. Bennett]

Mr Bell

You know my PM address - use it

Your post as to my thoughts about vendors access of knowledge of their competitors is not understood by you - What a competitor can do to you and I when we supply enough data is enough to kill us.

At this time I sense that your are all for it --- I sense that you have signed up for their services

Greg what are you thinking about

rlb

[Richard L. Bennett]

Mr Bell

What do you think my tactics are?? -- It is sure not to make $$ .. I am not a vendor ... My thought will not bring me fame with my clients ... I will not get more inspections ...

I really will not get more sleep etc.

I hope you are trying to understand Mikes position

rlb

[cdemsky]

John,

We have not allowed for the ability to delete clients or Realtors, you're right, I will bring this up. The abiliaty to delete inspectors is also not there, but you do have the ability from the company module to "deactivate" them. When you do this, it turns off their user name and password so they can no longer log into the system, but you still have their ratings from feedback forms and client/Realtor information for future reference.

Richard,

Our New Construction software does have the code numbers for FBC, SBC, and IRC (with some ASTM standards as well but not as numerous) for almost 75% of the defects in the software. It gives the numbers and verbage of each code under what we call Inspector's Quick Reference, in the comment library of each defect. We did not use the EXACT wording of the codes due to copyright issues. We also did not interpret the codes. This is left to the inspector, because everyone has a different interpretation. The codes listed in each defect can be linked by the inspector to that specific defect (so that every time you find that defect again, the code you have chosen, whether it be IRC, FBC or SBC will always be connected and can be printed with the report if you choose. If you'd like, I can send you some information on the program, and you can also visit www.inspectorsuite.com to watch videos that explain how the codes work within the software as well. It is a great program.

Our sister inspection company does perform phased new construction inspections, in fact, those inspections represent almost 50% of their business today. Last year alone, 250,000 new homes were built in Florida, if each of these homes had the 4 phased inspections that equals 1 million inspections, 4 times more than the number of resale inspections. It's a huge market right now, especially with resale being so slow. Many inspectors who have in the past shyed away from new construction because of the additional liability and codes, are now doing everything they can to diversify and offer these services. Our new construction program offers the ability to learn how to conduct these inspections professionally with ease. But new construction phased inspections are not the only inspection report types you can create with this software. It also includes the ability to conduct Electrical inspections, Mechanical inspections, HVAC, Exterior Stucco, Exterior Siding, Roof Condition, Roof Replacement, Window Replacement, Remodeling, Storm Damage reports, and Expert Witness reports. We are also in the process of adding Pools, Mold, Infrared and Wind Certification to the list of reports that can be generated with the program.

I hope this answers some of your questions, Michael is out of town until Monday so I'm not sure if he will be posting between now and then. If you have any other questions, please give me a call, sned me an email or post.

Catherine

[Richard L. Bennett]

Catherine thanks for the information. I will check out the software. It sounds very interesting. If I have any questions I will call

Have a good day

rlb

[cdemsky]

John,

Reportupload.com does have some features which appear similar to our myinspectionreport.com report upload technology. Upon closer examination, the major differences are that the client/realtor does not accept your pre/post inspection agreement to retrieve the report, there is no feedback or rating function, there is not as detailed of a company mangement backend.

Our technology was designed for both multi-inspectors and single operators rather than focusing solely on the single operator, allowing a company to keep track of all their inspectors and inspection reports. The additional features of accepting the pre/post inspection agreement a second time and having a feedback/rating feature help you limit your liability and improve your company. This technology saves your inspectors time, in that the office can input the client/realtor information into the system and the inspector will have it available immediately. When the inspector uploads their report, the report is immediately available to the office.

myinspectionreport.com is a far superior and more in depth technology, but my opinion is obviously slightly biased!

Catherine