New user.

How long has it taken most of you to get used to a new software. I just can't seem to get my head around changing. I bought HIP at the power user conference but just can't seem to get going with it. Any suggestions.

Welcome. Learning everyday and changing. Repetitiveness will help.

I'm not sure exactly where you are in the process, but I bought HIP in July, and am still working on my basic template. Hard to find time. I've been trying to make it look like my current template (another software,) but it will never be. On the HIP facebook forum, Dom reminded us new users of their Mon & Thurs on-line training sessions, and one-on-one's by request. But for me, it's hard to be back home in time. Good Luck!

This isn't just an HIP issue, it's every software, and I don't understand quite why it is all so complex.

I cannot speak for HIP. The HG software is a skeleton or basic framework. It is up to each inspector to fill in the meat with category phrasings, narratives, report structure, summary or summaries. All this while performing inspections at the same time. Daunting task.

I changed my template of over 700 inspections over to Kenton Shepard's in HG in the beginning of December. The upside to this new template far exceeds how I put mine together (no guidance). But every inspection I am reworking it.

My advice, buy the HIP version of Kenton Shepard's template. This will give you the library needed to pull from to build your narratives. Watch videos and watch the forums.

It will get easier.

Nathan wrote:This isn't just an HIP issue, it's every software

Agreed

Nathan wrote: I don't understand quite why it is all so complex.

No two inspectors think the exact same way. Home Inspection reporting software programs for the most part are built primarily by designers (with a few exceptions of inspectors creating their own software). No software is a perfect fit for every inspector Nathan.

Nathan wrote: I bet ya'll that I could take any software out there in any part of the country and produce a "Top Notch" report, with all of the bells and whistles, throw in a Recall Chek, 90 day warranty with SewerGard and show you "Old Timers" how it's done (In less than an hour).

I'd love to see that Sir. Infact I think all vendors should do at least 1 inspection themselves at least once every 2-3 years. Why don't you be like the Army Rangers and "Lead the Way" HOOAH.

I did not see the last part posted anywhere. As if that can happen.

scotbaker wrote:I did not see the last part posted anywhere. As if that can happen.

Scot, I've learned to listen to Nathan very well over the past year. It's a communication process between the boss and myself. We know each other so well that we know what the other is thinking. As far as performing an inspection in an hour, we all know that that's just not going to happen. I would love to see Nathan on a YouTube video performing an actual home inspection, which would totally change the way this industry sees him. Even for the thousands of us that love PNT, you have to admit that you'd watch him in action.

A few months ago I ran the idea past P. Nathan Thornberry about building that near to perfect software for Certified Inspection Experts, that would be uniform for his users. No reply.

scotbaker wrote:I did not see the last part posted anywhere. As if that can happen.

That's because it wasn't said. It was hilarious though

The best advice is to just be happy with the software you purchase and learn it and be efficient with it. Many are good but they all have different learning curves. Don't waste your time and money bouncing from one software to another...

Michael Altizer wrote:

scotbaker wrote:I did not see the last part posted anywhere. As if that can happen.

Scot, I've learned to listen to Nathan very well over the past year. It's a communication process between the boss and myself. We know each other so well that we know what the other is thinking. As far as performing an inspection in an hour, we all know that that's just not going to happen. I would love to see Nathan on a YouTube video performing an actual home inspection, which would totally change the way this industry sees him. Even for the thousands of us that love PNT, you have to admit that you'd watch him in action.

A few months ago I ran the idea past P. Nathan Thornberry about building that near to perfect software for Certified Inspection Experts, that would be uniform for his users. No reply.

Anything that is well served in the industry I stay away from. Home inspection is a small market- 30,000 players at best. If I went to any business person in any capacity and said "I want to start a business where my target audience consists of 30,000 and I will only be serving some portion of them", they would tell me it was a terrible idea.

As an example, Radon testing devices are incredibly well served in the industry. Radalink has the best model and equipment. Rad Elec does great too. There are half a dozen others. Why would I get into that?

Home inspection software is the same way. A handful of guys including Dom own the market, and every single one of them works their butts off keeping all their clients happy...oftentimes by responding positively to some of the most ridiculous requests.

On the other end of the spectrum, when I see terribly inconvenient processes, a total lack of competence in technology, and terrible prices from literally every environmental lab out there...I'll spend hundreds of thousands of dollars replacing them in the market. We've now gone down from 3-4 labs at a conference to 1-2 at most.

I understand completely Nathan.

Let me run this past you on your forum. I've decided to write a book in Hard Cover, Soft Cover and in an E-Book. It's going to be several volumes and covering everything imaginable. I'll send you the volumes of books as they are completed and if you're impressed then you sell them on your Inspector Shop. You set the pricing at a reasonable rate and any profits will be set up in a fund that you control to help out less fortunate inspectors (Those who live and breathe this industry and who have had life knock them off of their feet). I create the books and industry leaders sell them. With 30,000 inspectors, having a wealth of knowledge in their hands and all proceeds going to those less fortunate .... I could give back to this industry, some of what it's given me.

You might want to come up with a different title Michael, that one's already been out there a while.

http://www.amazon.com/The-home-inspectors-bible-comprehensive/dp/B0006R697A

I use Horizon and have absolutely no issues with the learning curve. Yes it is either credit or subscription based, but you get what you pay for. Take a look at it and give it a try.

Jeremiah, I appreciate the heads up but I'm familiar with the book and the authors. I already checked, double checked and re-checked to see if it would be considered plagiarizing, since the titles are so close. I respect what use to be SPREI and in no way would disrespect. It looks like I am in the clear and can legally use the title that I've chosen. I don't have any idea when the first book will be released. I am super busy finishing up work for PNT and for myself. I will be using pictures from my inspections throughout the volumes. Gotta go. Stay safe man.