HomeGauge Software and Internet Tools Tours

The following tours and tutorials will show you the power and flexibility of the HomeGauge software. The tours use Macromedia Flash which you probably already have on your computer. But if you have trouble viewing the tours then you might want to try to install the Flash Player by clicking here.

Mock Home Inspection Tours

The below tours are a walk thru of a mock inspection and give many tips and hints on how to use the HomeGauge home inspection software in the field while doing an inspection.
Note: The mock inspection tours all have sound. Turn on your speakers.
Step 1 - Introduction and inspect the exterior
Step 2 - Input all of the exterior findings
Step 3 - Move to the interior
Step 4 - Finish up inside and make sure all items have been answered
Step 5 - Insert the photos
Step 6 - Finish photos and print the report

Introduction to HomeGauge Version 3
This will give you a quick look at version 3 of the HomeGauge software and some of its new features.

Tours for Actions During a Home Inspection

Select a template
When starting a report you will need to select the report template to use.

Add and Edit Pictures
Putting pictures into the report is easy as cake.

Editing Pictures - v3.3 Update
HomeGauge 3.3 allows you to edit text directly on the image and adds a new grid function.

Pictures on the Pocket HG - v3.3 Update
Set picture placeholders for easy picture placement.

Changing Pictures Selection and Edit Options

• Change the default picture size and the default colors for each tool. Use the "Defaults" button on edit picture window.
• Sort and Filter the preview pictures by file date, picture date from the camera, or file name
• Pictures that have been used in the current picture preview session are dimmed for easy viewing of pictures to still be used

CYA ( Check Your Answers )
A new pane has been added with the pictures and REPs that shows helpful reminders about the inspection items as you are filling out the report. Of course you can add and modify the information for your own needs. This is a handy way of having a cheat sheet for the current inspection item always available.

Insert Multiple Comments - v3.3 Update
Now you can insert multiple comments at once.

Flag an inspection item
Flag an item that you want to come back to finish up or insert a picture. When you get back home or are ready to insert pictures you can then move quickly thru all of the flagged items.

Find First, Find Next - v3.3 Update
More options are now available for checking your report.

Work Completion Status
Display status of the completion of inspection items and whole sections and see real quickly which inspection items have comments, pictures or are in the summary. This can save lots of time when reviewing the report for final delivery

How to duplicate a section
If you have a section named bathroom, often you will want to duplicate this section while performing an inspection to report on a hall bath, master bath, and so forth. This can be done with any section, such as heating, if there are two heating units.

How to itemize comments and only send part of a comment to the summary
New in version 3 - create comments for the same inspection item that have multiple findings and then select which one to send to the summary.

Exclude parts of the report for just that one report
Sometimes you may want to exclude certain parts of a report.

Voice note recording - v3.3 Update
Record voice notes on the PPC while inspecting, or on your laptop/tablet.

Report Merge.
For example - Inspector A does section 1,2,3 and Inspector B does sections 4,5, 6 for the same home at the same time. Put the two reports on the same computer and then merge them together into one report.

Overview of some miscellaneous updates to HomeGauge v3.3

Template Modifications

Save the Template
When making changes to the template you will need to save them for future reports.

Create a New Template
It is easy to create a report from an existing report.

Add Sections
How to add new sections to the template

How to Change the Section Introduction
The section introduction is an auto comment included automatically.

Change Order of Sections
Place the sections in the order that you inspect.

How to add multiple Summaries to the report
Maybe you would like to have your normal general summary but also add a safety summary or a maintenance summary.

Add icons and default colors to your summary text - v3.3 Update
Now it's easier to make your summary items stand out.

Change the Column Headers
The inspection item column headers can be changed to your style such as "yes/no", "good/fair/poor", "inspected/not present/repair".

How to Delete a Section
You can easily remove a section that you will never use

How to Copy and Paste template items to different areas
Quickly copy and paste inspection items and all of the comments for the item to a different inspection

How to set up items to be excluded by default
Items that you run into only once in a while can be excluded by default when you start the report.

Add multiple global comments - v3.3 Update
Now it's easy to add several comments at once to your template's inspection items.

Turn off auto numbering - v3.3 Update
How to prevent renumbering of inspection items — handy especially for reinspections

Inspection Comments

How to use the Global auto comments
Comments are stored in a template-wide global space but you only see the ones that apply for that inspection item.

How to use Auto Comments
Drop in auto comments for quick, easy, consistent text about the inspection item.

Modify Auto Comments
Change the provided auto comments to fit your own style.

Smart Word Concepts
HomeGauge has the powerful concept of Smart words that can help you insert detailed comments with no or little typing.

How to Create A Smart Sentence
Smart sentences can save a lot of typing and can create very detailed comments.

Smart Sentence, Part 2 - v3.3 Update
HomeGauge v3.3 lets you skip and go back while creating smart sentences.

How to auto attach a document to a comment
New in version 3 - you can attach a document to the report and you can even have certain comments automatically include an attachment.

How to create a web link
Sometimes instead of including an attachment it is better to just include a link to the complete information on the web.

Printing

How to Select Different Print Formats
HomeGauge provides different print formats. Select your favorite look and feel.

How to include pictures in the summary
New in version 3 - the pictures can now also be included in the summary.

How to print Texas Style
Inspectors in Texas have to use certain options to follow their state guidelines.

How to use the "Parent" feature in the Styles & Materials when using Print Format 2
Styles & Materials print inside of the appropriate inspection item. Each Style & Material must be assigned to a parent in print format 2.

Print Option to not print the pictures in the body of the report.
This can be useful for a quick print while on site and then upload the report with full pictures

Gold and Platinum Internet Tools Including Report Uploads

Create a HomeGauge User Name and Password (Step 1) When you upload reports to HomeGauge they are stored in your own personal password protected vault. The first step is to sign up for your user name and password.

Upload Inspection Reports for your off site backup (Step 2) The tour shows you how to put your user name and password into the software and to upload a report. The uploaded report then serves as a backup - just in case.

Upload Inspection Report for Internet Delivery to your customer (Step 3) After uploading the report in the tour above, this one shows you how to take your uploaded report one step further and use the report upload to send the report to your customer and the real estate professional involved.

Deliver uploaded report using a 3rd party password (Step 4) Once you have a report uploaded you might also want to forward to the mortgage lender, the buyers family members, or who knows. This shows you a quick way to send a report to anyone.

Calendar Integration
Download appointments from the calendar straight into the software. Never retype the names or address again.

Misc

How to customize the user interface
This will show you how to move the toolbars and the panes around to work the way you want to work.

A few other important miscellaneous items
Copy reports, customize invoice, import agents and customers.

How to Update your custom pages
When we change your cover page or other items for you, you will need to update your custom pages.

How to upgrade from version 2.x to version 3.0
If you had version 2 of HomeGauge then this will help you get started with version 3 quickly.

Many of the tours from version 2 still apply. Click here to see the version 2 tours until they are updated for version 3.