HomeGauge 4.4

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

HG 4.4 upgrade has been released ....

[Kenneth Dolin]

Thanks Robert, I am using it now. I have to watch the video again, I was hoping that the estimation portion was going to be integrated into the inspection template. I am not sure yet but it seems like I have to open a second template and write the estimate independently?
I like the other changes to the look an feel.
Its a great program and I am very happy with it

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by kdolin

Thanks Robert, I am using it now. I have to watch the video again, I was hoping that the estimation portion was going to be integrated into the inspection template. I am not sure yet but it seems like I have to open a second template and write the estimate independently?
I like the other changes to the look an feel.
Its a great program and I am very happy with it

I watched the video (but I didn't pay close attention ) and you can dump your report summary items into your estimates. I don't plan to get into the estimate side for now, but it looks good for those that do.

[John Shishilla]

I used the upgrade today and love it! The estimate feature is really nice. You can dump the summary into it and make any adjustments as needed. I like being able to turn on or off different sections of the estimate and the ability for phases. I have not tried to incorporate the spreadsheet functions with it though. I usually do all my estimates on spreadsheet. The office notes are really handy also.

I am still playing with the "faded excluded items", not sure I like that. Those "other" software packages can not touch this!

[John Shishilla]

Originally Posted by kdolin

Thanks Robert, I am using it now. I have to watch the video again, I was hoping that the estimation portion was going to be integrated into the inspection template. I am not sure yet but it seems like I have to open a second template and write the estimate independently?
I like the other changes to the look an feel.
Its a great program and I am very happy with it

You can add the estimate section to any template with three clicks!

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by jshishilla

Those "other" software packages can not touch this!

Ohhh behave!

[Kenneth Dolin]

Got it, I finally sat down and added an estimate. Fabulous, super, great, the best, wonderful, fantastic.
So here is a question. how would you go about writing the estimate based on the summary items if you would normally group items on an estimate, for instance, my summary may list multiple windows or sliding doors that require adjustment and or lubrication individually, but I would normally group all similar operations into one fee on my estimate (even though I may list them individually). example of 3.0 hours labor to lubricate all windows and door tracks, adjust living room sliding door rollers and latch assembly, tighten handle.
would you write the estimate at the .1 hour for the tighten handle? and CYA in the header something about minimum charges, trip charges etc. Because I would hate for someone to take that singular item out of the report and try to get someone to come out and tighten an handle for $6.50 as a stand alone repair.

That probably was not very clear but see what you can do with the question......

[John Shishilla]

I normally group my items together on my report. The estimate is then easy. I would think that you would combined items and give it one price. Copy and paste the doors and windows of each room together(assuming you are doing room by room). Possibly copy and paste door and windows together if you are doing system by system. Or write your estimate for separate door and windows on system by system.

Just my opinion.

[Greg Bell]

Can someone explain the benefit of this feature too me?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by gbell

Can someone explain the benefit of this feature too me?

Ditto. Where I'm from, you can't do work on a house you inspected anyway.

It takes HomeGauge 6 months to put out a new, minor, release and the release is completely useless to me. I wish instead they'd fix the list of bugs I've sent the developers. My patience is growing thin with Homegauge.

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

It takes HomeGauge 6 months to put out a new, minor, release and the release is completely useless to me. I wish instead they'd fix the list of bugs I've sent the developers. My patience is growing thin with Homegauge.

Do you some examples? Just curious, I'm a HG user too.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by ccurrins

Do you some examples? Just curious, I'm a HG user too.

Just a few here:

1) The "Uploading Report" window has focus above everything else on your screen. If you have a slower internet connection, as I do at home, I have to sit and wait for that stupid notification to go away before I can do any other work. The uploads should occur in the background.

2) If you have many inspection items for one component such as a water heater, the tabs just run off the right side of the form and you can't get back to them.

3) Narrative comments are not categorized alphabetically. That is, if you want to select a narrative by using the filter, the list is not alphabetical. I have my narratives extensively categorized, for easy finding. However it ain't easy because there is no rhyme or reason to how they display in the software.

4) You can categorize statements (narratives) in the template and they show up just fine when viewing all comments in the template "tree view", but sometimes they don't display when you looking for them in the form view, using the category filter.

5) The HTML documents or letters you create do not allow you to insert blank rows.

6) The HTML documents or letters you create do not allow you to choose your own font or font size.

7) There is no easy way to keep your narratives consistent between templates. That is, when you change a narrative in one template, it is only changed in that template. I'm constantly refining and editing my wording, and I must constantly copy/paste the edits between the two main templates I use.

8 There are some problems with maintenance of agent info online.

Shall I keep going...?

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Joe -

I've used HG for 4 years; love it AND got no idea what your talking about as to filters, narratives not be categorized alphabetically, etc. Works great for us.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

In 5 years, I've had only one agent ask for a PDF. Even though I personally hate PDFs, it's nice having the software that provides the option to produce either. I upload reports, send all email notifications in less than a minute with maybe 2 to 3 clicks, fast and easy. Works great for me too (I use mainly one template for all of my inspections so the narrative thing Joe mentions has not been an issue for me.)

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

I like the uploading because I can track who's viewed the report, who's forwarded the report, and can lock it down if the house fails to close.