TOPIC: This Roof's For You

No photos with my reports.  I have not been sold on the need.

If my report says, "Receptacle under the living room window is broken," what more would a picture add?

I see both advantages and disadvantages of adding pics.

The disadvantages is the time involved to take, upload and edit.

The advantages are for liability. If the garage is full of storage I place the pic in the report. If there are any major components improperly covered with finishing I take pics.

I like to add illustrations to help educate and inform my clients. Like a pic of a baffle or an expansion tank.

Having a photo of an electrical or roof issue can be used to show client and then be used for the Realtor and specialist if needed. Like the manufacturer defect of a roof shingle.

It makes for a nice looking report and can be used as a marketing tool.

I give them a copy of my book, which contains over 1000 photos, diagrams and another thousand links and websites.  Every item in the report cross references to the page in the book that discusses it, along with the appropriate diagrams and/or photos.  My book is in its 15th edition, I think...  we started it in 1986.

If my report cannot properly describe where something is, like a broken receptacle, I say what room it is located in and identify it with blue tape.

That is a really great idea!! 

How much does the book cost per client.  Is the book for sale? 

I would like to see your book.  I spend about $4 per manual I provide and this book sounds like a really great item. I like the referance idea.

It really is time consuming to add all the photos to the reports.

Great Job!!

I give them a copy of my book, which contains over 1000 photos, diagrams and another thousand links and websites.  Every item in the report cross references to the page in the book that discusses it, along with the appropriate diagrams and/or photos.  My book is in its 15th edition, I think...  we started it in 1986.

If my report cannot properly describe where something is, like a broken receptacle, I say what room it is located in and identify it with blue tape.

Do they mind having to find a reported deficiency by having to cross reference in a book?
I inspected an older home last week where the front porch cover was pulling away from the face of the home. The reason was the pillar supporting the cover was resting on a cantileverd portion of a beam of the wood deck below.

I was able to point out on my anotated photo what, where.

No narrative or illustration from a book could have properly explained the deficiency.

I find that adding photos, especially annotated ones like I provide, are EXTREMELY time consuming, but I get very positive feedback from my clients after they review it. That being said, reports with annotated pic's are almost impossible to misinterpret and provide a very impressive professional report for people who are not well informed when it comes to home construction.

Dave M - the HIP report could not reference to the book.  That is built into our computer program.  Get me your address, offline, and I will send you a copy.  We give it free to the clients.  If you wanted to buy it from us online it costs $40.  It costs us about $12 to publish, and that is built into our price.

Dave K - the book is a reference manual, 405 pages and highly valued by our clients.  They call it their Home Bible.  I give copies to realtors, offices and every client.  It is written for people who have no construction experience.  You can see how our report works and what the book does on a couple of links in my website.  People call me years later to purchase a new version of the book, which we update every 16 or 18 months or so.  When I do an inspection years later for someone, the first thing they ask when they call is if they can get another (or newer) book!

As to deficiencies, of course your porch example would not be treated precisely by the book.  But the problems would be - things like poor column foundation, improper cantilevers, structural separation, roof attachments to the house, etc., are all treated in detail - it is very comprehensive.  It is intended to be educational as well.  AND, they have the book forever (hopefully) and I hear from people who refer to it weekly.

Sure, photos are great.  But I describe things completely and the report speaks for itself.  Standing at the house and looking at what I have identified cannot be misinterpreted either.

You are welcome to a copy of the book too Dave.  Get me your address offline.

I give many, many copies of our book to many, many people.  I think the universe pays me back for that.  I have gone into businesses and seen a copy of my book there.  When I say to people that I am involved with its writing and production they ask me to autograph it!  It's another form of linking!!

Jay, why couldn't HIP reference the book? I've seen quite a few reports where guys reference different manuals that they give out. He'd just have to enter in the page number and location with his narrative.