Whether buying or selling a home, it’s important to assess the property’s condition accurately to ensure no issues or potential problems. That’s where a home inspection app can come in handy. These easy-to-download tools, such as Happy Inspector, HomeGauge, and Jotform (our top 3 home inspection apps), can help you evaluate everything from the structural integrity of the building to the condition of its HVAC system.
Some of them even contain details about codes and requirements that are binding for buildings and constructions in the given area, so anyone who owns a house would certainly find such magazines to be helpful. This article will identify the 10 most common home inspection apps that you should consider using.
Let’s get started!
What Is Building Inspection Software?
Building inspection software is a specific tool meant for building inspections, with the purpose of simplifying the whole process. In my view, it empowers building inspectors to be more faithful and efficient in their inspections.
Building inspection software features checklists, mobility, documentation through photos and/or videos, and reporting. It can also generate the results of the inspection report and notify the building owners, managers, and other stakeholders.
Inspection software for buildings can also fix appointments of various inspections, maintain records of all the inspections and history of the same, and generate alarms that may signify a need to fix a particular building. Building inspection software can be used to assist the inspectors in cutting down the real-time paperwork when doing inspections. Building owners and managers can easily track the condition of their buildings and schedule necessary maintenance and repairs.
1. Happy Inspector
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It can be challenging to keep up with the constant demands of managing a rental property, whether you’re a landlord, investor, or property manager. It is quite this way because there are a lot of different tasks and activities that one can become involved in. However, you have to make sure that your properties are well-maintained to the highest standards. That is where a tool like Happy Inspector comes in.
Its state-of-the-art home inspection software makes it easier to stay on top of your properties from start to finish. Whether you need a thorough property inspection, generate work orders for needed repairs, or carry out quick maintenance tasks, this app has everything you need. Its pre-made templates are easy to customize and use, while its intuitive interface and advanced features make it simple to get the job done quickly and effectively.
2. HomeGauge
HomeGauge is an all-in-one, widely-accepted home inspection software that makes it easy to get the job done. It is ideal for home buyers or sellers, home inspectors, and real estate professionals. With its web writer, you can easily create cloud-based inspection reports from any device. It has advanced functionality and connects seamlessly to iOS and Android companion devices.
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Other key features include a scheduling tool, dashboard, online payment capabilities, e-signature, and content services. You can also use the built-in tips feature to store important coded information or clearance data for reference.
3. Jotform
During property inspections, it may take a lot of effort and time to inspect a particular property. Traditional methods, such as using paper forms and checklists, are disadvantageous because they produce inaccurate information and incomplete reports. To prevent such issues, numerous specialists actively use online forms and templates, such as Jotform home inspection software.
With custom forms that can be easily customized to your specific needs, you can create professional-looking inspection reports in just a few clicks. In addition to providing a wide range of form templates designed specifically for property inspections, Jotform inspection reporting software allows buyers to select the inspection form that best suits their needs.
Image credit: www.jotform.com
These customizable templates make it easy for buyers to choose exactly what type of inspection will best suit their needs, giving them a more accurate report that is easier to read. Whether you are a real estate agent or simply buying your own home, this inspection app will make your life easier and help you feel confident in the quality of any property you may be considering.
4. ZInspector
ZInspector is the go-to solution for anyone in property management, real estate, or construction trades. Whether you need to take detailed photos and videos of damaged properties or want to keep a comprehensive portfolio of all your properties, zInspector has everything you need to perform your job quickly, efficiently, and accurately.
This home inspection software comprises features like video and photo capture tools with zoom, rotation, and markup capabilities and a robust task management system that allows you to assign tasks to other team members and track progress in real-time. Thanks to its intuitive interface, available as a mobile app on iOS and Android devices, zInspector makes it simple for anyone in the field to record important data about any property quickly and easily.
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When those records have been captured, zInspector lets you seamlessly upload them to either Google Drive or Dropbox, making your job easier. With its integrated property database, zInspector helps eliminate bulky Excel spreadsheets and gives you anything-on-everything search capabilities to find what you need when managing multiple properties quickly.
5. Property Inspect
Property inspection software helps property inspectors or real estate professionals manage and conduct property inspections more efficiently. This system can, therefore, be used for developing inspection checklists, reporting and following up on maintenance requests, and managing property portfolios.
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It is possible to note such important characteristics of Property Inspect as the site’s responsiveness on mobile devices, storing results in the cloud, and compatibility with other software products. In general, property inspection software assists property inspectors and real estate agents to save their time with the highest degree of accuracy, which further benefits the clients.
6. SafetyCulture (Formerly Iauditor)
SafetyCulture is a software company which operates on the SaaS business model and offers the software for workplace safety and compliance. It was established in 2004 in Australia, and it currently has clients around the world.
In addition to its flagship product, SafetyCulture, its products include iAuditor, a mobile and powerful inspection tool for safety inspection to report on hazards or incidents instantly. The home inspection software comes equipped with the ability to capture photo evidence, associate the corrective action, and prepare a report. Some of the other products of SafetyCulture are EdApp, which is an m-learning platform, and Safetypad, an smb safety management solution.
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Specifically, SafetyCulture helps frontline workers focus on safety and enhance workplace safety performance globally. It has received several awards for implementing innovative workplace protection practices, and its products are employed in the trade, construction, making, hospitality, and healthcare sectors.
7. Appfolio Property Manager
Appfolio Property Manager is the best home inspection software in the cloud, and it is adopted by property managers and landlords for the efficient running of their business. There are property management, tenant, and accounting management features all in one application.
Using Appfolio, property managers can operate all their properties at once, including rent, maintenance requests, lease agreements, and communication with their tenants in the home inspection business. It also includes facilities for online rental application, background check, as well as renter and property performance analysis.
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Appfolio’s accounting features include rent tracking, expense management, and financial reporting. The software integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, making it easy to export data and work with an accountant.
Another advantage of Appfolio is its mobile application, which helps property managers and even tenants perform activities where they are and get necessary information. Tenants are also able to make rent payments, report maintenance issues, or even message their landlords with the app on their smart mobile devices.
Appfolio is currently utilized by numerous property managers and landlords in the United States and Canada, for single-family homes and apartment complexes, as well as commercial buildings. Due to its friendly interface and relatively powerful functions, it has become a favorite among people interested in effective property management.
8. Connecteam
Connecteam is an employee management mobile-first platform that offers a range of solutions such as the home inspection software developed for property management companies and home inspectors.
Connecteam’s home inspection app allows the inspector to build checklists and forms based on the type of home, rental, or move-in/move-out inspection. The inspector can also take pictures and record videos, write comments, or draw on images, noting any problems found or observed.
The property inspection app has a calendar where property managers can schedule inspections and assign them to inspectors. It is also important to state that the app enables communication between inspectors and property managers and can generate rich reports with photos and videos.
The Connecteam home inspection app is developed for property managers and inspectors to enhance their daily inspection tasks, save time, and ensure nothing is missed. It can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices with offline functions for regions with reduced internet access.
Of course, Connecteam’s platform also contains other functionalities that may be helpful for property management companies, including Time tracking, Employee scheduling, and Internal communication tools. The software is free to use for the first month, and subscription plans can be chosen depending on the number of users and the options needed.
9. AppSheet
AppSheet is an application builder tool that allows the building of apps on mobile devices without the user having to write an actual line of code. The platform gives users what they can build apps for, such as home inspections from templates and integrations, among others.
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The AppSheet home inspection app template allows property managers, inspectors, and contractors to create custom checklists and forms for different inspections, including home inspections, rental inspections, and move-in/move-out inspections. Users can capture photos and videos, annotate images, and take notes to document any issues or observations.
In addition to the foundational free home inspection software, more options for features to support scheduling, detailed report creation, and report sharing with clients and other co-workers are available. The application is developed to enable property managers and inspectors to perform their tasks faster and free from errors while at the same time enhancing communication with their clients.
There may be other features of AppSheet that could be useful for property management companies – data collection and analysis, workflow automation, and link-ups to other systems. It is also important to note that the company provides a free trial period and the type of definite tariffs depends on the number of users and the necessary functions.
10. Inspection Support Network
The Inspection Support Network (ISN) is an application suite that utilizes home inspection companies to automate their business processes. It permits the home inspector to have sources that can enable him or her to manage time, appointments, clients, and reporting.
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Various functions are incorporated into ISN platform such as calendar, customer relations management, payment gateway, reporting, and marketing. These features are aimed at assisting home inspectors in terms of their workflow, and allow them to spend considerably more time on the inspections and other important issues.
Another advantage of the ISN is that it is compatible with other applications employed by home inspection companies, including report-writing, accounting, and marketing applications. Real estate inspectors can integrate the system into their business practice by incorporating applications into scheduling appointments, report-writing, and invoice-issuing to clients.
Additional training and tools available from ISN include live webinars, online courses and a customer service team that can be contacted by phone, through email, or live chat. It serves thousands of home inspection businesses throughout the United States and Canada, covering individual home inspectors and companies that comprise multiple inspectors.
The Inspection Support Network is a comprehensive software platform designed to help home inspection companies streamline business operations, improve workflow, and enhance customer service.
Factors to Consider When Acquiring Home Inspection Apps
Here are some critical factors to consider when acquiring a home inspection app:
1. User-Friendliness
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When acquiring a home inspection app, one essential factor to consider is its user-friendliness. The idea behind the app must be explained clearly, and the structures in the application must be comprehensible. The last thing an inspector wants is an application that is difficult to use and will slow down the inspection and provide the wrong report.
2. Integration
Another key issue that should be examined when choosing a home inspection app is its compatibility features. The software should complement the apps that are already in use with the organization or company. It may include accounting software, Customer Relationship Management software, or even marketing tools. Other software can be linked to an app and this will help make the work of an inspector easier.
3. Reporting Capabilities
The main function of a home inspection app is to provide a report. Therefore, reporting is the feature of the app that should be taken into account in the same way as the boards.
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The above professional home inspection reports should be well-researched and detailed. It should be able to record all information that may include pictures, videos, and dictionaries. The report should also be customizable to enable the inspector to input their company details such as the logo, contact details et.c.
4. Compatibility
Another factor that concerns the customer-buyer is to make sure that the home inspection app works well with the inspector’s devices. The home inspection solution should be integrated with Android as well as iOS devices. This will help to ensure that the application is usable on both smartphones and tablets, which inspectors employ. It also means that different inspectors can use the app with different devices because the app is compatible with different operating systems.
5. Price
Price is an equally crucial consideration when buying a home inspection app. Considering the aspect of the price, I think that the price of the app should be one that the inspector can afford. The usefulness of the app should be measured against the cost of the application. Sometimes there can be nothing better than an elaborate application, even though an inexpensive one does not guarantee to be efficient. Hence, the concept of price and its relation to its value should be kept in the middle.
6. Customer Support
When choosing a home inspection app, one aspect that should not be overlooked is the number of customer support options available.
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The developer should ensure that they offer efficient email and phone support that should also include efficient chat support. It is and should also be the responsibility of the developer to keep the app updated frequently to avoid encounters with bugs.
7. Security
Another aspect that needs consideration before purchasing a home inspection app is the application’s security. During inspections, it should have tight security mechanisms in order to capture secure data. The app also needs to meet industry standards such as HIPAA and GDPR.
8. Offline Capabilities
A basic feature that should be included in the home inspection app is offline capabilities. This means that the inspectors should be in a position to use the app even when there is no internet connection available. The app should be designed to save data in the local storage of the device and upload it to the web-based storage when the internet connection is present.
9. Customization
The app should be customizable, thus the inspectors need to be able to scale the app and adapt it to their usage preferences.
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An inspection report should allow the inspector to edit the report layout, create comments, or modify the inspection list. Customization makes the particular app uniquely suitable for the inspector and the industry being served.
10. Training
While buying a home inspection app there is need to analyze the level of training required in adopting the app. It should be relatively simple to navigate but the developer could give a basic set of instructions to guide the inspector to get the most out of the app. It should be delivered in the form of videos, user guides, and any other online assistance. The developer should, however, ensure ongoing training in order to keep the inspector apprised of changes made in features and upgrades.
11. Integration with Inspection Standards
Home inspection apps should be able to work well with inspection standards, which include the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). This also helps the app to be compliant to industry standards and guidelines regarding the production of the report.
12. Reviews and Rating
Perusing reviews and ratings written by other home inspectors about the particular app, before purchasing it can be helpful.
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This offers an outlook into the achievement of the users in their endeavor, the production of the report that they want, and the extent to which the developer is willing to assist. They are publicly available on app stores, community forums, and social networks.
13. Ease of Data Backup and Retrieval
It should also have a backup/retrieval feature so that one can easily retrieve lost data just in case the device gets lost or damaged. The app information must also be saved in the cloud and retrievable on other apparatus. This will also prevent situations where inspection reports are missing either because of the loss of a device or the physical damage of the device to the extent that the inspector cannot continue working with it.
Frequently Asked Questions on Home Inspection Apps
a) What app do home inspectors use?
Several home inspection apps are available for home inspectors, depending on their needs and preferences, including HomeGauge, Safetyculture, and Jotform, among others mentioned above. These apps can help home inspectors streamline their inspection process, create professional-looking reports, and increase efficiency.
b) What is in a home inspection checklist?
A home inspection checklist is a detailed list of items that a home inspector examines during a home inspection.
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The Measurers Checklist may differ because of the inspector’s qualifications, property, and area of inspection. Nonetheless, the following items are usually part of the home inspection checklist: Roof, Exterior, Interior, Electrical, Plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
During the inspection, the inspector may also take photos and notes and use them to prepare a comprehensive report. The report contains all defects, safety problems, and repair works that might be required.
c) What are the major problems in a home inspection?
These may include such elements as structural damages, electrical and plumbing defects, inadequate wiring, problems with leaking pipes, heating and cooling systems, evidence of possible water damages, pest infestations, environmental concerns, and other cosmetic problems. However, it should be understood that these problems could be different depending on the location, age, and state of the inspected house.
Moreover, some buyers may have special interests that are not covered by the normal home inspection, such as anybody looking for radon gas or the inclusion of a lead paint inspection.
d) How can I prepare for a home inspection?
Preparing for a home inspection is important in home selling or buying.
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Here are some tips to help you prepare for a home inspection: Cleaning, fixing, checking the appliances, clearing up the clutter, and producing some work related papers. Do not forget that a home inspection means that you want to gain more information about the condition of a house. There are some measures that you can take in advance to make the process more or less problem-free.
