TOPIC: Summary Page Feature

Maybe this is already possible and I haven't figured it out yet. My idea is to cut down the clutter on the summary page. I know maybe I should cut down on the wordiness of my narratives  I got to thinking because of the new brackets available in HIP that allow us to label our narratives.

Take this statement:

The range was not equipped with an anti-tip device and should be installed. Anti-tip devices prevent the range from tipping, or its contents from spilling, should a child attempt to climb on it or its open door. This is a recommended safety feature that is important particularly if small children reside at or visit the residence.

Is is possible to put (The range was not equipped with an anti-tip device and should be installed.) in parentheses or some other type of bracket that would allow only the action needed statement to show up on the summary and not the whole narrative.

Sounds like a good idea.

You could separate the comments in the panels. Just insert (The range was not equipped with an anti-tip device and should be installed) as damage(red) and then...

Important Note, the Anti-tip devices prevent the range from tipping, or its contents from spilling, should a child attempt to climb on it or its open door. This is a recommended safety feature that is important particularly if small children reside at or visit the residence.)

Insert the above as a selection in black to be in report but not the summary.

I raised this issue years ago when I started using this software.

I do not, and have not liked duplication of any text in any part of the report.

The method that I use is to place everything in the black box.

My state law requires that you write that they reported subject; be repaired, requires further investigation by a professional, or requires observation.

So I start an item in the red box beginning with one of the required headings. As I can see all of the photographs in that section of the report and the comments in the black boxes, I make a very short summary of those items that are:

#1 broken

#2 does not operated as intended by the manufacturer

#3 is a safety concern

I end up with one paragraph of items that should be considered to be taken care of because of the above criteria which constitutes "significant deficiency".

If a real estate agent or anyone else wants to know more, they can go back to that section and read the report (which they should have done anyway in the first place).

The report I did yesterday was new construction and I do not include a summary in new construction. I am not in a state like Texas where you must have a summary so I elected not to include one. As far as I'm concerned a new house should be "perfect". So if there's anything to talk about in the inspection report it should be considered in the construction phase.

Yesterday's client responded favorably when I indicated I intentionally did not include a summary and report because I feel that everything in the report should be considered by him before purchasing the house. He stated he was looking for the summary report as soon as it arrived, but there wasn't one.

On the other hand, a resale home is like a used car. You don't get new tires on every used car, but they must be safe, they must hold air and perform as intended (or they should be replaced). Deterioration with age causes cosmetic issues which can cause damage and should be noted in the report, but are not issues that are required to be repaired. The price of a resale home should be based upon its "condition" just like a used car. Some are better than others. Some cost more than others. It's not my job to make this analysis. That's what the real estate agent is for.

I think you could have the whole narrative if red in the body of the report, but just the action statement in the summary.

Hmm, what if we added a {{ Summary Text }} option. If You have the double curlys in a narrative then the program will ONLY use that text on the summary page. The entire comment minus the actual curlys would show on the report in red.

Would it be possible for the action comment to show in both places. {{Summary Comment }} would show in body of report as well as summary. That way it is the action summary for the whole comment.