TOPIC: HIP report time

Interesting comments
I use Dragon Naturally Speaking for my more detailed comments.

Take as an example how I have as pick and click the fact that a toilet should be sealed around the base leaving a gap in back to allow any leakage to be seen before it causes damage below.CLICK....

This is used in combination with other pick and click options such as the fact that it is not sealed or sealed all the way around.

Great , pick and click works....BUT....and a BIG BUT it is....LOL,...I had a toilet that at time of inspection was causing a leak in the unit below and this type of information can't be practical to store as it needs a detailed verbage .

So in my opinion a good ,not too time consuming report requires a little of both.

I use systems ,but also add kitchen and bathrooms as seperate to keep comments from being congested and enable myself to avoid the need to use comments under every picture.
I hope this helps.

I've all but mastered my small on-site inspection computer (Lifebook) and work the HIP checklist like a master now, and it gets better every inspection.  I'm still taking numerous photos but when I get home I'm down to about 45 minutes (sometimes 90) for the report.  Most of the time is tagging th pix and tweaking the report.  I Generate it, review it and keep the HIP sofware report open so I can go and make corrections or addiditions.  I check out the report, close the generated pdf, and generate another with the saved changes.  After another review, it's upload time.  So, I've really reduced my reporting time (but I gained about an hour on site).  Today I inspected a short-sale 5 bedroom 3 bath with loads of stuff still in the house.  4.5 hours later I was done but I spent a good bit of time getting around all the clutter.  The report time took about an hour. 

SUnday I had two inspections scheduled but one fell out (no electricity) so I don't have the opportunity to say I've inspected two in one day.  Maybe this week...

So Greg are you saying essentially your report time takes an hour less but your inspection time increased by that same amount of time using a computer on site?

John, that is correct.  I essentially am doing the report while I inspect.  In the past though, my report was taking so much longer!  I'm getting quicker with the computer; my goal is to develop my habit pattern and get good at it--tagging pix at home is my next big hurdle (begin tagging at location) in case I have another inspection to go to. But this hasn't been a factor.

I do want to do the same as you, and had that question in the back of my mind.  Even if it doesn't save you time, you don't have paper blowing around in the wind (Oklahoma is VERY windy) and you look very high tech and professional.  That's, marketing you may not have intended!!!

You'll find after using the program for a few months you greatly reduce your time. Like David Macy who started out a 2.5 hours about 4 months ago is now down to 30-90 minutes depending on the size of the place. Greg, I think if you ever do end up switching to something with a larger screen it will speed you up quite a bit as well.