Inspection workflow

[Phoenix Ashwalker]

Just curious what other ACI appraisers are using during their inspections. I was trained with pencil and paper, which is still what I use now. Partially because I'm fairly proficient at it, but mostly because I'm too busy to try and learn a new system. My slow season is coming up with fall and winter around the corner. I'm hoping to move from pencil and paper to something like an iPad / tablet or possibly a surface. I'd love to essentially take field notes, insert photos directly into my report, ill in portions of the front page of the report like the subject, site, improvements, and draw up my sketch while doing the inspection. I thought I say ACI had some additional mobile software coming down the pipeline, but I'm not sure if they've released it yet or not.

What do you use, does it work, does it not?

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I thought I say ACI had some additional mobile software coming down the pipeline

That's what they all say...soon.
I tried a tablet. Cannot see the bloody thing in bright light. So I went back to a simple inspection sheet, with a sketch (normally I copy the assessor sketch into a sheet then verify the dimensions.) Sometimes the sketch is so far off, I start over. I have a dark grid (plastic) which I lay a thin white sheet and sketch over that. All in a clipboard. Next I have a small clip in pocket recorder that I record the inspection. Then I use a real camera (not my phone or a tablet) and take lots and lots of pictures. I clean it all up in the office in a comfortable chair and not hunched over in the shade trying to decipher the tablet and all the buttons.

 

[Dublin ohio]

I have Clickforms and have been using a 11" windows tablet for quite a few years. Just loaded my complete software package on it. Instead of using a mobile app. I don't use a disto but could bluetooth one to my sketching software. I can import the photos into the report by making the camera on the tablet my image source. I will sometimes still use a paper and pencil for oddball shaped sketches with angles and curves.

 

[Phoenix Ashwalker]

I have Clickforms and have been using a 11" windows tablet for quite a few years. Just loaded my complete software package on it. Instead of using a mobile app. I don't use a disto but could bluetooth one to my sketching software. I can import the photos into the report by making the camera on the tablet my image source. I will sometimes still use a paper and pencil for oddball shaped sketches with angles and curves.

Yes, if I'm able to move to a tablet / mobile device for inspections I'm sure I'll still carry the trusty clipboard for a backup on oddball properties as well. I also work in a rural market area, so if anything requires internet connectivity there are a few areas where I won't be able to work online due to limited cell service.

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

Yes, if I'm able to move to a tablet / mobile device for inspections I'm sure I'll still carry the trusty clipboard for a backup on oddball properties as well. I also work in a rural market area, so if anything requires internet connectivity there are a few areas where I won't be able to work online due to limited cell service.

That's what I do, Clickforms has the Inspects Alot app and I use my IPad and they have improved the sketch part, but I stuff can go faster using clipboard, tape measure and disto for upstairs, etc. I just like Apex better for sketches.