TOPIC: Report Writing, Help Please

I would like help on Report Writing. I understand everyone has their own way, some use pictures only, or with notes, others use their computers onsite, but how ever you complete your report, most HIP users average from 1.5 hours to a max of 3 hrs.
I have spoke with Dominic many times and he is amazed at how long it takes for me to finish a report.
I guess my big question is how do you do it.
Is your report of only Major Items?, Is it because you know most of all the tricks and shortcuts Dominic has built in to his software? I have had my clients say since I started using HIP software, that it is the most detailed and best represented report they have ever seen. While that warms the heart, my problem is that if I finish the inspection and back in the office say by 2:00, I'm still working on the report at 10:00 pm. Sometimes I get the benefit of doing 2 in one day, but I am working the whole next day finishing the reports. That means I have to turn down paying jobs.
A Master Inspector I work with, has often said I note too many problems. His reports may be no more than 30 pages, were mine are 60 -65 on average. I also get an extreme amount of bad feedback from Agents that my Summary page, (can be 3 to 4) is too long and what am I trying to do. Yes I am very detailed, but I am beginning to feel it may be more of a problem then good for my clients. How do you define what goes into a summary page, in the rest of the report and what just is not needed to be said. I would really like all the help from as many of the HIP users I can, because I have done my reports this way for almost 3 years now.

Steven it would really help if you post one of your reports (steralize the client info) so guys can look it over. That way they can really help comment on what you do.

Steven,

I list everything on my reports, but my summary only lists the most critical items (life & safety issues, expensive repairs, etc.) I try to keep the summary as short as possible, usually between 3 and 10 items. Other issues are fully covered in the report and I find that the pictures add the emphasis needed without congesting my summary page.

I have one of my average inspections listed on my web site, here is the link.
www.spyglassinspect.com/missouri-home-inspection-report .
Really want to thank anyone that can help.

If link won't work, my website is www.spyglassinspect.com , link is menu.

Well, I have learned that you can use 'canned', or prewritten comments for many of the items that are common in your area. ? Unless the home is a total bust you really do not have to write out everything you see because the prewritten statements cover lots of items. ? I often alter a canned statement on the fly during the inspection which really adds no time at all to the overall inspection time. ? 2.5 to 3 at the inspection, 1 to 1.5 at home finishing the report. ? To get to that point though you do need to spend some time going through each section to determine what blanket statements you can use accordingly without compromising your inspection methods and delivery of the final product. ? 

Major items I use some prewritten comments but also alter them or add to them to add specificity.  Minor items are already in place(took about 6 months to get to that point) which allows me to point and click.  Turning down paying jobs to finish reports is bad news,  if you need some help along the way let me know.

Hi Steven,

Overall, I like your report. My style doesn't have me writing a sentence like "The Furnace and its Components appeared to be in serviceable condition at the time of the inspection". Yes, Gary, good idea to add if needed in a general comment regarding a default condition along the lines of some wordsmithing... "It's OK if I don't specifically say it's not". Of course, your State SOP may have a reporting mandate regarding what you must write.

I have about the same level of details in my reporting as you do. A average report probably takes better than 3 hours, and I use a picture for every defect that I also write a caption sentence. A bad report could take 5 hours.... fixer-upper hell. Most of my report sentences are complete sentences and grammatically correct.

I am working on reducing my number of topics by consolidating individual items like vents, , walls and ceilings, electrical and GFCI, and HVAC amd water heater items like base, enclosures, air supply, registers, etc. Also, my comments in my templates have grown exponentially. Too much redundancy, too many similar comments. I also just got Dragon and want to incorporate voice in some manner, either at the inspections or in the report process. Yes, I'll do anything to avoid doing my taxes!