When you are just starting as a home inspector, you need tools that help you be effective immediately. A good home inspection app saves you time by eliminating paperwork and messy checklists. But choosing the right one can be challenging, especially when you are new in the industry. 

In this article, we will go over 5 essential features you need when you start.  We will also cover the importance of choosing an app that fits your current and future business needs. 

1. Generate automatic reports

As a home inspector, your success mainly relies on the quality of your reports. They need to be tailored, clear, concise, and detailed. Your clients should be able to read and understand them easily. Report writing is often what new inspectors find the most difficult. It takes time and practice to create good ones. If you don’t use technology to help you, it can quickly become a time-consuming and draining task. 

A home inspection app allows you to capture information easily. You can insert your observations as you see them and take pictures. In just a few clicks, the app generates a well-structured report that you can easily share. That helps you significantly reduce or even eliminate extra work after an inspection ends.

2. Create processes

Processes are important in any professional activity, but people tend to overlook them when starting a business. New inspectors often focus so much on attracting new clients that they lack time to set clear procedures. They are still very important as they get your business going and improve efficiency. They also reduce the risk of errors. 

Processes empower users to work accurately and ensure everyone knows exactly when and how to take a specific action

A home inspection app allows you to create processes and save them. This way, you can access them anytime to refresh your mind. They will empower you to work accurately and ensure you know exactly when and how to take a specific action. You can also include the process details in the clients’ reports. It’s a good way for clients to better understand how inspections work. This can help increase trust and transparency. 

3. Working offline and on whatever device

Home inspectors are always on the go, so you need a solution you can use in any situation. You may find yourself in places where the internet connection is poor or unavailable. In that case, using an app that works offline is a game-changer. You will never have to worry about not having data. The best part is that a home inspection app will save everything in the cloud. So you don’t have to stress over losing information. It is also wise to pick a solution that enables you to use different devices. 

Some people prefer mobile phones and tablets, while others use computers. Depending on your location, you may like to use one device instead of another. The best platforms are compatible with different systems, work with various devices, and synchronize information automatically. 

4. Customizable templates 

Each state has different regulations, and each market has its own specificities. Therefore, a home inspection app should be flexible enough to let users customize it to meet their needs. That is the only way to make it convenient for all users equally. While everything can’t be changed, some things like inspection templates should be easily personalized. This gives you the freedom to create your section, items, and much more. Always choose a solution that adapts to your reality rather than the other way around. 

5. Voice to text converter

A great feature for home inspectors is a voice-to-text converter. It allows you to dictate your findings on the go, and it converts them into text. This means you can record yourself speaking while inspecting, and it will automatically convert and save the text. This feature makes note-taking simpler, faster, and more detailed. Typing information can be very tedious and time-consuming. Trying to write faster may lead you to make mistakes or forget information. But a voice-to-text converter will save you a lot of time. It can generate text in less than half the time it takes to type. 

Bonus: Choose a home inspection app that fits your current and future needs

As your business grows, you will require more features and capacity. But changing apps each time you require new tools is a nightmare. You will lose a lot of time and information. We recommend choosing a home inspection app with different plans. When starting your business, you can pick the most basic plan. It will meet your needs perfectly. As your company increases, you can move on to different plans. If you would instead remain a part-time home inspector, or if you are a veteran just doing a few inspections per month, then make sure the app you choose is fit for small businesses. 

Final points on home inspection app 

A good home inspection app allows you to be effective from day one. It helps you tackle the challenges of your new professional activity. Some features are essential for your success. But remember that the app you choose should be simple to use. Otherwise, you will lose a lot of time trying to figure it out. To find the best fit, we recommend trying different inspection software and apps. Most offer free trials and demos so you can experience them and ask your questions.