Advantages of Uploading Reports Versus Email
We are often asked "Can I email the home inspection report
to my customer?" Well the short answer is "Yes" and after
we explain the long answer we will tell you how it can be done.
Long answer: Yes you can email the report as a large attachment but we have
a better way. The HomeGauge home inspection software has a built in function
that allows you to upload your finished report to our homegauge.com web site. (This requires the
HomeGauge Gold or Platinum Internet Tools.) This report is stored in your password
protected vault. Your customer and the real estate professionals you are dealing
with are given a user name and password so that they can view the
reports that have been uploaded for them. A simple email is then sent to your
customer with the user name, password and a link to the web site so they can
sign on and view their report. The HomeGauge report is generated in HTML (the
language of all web pages) so that the report is viewable right after signing
in with no plug in or other reader needed.
The report upload has several advantages over
emailing a report that is usually in PDF format summarized in the table below.
| |
Email report as an attachment: |
HomeGauge report upload: |
| 1) |
Customers and agents are often scared that attachments may be a virus |
Only a simple email with link, user name and password and NO attachment |
| 2) |
Emails with large attachments are often rejected because the email box
is full especially if they are using hotmail.com or yahoo.com |
Only a simple email with link, user name and password and NO attachment |
| 3) |
Email with large attachments are hard to send or download for those using
a dial up modem. |
Only a simple email with link, user name and password and NO attachment |
| 4) |
A Web browser plug in or a special reader is required for the report
to be read adding stumbling blocks for non tech customers and agents. |
Report is readable by every Web browser with no web plug in or any other
kind of special reader needed to view report |
| 5) |
No notification that person received the report. Email often does not
notify you when the delivery fails so you must assume they got the report. |
HomeGauge time stamps when your client or agent views the report. This time stamp can be viewed in your list of reports to validate the report delivery. |
| 6) |
You are required to back up your own reports |
Reports are stored on our server and is your off site back up of all your
reports for 5 years. If you drop your computer in the lake you still have
your old reports at HomeGauge which are backed up every night. |
| 7) |
You are pestered to email "lost" reports again. |
Customer and real estate professionals can sign in and view any report
that has been uploaded for them at any time. This really helps build loyalty
with agents when they see their vault with old reports you have done for
them before. |
The report upload requires the Gold or Platinum Internet Tools — get a FREE 3 month trial of Platinum Internet Tools with HomeGauge software purchase. You have two months to start taking advantage of your free trial after the purchase date.
If you decide to keep the Platinum Internet Tools after the
trial period it becomes $45/month or save $90 when pre-paying
the whole year for $450. The Platinum Internet Tools offer other features such as being
listed with priority in our inspector search, a website, and much more. Keeping the Gold Internet Tools after the Platinum trial period is $30/month or $300/year. More information about our Internet Tools .
If
you are still not interested in uploading your reports or any of the
other Gold or Platinum features and only want to email the report:
In HomeGauge 4
In HomeGauge 4 you can create pdf formatted reports directly in the software. To do that, pick the pdf option in the print document settings that you use. When you go to print, your document will appear in a pdf print preview window. Click on the disc icon to save your pdf file. Please note that if you upload your report using the PDF format, only the PDF file will be uploaded. This means that you will not be able to download that report in the future in a form that can be opened and edited directly in HomeGauge Software (uploading in the standard html format is required for that purpose). However, your PDF report will be backed up for 5 years and will be easily accessible at any time. Only the html format documents that include the main report will be downloadable to be opened and edited in the HomeGauge Software.
In HomeGauge 3
All you have to do is install a PDF print driver. After
this
is
installed
it
allows
you
to print the report
and
select
a special "PDF" printer
that will create a PDF file on your computer that you can then email. Our current favorite free PDF software is availble at http://www.primopdf.com.
After you have created the PDF, you can email it or you can still use our upload
service to deliver the PDF document, but some of the above benefits will not
apply.
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