| Here are some answers to common questions we get about HORIZON. We’re happy to answer your questions over the phone or by email as well.
If you are looking for guidance regarding a Technical Issue with Horizon, please visit Our Troubleshooting page. You will find solutions to the most common problems there.
GENERAL 1. How is Horizon different than other reporting writing software for home inspectors? Horizon is: - Easy-to-learn and easy-to-use
- Horizon leverages Carson Dunlop’s extensive home inspection knowledge base
- Horizon includes
- An order entry system
- An archive system
- Built-in business report tools
Plus, Horizon automatically: - Adds color illustrations to your reports, matched to the issues you select
- Adds implications of issues you select
- Adds links to related technical articles for the items you select
- Horizon is a dynamic system that gives you the opportunity to become part of a community of like-minded home inspectors.
To view a list of all our features and benefits, please click here.
2. How does the Horizon software create home inspection reports? The steps for creating a custom inspection report with Horizon are simple: - Book your home inspections online from the office or in the field
- Use a pocket pc (Handheld computer or PDA), laptop, notebook or tablet computer, or paper forms to enter data as you inspect
- Print a summary home inspection report on site, if you like
- Publish and print the complete color report on site, if you choose
- Post the finished report on the Web
Back to Top 3. Why is Horizon Web-based? The fact that Horizon is Web-based offers users several advantages: - There is no software to install
- You can access your schedule, work orders, and archives from anywhere you have an Internet connection
- We can update the system at no expense or inconvenience to you
- Your data is backed up automatically
- Unlimited report writing
- You can write and post reports directly on the Web from anywhere you have Internet access – even from the home you’re inspecting
- If you don’t have Internet access on site, you can collect your data on a PDA and upload the report to the Web when you connect to the Internet
A recent InfoWorld article described the benefits of delivering software through the Web: “zero installation, platform independence, anywhere/anytime access, continuous improvement”.
4. What does a Horizon home inspection report look like?
Reports built with Horizon offer lots of flexibility. You can choose to include any or all of the following: - A title page
- Your company logo and information
- Other logos for professional organizations you belong to
- A cover letter
- Your inspection agreement and Standards of Practice
- Customized headers and footers for report pages
- Photos – Multiple photos for each item, with numbering and captions
- Your invoice or receipt
- Costs to repair
- An executive summary or Bottom Line
- An additional page of Reference Library links
- Other types of inspection reports (e.g. well, septic, pool/spa, etc.)
Back to Top 5. The report is neither a narrative nor a check list. Why? When we surveyed our clients, over 81% indicated that “Point form is easier for me to read than paragraph style.” In other words, people don’t want to have to read too many words. But they want all the relevant information to be included. Horizon reports offer the best of both worlds: - The bulleted format conveys a lot of information and is easy for people to read
- The headings keep readers oriented and the tabs allow them to navigate through the report easily
- The core information is provided in a clear and well-organized manner
- The links allow readers to decide what extra materials they want to read, and when
6. What does it mean when Horizon reports are described as “layered”? Clients want different amounts of information at different times. That’s why the reports are presented in three layers: - When they are trying to decide if they should buy the home, they just want the big picture or the “bottom line”. A one-page summary is all they can absorb. That’s the first layer.
- After they move into the home, they want enough detail to correct the conditions you identified. That’s when they read the body of the report. That’s the second layer.
- In some cases, clients may need further detail to understand the recommendation. That’s where the links to additional information come in. The linked articles are the third layer.
In short, we don’t force people to read long descriptions of things they already know, but we make it easy for them to find the information they need on any item. In other words, clients get what they want, when they want it, the way they want it.
7. What if my client doesn’t have Internet access? No problem. You can either print out the home inspection report (the hard copy looks great too!) or burn it onto a CD-ROM or memory stick.
8. What if my client has a question about the report – or loses it? Every Horizon home inspection report you create is archived on the Web. So if you – or your client – need to access it, simply go online and retrieve the report.
9. How do I set up a report? Horizon has a Description, Limitations, and Recommendations section for every house system. Simply point and click to enter your data on the touch screen of your handheld device. It’s easy to navigate through Horizon – you can get anywhere in two clicks! Back to top 10. What if I have trouble finding an item? Using the Find function, you can quickly and easily find items in the database.
11. What if Horizon is missing an item I need? You can add your own custom items, wherever you like, and then treat them as original data.
12. What if I have things I include in every home inspection report? You can choose to have any items you wish appear automatically in all your reports.
13. Does Horizon have spell-check? Of course! Horizon automatically spell-checks your notes for you in the background, notifying you when an error is found!
14. What if I inspect the same type of house time after time? You can create templates for certain styles of homes or for certain systems or components. Then, you can just drop one or all of these into any report, any time – even if you’ve already started the inspection!
15. What if I change my mind or make a mistake? You can edit or delete any entry you make. You can create multiple versions of the same report.
16. What if I don’t want to include the illustrations that are added automatically? It’s easy to remove any or all illustrations before publishing the report.
17. You said the implications of issues are added for me. What if the implication is not relevant? You can delete or revise any or all implications. Back to top 18. Do you provide any support? We’ll provide you with all the help you need to set up your profile and get you inspecting. Then, great one-on-one support is just a phone call away. Remember, when you succeed, we succeed, so we’re motivated to help! Our support hours: Mon-Fri 8:30a - 8:00p[ET]1-800-268-7070 option 4 support@discoverhorizon.com
19. What do I need to use Horizon? - A computer with a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) installed
- A high-speed Internet connection is recommended – try our free online trial and see how it works with your connection. A Windows-type PDA (e.g. Dell or HP Pocket PC) can be used to collect data on site electronically.
- A set of inspection check list forms if you want to collect data on site with paper and pen
- A portable printer if you want to deliver on-site reports (about 50% of inspectors deliver their reports on site)
HOME INSPECTION REPORT COST 1. Why is Horizon subscription based? Over the years, we’ve seen too many people invest $1,000 to $2,000 on reporting systems that they don't end up using. We are genuinely interested in your success and want to work with you to help your business prosper. There is no upfront commitment. And because it’s web-based, we keep upgrading the system at no cost or inconvenience to you.
Click here for all of the pricing details. Back to top WRITING REPORTS
1. I have a lot of standard sentences. Can I use them in Horizon? Absolutely. You can make your standard sentences available for selection in any report. You can also identify items that should appear automatically in every report.
2. What if I can’t find the item I want? You can create an item by typing in whatever you want, and can even save it for future use, if you choose. (But use the Search feature first. It may be in there already!)
3. How are Horizon reports laid out? The basic report is laid out in nine house systems: - Roof
- Exterior
- Structure
- Electrical
- Heating
- Cooling
- Insulation/Ventilation
- Plumbing
- Interior
You can choose to skip any system and it will not show up in the report. If you want, you can add additional systems (e.g. Appliances). Each system has Description, Limitations, and Recommendations sections. You can also choose to ignore any of these sections, for any or all systems.
4. When I’m entering data, how will I know if I’ve made an entry? On your PDA (pocket pc), your results show up on the top-level menus, and on the Web, indicate where you’ve made entries. On both sides it’s also easy to preview the entire report at any time, as often as you like. Back to top 5. What if I want to delete an entry? It’s easy to delete anything you want.
6. Is it possible to see what the report is going to look like as I’m writing it? On your PDA and the Web, you can preview the home inspection report whenever you want, as you’re writing it.
7. What if I don’t want to include any costs in my home inspection report? No problem. Simply ignore the Costs section and leave that area blank. It will not appear in your report.
8. Can I automatically include links to articles on my Web page or on other Web pages in my reports? Yes. Simply cut and paste the links where you would like them to appear.
9. Can I have the address of my Web site appear in my home inspection reports? Yes. It’s easy to set up Horizon so your Website address appears on any – or every – page!
10. Why don’t you use ratings for components such as acceptable, serviceable, adequate, satisfactory, etc.? We’ve found that these kinds of ratings in inspection reports create unnecessary liability for inspectors without adding any real value for clients – and many major Errors and Omissions insurers for home inspectors agree. In reality, it’s impossible to know if the components are really “satisfactory” under all conditions: We only test them under the limited and specific conditions in the home at the time of the inspection.
11. Is there a completion check to make sure I didn’t miss anything? Yes. You can set Horizon to check any items you want, so you never forget to include everything you need.
12. What if I need help? Don’t worry. On most screens on the Web side of Horizon, there is a Need Help? button that takes you to an illustrated tutorial on that specific topic. If you’re still stuck, call us at [800-268-7070 (opt. 4)]. We provide free tech support Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm (ET). Back to top
PDA – WRITING AND PRINTING INSPECTION REPORTS ON-SITE
1. What kind of PDA do I need?
When we say PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistants) we mean PocketPC’s. Any PocketPC running the PocketPC2003 or Microsoft Mobile 5.0 operating systems with a minimum 400 Mhz processor (bigger is better) will do just fine. Most any brand will do, but feel free to call us if you're unsure. The PocketHorizon.exe program is a free installation you will find in the 'Managing your Horizon' section of your profile. Just install this program to sync and write inspections on your PDA.
2. How does the PDA work? Your PDA will contain a version of the home inspection software that is a mirror image of the software on the Web side. This allows you to write your reports offline (since you may not have access to the Internet in all homes). Every time your PDA is connected to the Web, the software on your handheld device is updated with any changes that have been made. That way you can keep up to date with no work and no expense.
3. Why does Horizon use a PDA instead of a tablet, for example? We chose to use PDAs for Horizon for a number of reasons: - They’re more portable – you can hang them from your belt. This makes it easy to make entries anywhere, anytime
- They eliminate the need to transcribe reports from notes or field checklists, and that means no double entry and no transcription errors
- They’re cheaper than laptops or tablets
- PDAs are instant-on – and they go right to the section of the program you were last in when it turned off
- Keyboards are available for PDAs, making it easier to sit down at the end of the inspection and type home-specific notes, when necessary
When Internet access is available in the home you’re inspecting, you can use your laptop, tablet, or PDA. With broadband wireless services, this is becoming easier all the time.
4. Can I produce home inspection reports on site? Yes. As you enter data, the information about the home is captured in a database. Your PDA will create a Pocket Word document that can be spell-checked before it is printed on site. This inspection report won’t have all the extras that will appear on the Web version (illustrations and photos, implications of issues or technical articles), but it will have all the information your clients need to make their decision. If there’s Internet access at the house, you can create and print the full report on site. We do not print the home inspection report onsite, since the client will be able to read the report on the web when they get to their home or office. A second chance to impress the client! Back to top 5. Can I also print the home inspection agreement and invoice on site? Of course. You can do this right from your PDA using PocketHorizon.
6. Do I have to provide a home inspection report on site? While about half of the home inspection community provides reports on site, it’s up to you. You may also choose to print only the executive summary (Bottom Line) on site, or perhaps only the recommendations.
7. What if my PDA is lost, broken, forgotten, or out of batteries? You can keep paper copies of the database in your vehicle. That way, if your PDA (Pocket pc) isn’t available, you can collect all the inspection information on paper and transfer it to the Web when you get back to the office.
HOME INSPECTION FINAL REPORTS 1. What kind of home inspection reports does Horizon produce? Horizon reports are neither home inspection check lists nor narrative-style. In our experience, people don’t want to have to read too many words, but they want all the relevant information to be included. With an emphasis on clarity, Horizon reports offer the best of both worlds: - The bulleted format conveys a lot of information and is easy for people to read
- The headings keep readers oriented and the tabs allow them to navigate through the report easily
- The core information is provided in a clear and well-organized manner
- The full-color illustrations and option of adding photos make it easier for readers to absorb information
- The links allow readers to decide what extra materials they want to read, and when
2. Why is the home inspection report written in point-form?
Because this is what clients asked for! We surveyed many, many clients and they told us they wanted more information and less reading. To achieve this, we minimize words and use more pictures. Plus, in Horizon reports, it’s easy for readers to separate the critical information from the background information since they’re written in three layers: - An executive summary gives the big picture
- The report detail provides more information on the home
- The links offer additional reference text where people need a deeper understanding
In addition, a point form report is faster and easier for you to write! Back to top 3. Does Horizon do any of the work for me? Yes – three special things are included for you automatically in every report: - Full-color illustrations that apply to your recommendations (where applicable)
- The implications of your recommendations
- Hyperlinks to reference articles that provide readers with more information, so they can drill down where they want, when they want
4. Is there an executive summary included with a Horizon home inspection report?
There’s an executive summary included at the beginning of the report called the Bottom Line. Of course, you can call it whatever you want. You can choose whether to include it or not. Or, you can decide to produce only an executive summary instead of a full report.
5. I really like the Illustrated Home. Can I use those illustrations in Horizon? The Illustrated Home illustrations are already included in Horizon, and they are in full-color! Even better, when it’s appropriate, the right illustration is attached to its corresponding recommendation, and automatically appears in the report. Why waste your time? We have done it for you! And, if you want, you can remove any illustration you don’t want to appear.
6. Can I produce a home inspection report without the links to the reference articles for clients who don’t have Internet access? Sure, Horizon reports can be printed without the links to additional information. A single mouse click lets you make this choice every time.
7. Can I add photos to my home inspection reports? You can add an unlimited number of photos to your report and Horizon automatically re-sizes them to fit into the report. You can also add multiple photos to any item. Make your photos stand out by including arrows, circles, squares, and text captions. If you choose, Horizon will number each photo in the report for you.
8. How are home inspection reports delivered? Once the report is posted on the Web, your client receives an email with a link to the report. Clients can choose to read the report online, download and save it to their computer, and/or print it. You or your client can also send the report to third parties like real estate agents, title companies, insurance companies, appraisal companies, and lenders. Back to top 9. How are Horizon emails sent?
Horizon emails are sent from the discoverhorizon.com email server. Your name will appear as being sent from the discoverhorizon.com domain. This allows your clients email server to match the sender with the originating domain.
10. What if the client does not get the email? Horizon notifies you if the client does not receive the email.
11. Can I tell if the client has read the home inspection report? Horizon lets you know who has read the report and how often.
12. Can I have a title page in my home inspection reports? Yes. The title page automatically features the client’s name, the subject property address, and the inspection date, as well as the inspector’s name. If you want, you can also include your logo, contact information, tag line, and even a photo of the house! If you prefer, this page can be turned off.
13. Can I use Horizon to create an invoice? Invoices created through Horizon show the fees, as well as applicable taxes. Horizon will total the fees and calculate the tax for you. You can even mark the invoice paid or not. Horizon also provides you with an Accounts Receivable report in an instant.
14. Can I include my contract or home inspection agreement? There is standard contract wording included with Horizon, but you can create your own if you prefer. The address of the property to be inspected is automatically included in the agreement. We recommend you work with your lawyer to get the best contract for you.
15. Can I create a cover letter? Yes, you can create your own cover letter, complete with your logo and company information. Then, Horizon will generate the letters automatically with the reports, dropping in your client’s name and address, the inspection address, the date, and the inspector’s name.
16. Can I create footer text for my report pages? You can include your customized message or information at the bottom of every page of the report, as well as the cover letter, invoice, title page, and inspection agreement. Back to top 17. How do clients save their home inspection reports?
The report will open immediately as a PDF file when they click on the email link. In the upper-left corner, click on the ‘Save’ icon or from the toolbar, click ‘File’ then ‘Save’. The Adobe PDF file will be saved to the client machine.
18. Can I print my reports so I have a hard copy? Of course! The Horizon reports are PDF documents that can be printed just as easily as Microsoft Word documents.
19. How long will home inspection reports be available on the Web? Although we plan to make the reports available to you for at least a year and possibly indefinitely, we recommend you keep a copy of each report and work order for your records.
20. How do the inspection archives work? How do I find my old home inspection reports? You can go to Horizon at any time to retrieve completed reports. Simply search by report number, client name, inspection address, or date.
21. Can I change the home inspection report output? The output format of Horizon reports was carefully designed to be easy to read for clients while providing good risk management for inspectors.
You have several different choices for report output. You can produce reports with or without illustrations, with or without implications, with or without summaries, summaries only, recommendations, and so on.
22. I’m in Texas. Do you have the Texas home inspection form in Horizon? The Texas form isn’t available yet. Email us at support@discoverhorizon.com if you would you like us to contact you once it is.
23. Can I change the home inspection report once it is published? Yes, you can create different versions of reports at any time. For example, you may want to send a version with no illustrations or photos to a lender, or send the recommendations only to a real estate agent. You can also change something in the report, if you spelled your client’s name wrong for example, or if some improvements were made to the home after your inspection. Each version is numbered sequentially for you. And Horizon tells you who received every version of every report and when. You can also update the work order after the inspection to document a conversation with the client months after the report has been published. Back to top
BOOKING HOME INSPECTIONS 1. Can I use Horizon to book inspections? Horizon has a complete order form system that allows you to book inspections online and prevents you from double-booking appointments. You can then send confirmation emails to clients and agents. Work orders are automatically transferred to your PDA when you connect it to the Internet. You can check your schedule several ways: by date, inspector, inspection address, client name, or report number.
2. How do I book inspections? Simply follow the step-by-step inspection booking process, including selecting an agent from your database.
3. Can I send my client (and agent) a confirmation of the inspection appointment? You can send your client (and agent) an email confirming the details of the inspection with one click. All the relevant information is automatically entered for you. If you choose, you can also include your inspection agreement and Standards of Practice.
4. Are my inspection work orders archived? Yes, but you can download and/or print them if you like.
5. Do I have to re-enter the client data when writing the home inspection report? No. All the data are entered for you automatically.
6. What if my company has more than one inspector? With Horizon, you can choose which inspector gets each inspection, and you can move inspections around the schedule before sending the work order to the inspector. Back to top 7. Is it hard to send a work order to an inspector? It’s actually automatic. The work order is posted and when the inspector connects their handheld device to the Internet, the work order is transferred to their PDA automatically. When the report is done, it is posted to the Web in the same way. Each Inspector gets only their work orders!
8. Can I proofread my inspectors’ reports before they are published? You can proofread them before they are published – and after too! Impressive quality control measures are built into the system. You can see how quickly your inspectors are getting their reports out and you can read any of their reports whenever you want, wherever you have Internet access.
9. Who can make changes to my system? You have several options: - You can provide your inspectors with complete or limited access to the system
- You can decide whether you want your inspectors to be able to change, add, or delete custom items or company settings
- If you don’t want your inspectors to be able to view each other’s schedules, you can restrict their access
- You can control who and how much access is permitted.
10. Can real estate agents’ names be drawn into the work order automatically? Yes. Your real estate agent database can be built into Horizon and you can select agents from a drop-down list. You can also manage the list and change or add real estate agents and real estate companies as you go.
11. How does the confirmation email work? The confirmation email is generated automatically as the work order is created. You can decide whether to use standard wording or custom wording on a case-by-case basis. You can also attach your contract to the email, if you wish. You are notified if the email does not get through. Back to top 12. Can I export the client and agent data to Excel to do mailings to clients and agents? Yes. Horizon keeps an up-to-date client list for you, which you may access at any time in your profile.
13. Can I print a contract by itself so I can have my client sign it on site, before the inspection? Yes. You may print a copy of your contract from the work order - either on the web, or on site using PocketHorizon on your PDA
HOME INSPECTION BUSINESS REPORTS 1. What kind of home inspection reports can I produce with Horizon? In the Business at a Glance section, there are a number of charts that can indicate results for: - Month-to-date
- Year-to-date (according to your fiscal year)
- Any date range you want
There are also bar graphs for the above that include: - All sales by $
- All sales by number of inspections
- Sales broken down by inspection type
- Number of inspections broken down by inspection type
- Sales broken down by inspector
- Number of inspections broken down by inspector
FOR MULTI-INSPECTOR FIRMS 1. Is Horizon suitable for multi-inspector firms? Absolutely. Horizon can accommodate as many inspectors as you want. Plus, you can: - Turn inspectors’ access on and off
- Proofread your inspectors’ reports before or after they are published
- Track where your inspectors are in their report writing process (i.e. all caught up, falling behind, etc.)
- Set up several administrative access levels where only management can see the inspectors’ schedules, access the business reports, change the company profile, add or change custom items, etc.
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