What Makes Our Inspection Report Upload Service Better?

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As more inspectors begin to understand the benefits of uploading a report, it becomes necessary to help the inspector realize that all upload services are NOT created equal. HomeGauge was the first and continues to be the best in upload features.

Why upload inspection reports? Agents are not confined to an emailed PDF file that may be stuck on their computer at work when they’re at home and get a problem call from their buyer. Agents can go to any computer that has internet access, go to your website (or HG website), sign in and get to that report instantly. This benefit, once realized by the agent, will lock them into using your company. Now that is branding!

How do you compare upload services? Since HomeGauge has become the litmus test in software and services, here’s how to compare:

1. Time stamps: HG creates a time stamp of when the inspector sent the report. HG also registers time stamps indicating when the customer and agent picked up the report, which validates report delivery. This takes care of requirements that the report be delivered within a certain period of time. An added benefit of this feature is knowing not just that they picked it up, but also if they did NOT pick it up. This affords the opportunity for you to add personalized service by calling the customer or agent, after time has passed, to notify them that they have not picked up the report. We have had some HG users say that they have had a customer call after a few months complaining about their home's condition. When the inspector points out that those conditions were noted in the report, the buyer claimed they never received a copy of the report. The inspector went to the uploaded report and did a print screen of the time stamp, proving that the customer did receive it - the customer backed off. You can't do this with an emailed report or most upload services, but you can do this through HomeGauge using the Gold or Platinum service.
2. Your reports, your templates (with all your auto-comments etc.), your agents, and your customers can be preserved with HG upload service. Virus? Computer crash? Truck ran over your computer? All your info can be restored when you upload your reports with HomeGauge. Other services save your delivered report, but not your editable report or template.
3. 5 year backup: HomeGauge Gold or Platinum upload service includes 5 years storage/backup of your reports. Reports can be downloaded back to any computer anytime by you, 24/7. Other services limit storage space and have short storage expirations.*
4. Report retrieval/search: Got 3000 reports uploaded and need to find one fast? With our upload service you can search for a report by customer name, by street, street number, or by agent, and get to that report in seconds. You can also quickly see how many inspections you have done for a certain agent or customer, which can help you focus your marketing efforts.
5. Force a payment before they can view the report: Using HomeGauge’s exclusive force payment feature and credit card service, you can upload the report and before you send them the link, check the force payment option and enter the amount due for the report. When the agent and buyer arrive to pick up the report, there will be a message similar to: "There is an unpaid balance of $400 on this inspection. Please click pay now to view your report.” End collections 100 percent (that means all of them) when you use this feature of HomeGauge’s upload service.
6. Get more inspections because the agent loves the way they get the report. With HomeGauge’s upload service the agent gets one username and password. When they use you more than once, they will begin to understand that you are storing their reports for them. As long as you allow them to continue to have permission to view their previous reports, they will not only see today’s inspection, but also the reports you did for them last week and last month — and this builds loyalty. They begin to realize that if they use you, their reports will be stored for them for quick access. This feature alone is worth the cost of Gold service and I cannot stress enough how important it is to them. For those inspectors who want to remove their viewing permission after so many days can do so, but they are hurting themselves instead of getting more repeat business. Most agents do not re-use the inspection and most buyers want a fresh inspection, not an older one. So leave permission to view on and get more business by providing a convenient service to your agents. Other upload services typically email a single link for each report, so the agent has to find a specific link (or email) for each report — not nearly as convenient.
7. New inspectors qualifying for organizations can quickly create a list of all uploaded reports to send to their organization or licensing board for qualification into their program.
8. HG upload service.... More than one step ahead of the rest! Next time you hear that someone has upload service, you can be better equipped to determine the difference in features and benefits, not only for you the inspector, but also for your customers and agents.

Coming soon! Even more upload benefits and services directed to you and your customers and agents that are unique and innovative!

*Note: If you upload your report using the PDF format, only the PDF file will be uploaded. This means that you will not be able to download that report in the future in a form that can be opened and edited directly in HomeGauge Software (uploading in the standard html format is required for that purpose). However, your PDF report will be backed up for 5 years and will be easily accessible at any time. Only the html format documents that include the main report will be downloadable to be opened and edited in the HomeGauge Software.