This is a follow-up to a previous post on the subject of how to manage common household problems using a digital property inspection app. The sooner you can identify a problem and get someone on it, the better for all concerned. Here are 3 more common problems to watch out for when doing inspections, and how you can better manage them using the right software.
Hot, Cold, and Wet: Look Out for Atmospheric Problems
Collectively, issues with the heater, the air conditioning unit, and other ventilation and humidity issues can be thought of as “atmospheric problems.” They’re easy enough to overlook in some situations: after all, who wants to test the heater on a blazing summer day, or turn on the air conditioning on a cold and blustery one?
Issues with humidity and ventilation can also be easy to overlook, particularly if you simply aren’t there at the right time. For example, let’s say there’s a problem with humidity in the attic, but only on warm days. Will the tenants notice, and if they do, will they think it worth mentioning to you? If they haven’t said anything to you and you inspect it on a cool day, then what?
A good property inspection app can help you to deal with these issues in several ways. For one thing, next inspection alerts can help you remember to follow up on something the next time you come back. You’ll also find it’s a lot easier to do your reports, since the app will format them for you and send them off to the client as an easy-to-manage link. You can even take video and upload that to your report.
Problems With the Pipes: Plumbing
The previous post in this series talked about appliances, but didn’t really get into plumbing. This is because plumbing raises a number of particular challenges that are unique to it. If the toilet isn’t flushing properly, is it a problem with the toilet, the pipes, or the septic tank? (Knock on wood it’s not the septic tank).
As with malfunctioning appliances, plumbing issues are likely to mean disgruntled tenants, calls to a specialist, and a certain amount of time and trouble making sure that the whole thing gets taken care of to everyone’s satisfaction. That’s where a good property inspection app comes in, because saving time and trouble is what a good app is best at.
AutoText comments and voice dictation make taking notes easier than ever. You can sign reports on your device, just by using your finger on the touchscreen. And with inspection scheduling, you’ll find it’s easier to keep track of everything.
Wear and Tear, Time for Repair
Inevitably, every lived-in house is going to suffer a certain amount of wear and tear. Whether it’s weathered siding or a wine stain on the carpet or chipped painting on the walls, sooner or later you’re going to need to do something about it.
You’ve probably had times where you saw a potential problem and thought “I need to give someone a call to have a look at that,” only to forget all about it by the time you got back to the office. The good news is that there are multiple ways to prevent this using property inspection software.
Not only can Next Inspection alerts can help you to remember to take a look at something next time, but voice dictation can help you to make a note of it with ease before you forget. With video capabilities and DropBox integration, you can easily document a problem in as much detail as you need and then back it up. Finally, you’ll also find that collaboration is easier than ever, as a good app will allow you to assign inspections and give staff or maintenance personnel access to anything they need.
