HomeGauge News Alert August 2015

It's been more than a year in the making and we have just released what will become the easiest to use appointment manager in the industry! Our new online appointment manager is very basic at its first release, but the foundation behind it promises to streamline the management of multi-inspector firms and provide ease of use in the office. Now you can drag an appointment from one time or day to the next, set up additional inspectors, display your schedule across multiple devices using Google Calendar or Outlook.com, and the owners and managers can see all their inspectors' schedules at once. It has automatic email notifications for all people involved. Make a change in time? No problem, it will automatically prompt a new email of the change. It includes a map of the inspection address and has the normal fields associated with making an appointment for an inspection. What else? You can assign fees to your services and enter the estimated time required for more efficient scheduling. You can also create different "Groups" of services based on the inspector's qualifications, abilities, or geographic area. For instance, perhaps you offer septic field testing that only one of your inspectors is qualified to perform (or any other service that is limited to some inspectors in your company). If the customer wants that service, it will assign it to the inspector that is qualified to perform it.

Next, we are adding more management capabilities and admin features for multi-inspector companies. After that we have many more features coming in rapid succession, including:

1. Adding the agreement process, including multiple agreements. Currently HG Services does this separately.
2. Payments at scheduling. Currently HG Services does this separately and can prevent viewing of reports until payment is made.
3. Customer scheduling capability. Currently the new Appointment Manager is only viewable by the inspector and owner/manager.

Attention old business scheduler users: The old clunky business scheduler will remain in full use for existing users until we equal its features in the new appointment manager. Don't worry about losing it or making the switch until it is surpassed by our new one. Meanwhile, you can try out the new appointment manager and let us know what you think!



The latest 7-5 standard for Texas is available in the current HomeGauge Software. What is new compared to 7-4? There's updated language in the Texas cover page. To get this update, run the latest HomeGauge installer. After the installation is complete, run HomeGauge and go to the menu "File -> Set All Texas Print Options". This update is required in Texas starting September 1, 2015, but Texas inspectors can start using it today.



HomeGauge Services just added another feature for multi-inspector companies! Send your template to everyone in your company with one click! How do you do it? The company owner can upload his/her templates & settings from the HomeGauge Software menu "HG Services -> Upload Cloud Templates & Settings". Once that is done, the company owner goes to his/her HomeGauge.com Dashboard and clicks on "Cloud Transfers" under the "My Reports" menu. On that page the company owner will find a button to "Copy Templates & Settings to All Inspectors". Now any inspector in the company can download the template in their HomeGauge Software by going to the menu "HG Services -> Download Cloud Templates & Settings". It's that easy!



Our 3-day training class has sold out each time since we started it earlier this year. It's jam-packed with info on how to use HomeGauge Software, HG Services, and includes using the HG Companion with real house props. This training class is hands-on and fun. Our next training class is November 11-13, 2015. Russell will be the main speaker along with others.

Call and reserve your seat today. Southern hospitality and lunch is included! (Hawg jowls, pickled pigs feet, grits, and more.) Cost for the class is $300 for first attendee, $200 for each additional (multi-inspector firms only). Space is limited, so call to reserve your spot today — 828-254-2030.



InterNACHI and Nick Gromicko are still offering any HomeGauge Services user a 6 month membership to the largest association in the inspection industry! All you have to do is send me an email — russell@homegauge.com — and request it. This is for anyone who has not already been a member of InterNACHI.

If you like us on Facebook, you will be the first to find out about our next training class. Plus, like us now...and we will like you back!

Until next time,
Russell Buchanan
HomeGauge, President
russell@HomeGauge.com
828-254-2030