Home inspection has long been a crucial part of the real estate sector. It’s a dynamic industry that’s constantly changing and it’s currently undergoing a digital revolution of sorts. The development of sophisticated home inspection apps is transforming the typically paperwork-laden industry, reducing man hours and dramatically improving efficiency.
Home inspection apps are a way of electronically centralizing all documents, emails and multimedia files into one cloud-based app. They feature checklist tools and usually offer click-to-sign contract systems and built-in email management. These apps are suitable for one-man businesses or large teams and allow users to manage permissions accordingly.
Time-saver
The primary benefit of such apps is that they significantly reduce the amount of paperwork a company has to deal with. Instead of completing an inspection report by hand and typing it up later, all of the work can be done in-app – and it only needs to be done once. There’s never any danger of documents being damaged or misplaced. Inspectors can also take photos on a smartphone or tablet and upload them to the app, simplifying the note-taking process. Archives can be accessed in the app, saving valuable hours over the course of the week, not to mention storage space.
For one thing, increased use of these apps could be used to effectively settle disputes between tenants and landlords with regards to damage. Often, landlords allege that a tenant has caused damage, whilst the tenant insists the damage was there when they moved in. A long, drawn out back-and-forth battle ensues, involving dredging up old files. When these files have been misplaced, both parties usually end up frustrated. However, home inspection software would allow the inspector to access multimedia files and old inspection reports instantaneously, resolving the issue in a matter of minutes.
Cutting costs
Cutting down on admin hours can be a serious money-saver for a business. By digitizing all files, home inspection apps can also cut down on printing and photocopying costs, too. And it’s not just money that businesses are saving – reducing paper usage is good for the planet. A study by Standard Carbon estimates that 500 sheets of paper create 4.59lbs of carbon dioxide. Since the average worker is thought to use 10,000 sheets of paper per year, that’s 91.8lbs of carbon dioxide. By increasing the use of digitized files, home inspection apps are increasingly playing a key role in helping the industry reduce its carbon footprint.
Remote Working
Whilst it’s unlikely that the home inspection industry will ever be completely remote, home inspection apps are available on desktops, smartphones and tablets, giving staff the ability to work from anywhere. Being able to fill in inspection reports in-app while on site saves inspectors from having to head back to the office after each appointment, saving time and money. These kinds of apps ultimately allow more flexible working practices, leading to happier employees.
Working with digitized documents also streamlines collaborative processes by allowing multiple staff members to access a document at once, from any location. At the same time, it reduces the amount of emails and messages that must be exchanged in order to keep lines of communication open. Staff can communicate easily within the app, keeping things more focused and straightforward.
Email management
Home inspection apps often come with built-in email management platforms, rendering the process easier than ever. In fact, it’s possible to employ automated email software so that time in front of the keyboard is kept to a minimum. You can craft your own email templates or choose from ready-made versions so that customers receive correspondence that feels personal, without it taking up a significant chunk of time.
Calculating costs
As well as cutting costs, home inspection apps can take a lot of the math out of the process. The app can calculate fees for each client, as well as calculating business expenses, such as car mileage and gas usage for inspectors. The apps also make it easier than ever to keep on top of finances, keeping track of who has and hasn’t paid and sending automated reminders accordingly.
It’s clear that home inspection apps are already creating ripples in the industry and will only continue to do so as software advances. Many businesses are choosing to adopt these apps to bring themselves into the 21st century. As well as reducing the hefty administrative workload that has long been part of the home inspection business, apps have the potential to render companies eco-friendlier by dramatically reducing paper and printing costs.
