InspectVue... The Best Home Inspection Software and Save $100 buying It from Me!

[Justin Watts]

Everyone has opinions on what works or doesn't work for them.... it makes for good conversation! Great products cost money... there is no such thing as a free lunch!

[Kevin A. Richardson]

I have used both programs and find that HomeGauge is much easier and user friendly. A far more superior product and customer support.

The program does not use check boxes!!!

If you want to see an example just follow the link below and type in the username and password I have provided.

www.richnspect.com/view.asp

username: SampleReport123
password: roombasement

Kevin

[Justin Watts]

Clients want a basic report with basic descriptions.... not an Engineering Diagram... I admit the diagrams are cool from an inspector's point of view, but the report is just not "easy to read" as far as defects...

And what if you get "sued" because you stated the areas that had defects but did not state the other components and areas that were functional. If a previous client comes back and says you didn't see the stains in the Living Room ceiling... and that is not noted as a defect, and it is also NOT noted in your report that the walls and ceilings were functional in the living room - then you could have some future problems....

The pics and diagrams are noteworthy, but people do not want to know how a toilet works... they either want to know if there are "defects" or if it is functional... And written in plain English with a photo is all anyone needs.

InspectVue covers the ENTIRE HOME - either a component is functional or there is a defect. And you can "highlight" all the defects in red.... So they stand out in the report.

Take a look at my Sample Inspect Vue report... and judge for yourself -
Go to www.americandreamhomeinspection.net
On the LEFT CLICK ON SAMPLE REPORT
Let it download... and take a look!

[Erby Crofutt]

What a load of crap some of the above comments are!

ANY report system is only as good as the user. Look for one that YOU can easily customize to fit your needs. Expecting the software vendor to keep you out of court is useless.

I find crap like the below all the time, not just in Inspectvue.

"Based on its age, you should not expect it to last indefinitely."

Does this mean that if it was new, I could expect it to last indefinitely.

Choose the one that fits you best AFTER demoing ALL of them.

Recommendations from someone who is making money on selling you a product are worth exactly what you are paying for them.

Of course, how can I be sued if I told the client to have someone else inspect everything before the close of escrow. (But then why did they hire me???)

In addition to any conditions that are noted, we recommend that
since our inspection is general and limited, an electrician should further evaluate your electrical wiring throughout the property before the close of escrow to further verify the safety of your wiring and identify any
additional upgrades that may suit your power needs.

We also recommend that you have the local Gas Utility Company inspect your gas fueld appliances and systems before the close of escrow and before you occupy the property for additonal safety purposes

[Kevin A. Richardson]

Originally Posted by jwatts1

Clients want a basic report with basic descriptions.... not an Engineering Diagram... I admit the diagrams are cool from an inspector's point of view, but the report is just not "easy to read" as far as defects...

And what if you get "sued" because you stated the areas that had defects but did not state the other components and areas that were functional. If a previous client comes back and says you didn't see the stains in the Living Room ceiling... and that is not noted as a defect, and it is also NOT noted in your report that the walls and ceilings were functional in the living room - then you could have some future problems....

The pics and diagrams are noteworthy, but people do not want to know how a toilet works... they either want to know if there are "defects" or if it is functional... And written in plain English with a photo is all anyone needs.

InspectVue covers the ENTIRE HOME - either a component is functional or there is a defect. And you can "highlight" all the defects in red.... So they stand out in the report.

Take a look at my Sample Inspect Vue report... and judge for yourself -
Go to www.americandreamhomeinspection.net
On the LEFT CLICK ON SAMPLE REPORT
Let it download... and take a look!

Justin,

First, the diagrams in my sample report are not "engineering diagrams". They are simple to read and understand digrams to help the client understand a specific issue or defect. And, my clients love it!!

Second,

I DO state that I have inspected an item or component and give my findings accordingly.

Ex:

4.0 CEILINGS
Comments: Inspected

"Comment Key:
Inspected = The inspector visually observed the item, component, or system, and if no other comments were made then it appeared to be functioning as intended alowing for normal wear and tear."

Third,

The digram in my report referencing the loose toilet does not describe how a toilet works, merely identifies a loose toilet "visually" and indicates the potential problem associated with a toilet that is loose "possible leaks due to broken wax seal."

Also, HG DOES cover the ENTIRE HOME per SOP!!!!!

InspectVue suites alot inspectors' needs, but I found using it for over a year and a half that it was difficult to use and it took longer to generate a report (for me). In addition, InspectVue advertises that it has over 11,000 industry standard narratives, but does not advertise that most of the boiler plate that comes with the software are geared towards west coast specific homes. I am on the east coast and found that I had to re-write the majority of the boiler plate to suit my needs locally.

Take Care,

Kevin

[Justin Watts]

You have some good points.... the one about the InspectVue program that is designed for homes in warmer weather climates...

It's all just a matter of perspective and personal choice which program is better, and easier to use and best for clients.

[jsiegfried]

I've been using Inspectvue for a couple years now. I demo'd just about all I could get my hands on before I purchased it. A few observations so far:

1. Very easy to use. Yes there are check boxes in the report writer but it prints in narrative. Doesn't take long at all to figure out the program and it's very customizable.

2. Customer service is good, I'll give them that. I e-mailed Lorne at 10pm one evening, a few minutes later he called me and we solved the problem. I don't know of any other software customer service that would call you at 10pm. Lorne always calls you back within minutes, at least he has with me.

3. Lots of upgrades came out the first few years I used it. Very few are coming out now. In November of last year at our conference, we were told that the upgrade was coming out right after the first of the year. Then we were told 'soon'. Well soon never came and I had to pay another $250.00 for another year of customer service and upgrades. Now we're hearing it won't be coming out until 2007? I won't be paying them anymore. They can keep their upgrade and I certainly wouldn't purchase it until those upgrades came out. I've found that I don't need any additional upgrades and the program is so easy to use that I don't need the customer support any longer either.

4. The library is extensive but will need editing and altering to suit your location and reporting style. You can add anything to the report you want to and at any time. You can create your own libraries with ease. Easily transfer components and narratives to other libraries. I made my own libraries for multi-units, apartment complexes, mobile homes, etc. Just about any report software is going to need editing and altering to suit your taste and needs.

[Ted Allen]

Originally Posted by ecrofutt

What a load of crap some of the above comments are!

ANY report system is only as good as the user. Look for one that YOU can easily customize to fit your needs. Expecting the software vendor to keep you out of court is useless.

I find crap like the below all the time, not just in Inspectvue.

"Based on its age, you should not expect it to last indefinitely."

Does this mean that if it was new, I could expect it to last indefinitely.

Choose the one that fits you best AFTER demoing ALL of them.

Recommendations from someone who is making money on selling you a product are worth exactly what you are paying for them.

Of course, how can I be sued if I told the client to have someone else inspect everything before the close of escrow. (But then why did they hire me???)

In addition to any conditions that are noted, we recommend that
since our inspection is general and limited, an electrician should further evaluate your electrical wiring throughout the property before the close of escrow to further verify the safety of your wiring and identify any
additional upgrades that may suit your power needs.

We also recommend that you have the local Gas Utility Company inspect your gas fueld appliances and systems before the close of escrow and before you occupy the property for additonal safety purposes

Please heed Erbys advice.. No program is right for everyone and you MUST find one that best fits your needs.

Some are more customizable than others and some are much more difficult to customize see... (3D) LOL

In the end you will need a program that fits your style and reflects the same. I have seen dozens of reports from PV that are very different once the user has tweeked it to his or her style, and it will be the same with all puterized reports.....The old NCR's have a nich here.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

I looked at Inspect-Vue and we give a demo out to our trainees but for me personally it was too wordy and was too light on basement issues.

I have 3-D, Inspect-Vue, Inspect It, and Home Gauge loaded on computers for trainees to try. So far HG seems to be the hands down favorite.

[jclark1]

Wordy is correct. Swift says in 50 words what could be said in ten. There is not one narrative in that whole program that can be used as is. You will spend countless hours editing if you care about how your report reads. Sentences including inasmuch, regardless and other ridiculous fluff words do not make one sound more intelligent, they only make intelligent readers skim, rather than read your report. Also, no one wants to read 200 word section narratives about every kind of roof or chimney, they want to know only about their roof or chimney, and they also don't want an amateurish biology lesson about mold. If there is a possible issue with mold, the ability to include a couple of links (which can't be done with Inspectvue) would be more valuable to your client. As for 11,000 narratives, it may have them, but what good are they if you don't use 90% of them? How many houses do you inspect with 10 bedrooms (each including bar sink narratives) or 12 bathrooms?

[jclason]

I really like Inspectvue - its easy to use, and I get great reviews from the look of the report. And I'd like would like to continue to use it, but the continual delays in getting the new version out make me wonder who the joke is really on. Especially as the competition continues to turn out improvements to the software to make it easier to use.

10/18/05


We have officially started the integration of our new "Inspection" engine into the next generation of InspectVue Residential which will be our Christmas present to you. InspectVue Residential 4 will take the Inspection Report-Writer to a new level of sophistication. If you keep up with our Chat room forum "Things you would like to see added to InspectVue" then you will understand how we listen to our users. The new version will have most of what everyone has been asking for and more.


12/19/05


UPDATE ON INSPECTVUE VERSION 4
The new version has been pushed back a bit till the end of January / Early February. As they say "good things are worth waiting for." But seriously, the reason why we are pushing back the release date is because we need to complete the functionality in the commercial version that people have been asking for since we started selling the product. A lot of this functionality will be transferred to the new residential version.


1/13/06


INSPECTVUE RESIDENTIAL VERSION 4 UPDATE
I am getting a lot of calls about the time schedule for release of InspectVue 4.0, which is based on our new "Active Inspection Report-Writer" engine used in our new commercial software. We want to make sure that all current functionality is also available in the new version, and the conversion program is rock solid. By the way, thanks for all of the feedback about last weeks question. We will be keeping the reference window. We will be "previewing" our new residential version at our user group conferences at the end of the month, and now anticipate the release to be late February. As they say, "good things are worth waiting for" as I am absolutely sure you will agree when you see what we will have for you.


3/8/06


PROGRESS ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF INSPECTUVE
We have decided to hold back the release of the next generation of the software while we continue to enhance the "InspectVue Engine" that will be driving all of our current and future products. It is very important that we include all functionality that will push the report-writer to levels never seen before by any of our competitors and to make sure that we give you the right tools to help you increase your business. Therefore I do not anticipate this next generation to be released till this Spring. As they say good things are worth waiting for... I am positive that you will think the wait was well worth it.


4/26/06

NEW VERSIONS OF INSPECTUVE COMING

Yes these new versions are on the way. In fact since there have been so many enhancements we are skipping the "version 4" and going right to "Version 5." I will not quote any dates for release, however we will be starting the Beta roll out soon. More on our new versions soon.

5/13/06

Beta testers needed for new version of InspectVue Residential

The new version of Residential is almost ready. If you would like to help us create the next generation of InspectVue that will even surpass the current generation in ease of use and functionality then we are looking for a "few good inspectors." You may have heard a few rumors about our new version. They do not come close to what we are working on. It is everything you ever wanted in a report-writing system and more.

7/20/06

You might be interested to know that our next generation software InspectVue Version 5 is now in the "Beta" phase and is getting rave reviews for it's added flexibility and ease of use. I will not project a final release date yet, but it is on the way.

9/18/06

InspectVue 5.0 Update

What is taking so long to come out with the new version of InspectVue? I hear this almost once every day. So I would like to give you an update.

The original version of InspectVue took almost a year in development before being released and almost two years to complete the functionality that is currently in the version that you should all be using now. When we started development of the new version which is a total rewrite, I was so excited about the product that I started talking about it while it was still in it's infancy. It has come a long way now and is being based on our now award winning InspectVue Commercial version of which we are currently adding more functionality. The software is breaking new ground for speed and completeness. A large commercial report of 350 pages in length can now be previewed in 1/2 the time that it currently takes InspectVue Residential to preview a 20 page report with lots of pictures. It will be released with mobile versions before the end of the year. Yes this year . As we get closer I will talk about how we will be rolling out the product and releasing white papers on the differences between the two versions.

And now Justin is saying that is being delayed until next year???

[Justin Watts]

Didn't mean to confuse you.... I was informed it would be released around December 2006 / January 2007.... between these months near the end of this year....

[Brian E. Kelly]

We are not confused Justin, Lorne is confused.

[Justin Watts]

Erby,
Every inspector has his/her own style..... I am a "generalist" not an expert and my recommendation for the local Gas Utility Company to complete a safety check of gas fueld appliances or for an electrician to verify that wiring connections/breakers are secure... is for my client's safety. Since I only examine and do not "tinker" in panels.. I only observe and report!

And yes, when I come across Water Heaters that are 20 years old, I inform my clients that they should not expect the system to last "indefinitely" Because often the day after they buy a home and move in.... The water heater would die! And some clients like to Blame the inspector! And yes, this has happened to me, and my comments like this have saved me. Keep in mind, some people think that appliances should last forever! Just my thoughts...............

I do appreciate your feedback.

[Erby Crofutt]

I repeat:

"Based on its age, you should not expect it to last indefinitely."

Does this mean that if it was new, I could expect it to last indefinitely.

Why did they hire me if all I'm going to do is tell them to have someone else look at everything before closing???

an electrician should further evaluate your electrical wiring throughout the property before the close of escrow to further verify the safety of your wiring and identify any
additional upgrades that may suit your power needs.

We also recommend that you have the local Gas Utility Company inspect your gas fueld appliances and systems before the close of escrow and before you occupy the property for additonal safety purposes.

Why did they hire me???? I could have told them to have someone else look at everything over the phone.