How Home Inspection Apps are Streamlining the Industry

Nowadays, apps and technology are part and parcel of running a successful business. Whether it’s managing multiple channels of communication or running a slick scheduling system, there’s an app for just about everything. However, although generic business apps have ruled in recent years, niche apps tailored to specific industries are likely to dominate the next decade.

This is especially true of the home inspection industry. A growing number of businesses are throwing out their time-worn clipboards and using home inspection apps to streamline their workflow. Here’s how these apps are changing the industry.

Time Saving Solutions

Home inspection apps allow you to store your documents, contracts, reports and calendars in one place, saving you hours each week. There’s no need to make endless duplicates or waste time trying to manage your business across multiple software platforms. Home inspection apps cut down on man-hours, increasing efficiency and allowing you to spend time on the things that really matter.

They’re Paperless

Home inspection apps save a huge amount of time – and trees – by helping businesses go paperless. There’s no need to retype notes, make endless photocopies or spend hours hunting through the filing cabinet when all your documents are stored electronically in one place. It’s easier than ever to access previous reports or check how many times you’ve worked with each agent.

Click-to-sign contracts

Forget mailing a contract back and forth. In-app click-to-sign contracts really speed up business and they can be sent automatically. There’s no danger of misplacing or damaging it and it only takes a few seconds to double check whether a contract has been signed or not.

Do business on the go

Any home inspection app worth its salt should have a mobile version, meaning you can access your business from anywhere in the world, at any time of day. No more rushing back to the office to complete a forgotten task or going into work on the weekend. Being able to do business remotely is convenient and allows you to achieve a better work-life balance.

Scheduling

Scheduling has never been easier for home inspection companies. Although it’s true that there are some great cloud-based scheduling apps out there, home inspection apps offer a system tailored specifically to industry needs. A system that allows both clients and real estate agents to book appointments saves time, effort and money. Any app worth its salt should also give you the option to sync your calendar with your iCal or Google Calendar too, so that you can always stay on top of things.

Centralized finances

Rather than trying to stay on top of hundreds of invoices at once, home inspection apps let you keep better track of your finances. Store all your invoices, bills and payroll information in one place. Some apps even offer automated calculations of client fees, making money matters even easier.

Email automation

Time is money, which is why automation is a powerful tool for any business. Home inspection apps contain features which allow you to dramatically reduce the time you spend on administrative tasks. Many apps offer you the ability to send automated emails when you complete an order. You can write your own automated messages or choose from a library of ready-to-go options. These messages are made easy to track, helping you stay on top of correspondence at the touch of a button.

As well as communicating directly with clients, you can also use home inspection apps to manage your email newsletters and track the open rate for mass communications, which is an invaluable marketing tool.

Reminders

There’s a lot to stay on top of in the home inspection industry, which is why reminders are so helpful. As well as automatically sending reminders to clients and agents, the right home inspection app should be able to keep the important things fresh in your brain, too. Intuitive reminders are important in helping you stay on top of incomplete orders, missing reports and cancelled inspections so that you don’t waste time. Often, there’s the option to set reminders for events like an agent’s birthday, which help you maintain good working relationships – the key to any successful business.

Multimedia

Modern home inspection apps allow you to add photos into reports, which isn’t practical or cost-efficient when working with pen and paper. Adding pictures and videos reduces the number of detailed notes you need to write. Multimedia can be uploaded quickly and easily using a smartphone or tablet, no need to transfer files or switch between devices.

These features mean that many common misunderstandings can be quickly and easily resolved. Storing property photos within the app means that disputes over pre-existing property damage can be put to bed at the touch of a button, rather than dragging out for weeks on end. You can also bring up past reports to double check whether previous notes corroborate the claims.

Collaboration

One of the many perks of the cloud is the great collaborative potential it offers. Instead of emailing and texting back and forth, staff can work together inside the app for clear and simple communication. Instant uploads and extensive archive storage mean that teams can function more seamlessly than ever, eliminating the need to exchange millions of email updates each day.

As well as offering a collaborative experience, home inspection apps allow you to manage access and permissions to ensure that your team works like a well-oiled machine, with no cogs out of place.

Maps integration

Home inspection apps can streamline pretty much every aspect of a business. Instead of using a sat-nav, many apps have integrated mapping features to make sure you know where to go for your next appointment.

Home inspection apps are key to the future of the industry. The days of paper reports and clunky communication are long gone as the development of cutting-edge inspection software modernizes and streamlines businesses. Home inspection software hasn’t reinvented the wheel per se, but it’s got it turning faster and more smoothly than ever.