Home Inspection Software for Home Inspectors

Horizon Web - Any computer running Internet Explorer 7 or better.
Field Reporting
When working online, a strong, fast Internet connection makes life easier and more pleasant. When working with any computer, online or off-line, the more powerful and faster, the better

How is Horizon different than other reporting systems?
- Easy-to-learn and easy-to-use
- Horizon includes:
- Carson Dunlop’s extensive home inspection knowledge base
- Carson Dunlop's Illustrated Home
- An order entry system
- An archive system
- Built-in business report tools
Horizon automatically:
- Adds color illustrations to your reports, matched to the issues you select
- Adds implications of issues
- Adds links to related technical articles
Why is Horizon Web-based?
The fact that Horizon is Web-based offers users several advantages:
- No software to install
- 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
- You can and post reports directly on the Web from anywhere you have Internet access – even from the home you’re inspecting
- Write Reports on-line or off-line.
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 - choose from hundreds
- Your company logo and information
- Other logos for professional organizations
- 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.)
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.
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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
What if my client doesn’t have Internet access?
You can print the report (the hard copy looks great too!) or burn it onto a CD-ROM or memory stick.
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 another copy, you have instant access.
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! Set it up however you want. If you inspect room by room rather than system by system, we can do that for you. If you have several ancillary services you offer, we can build those in. No extra charge.

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What if I have trouble finding an item?
Using the Find function, you can quickly find items in the database.
What if Horizon is missing an item I need?
Add your own custom items, wherever you like.
What if I have things I include in every home inspection report?
You can choose to have any items appear automatically in all your reports.
Does Horizon have spell-check?
Horizon automatically spell-checks your notes in the background, notifying you only when an error is found!
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!
What if I change my mind or make a mistake?
You can edit or delete any entry you make. What if I need to update an old report? You can create multiple versions of the same report.
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.
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.
Do you provide any support?
We 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!

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REPORT WRITING

I have a lot of standard sentences. Can I use them in Horizon?
Absolutely.

How are Horizon reports laid out?
The basic report is laid out in nine house systems

1. Roof
2. Exterior
3. Structure
4. Electrical
5. Heating
6. Cooling
7. Insulation/Ventilation
8. Plumbing
9. 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). Need something else? Let us know.

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.

Can I use ratings?
Of course!

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.

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WRITING AND PRINTING INSPECTION REPORTS ON-SITE

What can I use?
A laptop or tablet computer or PDA.

Can I produce home inspection reports on site? Yes.

Can I also print the home inspection agreement and invoice on site? Of course.

Do I have to provide a home inspection report on site?
It’s up to you. The final report is posted on the web as a PDF. Your clients receive an e-mail with a link to the report.

FINAL REPORTS

What kind of home inspection reports does Horizon produce?
Our clients like a bullet style, but you can have a narrative style if you like.

Can Horizon do any of the work for me?
Yes – three special things are included for you automatically in every report:
1. Full-color illustrations that apply to your recommendations (where applicable)
2. The implications of your recommendations
3. Hyperlinks to reference articles that provide readers with more information, so they can drill down where they want, when they want.

Is there an executive summary included with a Horizon home inspection report?
If you like.

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.

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. Better still, Horizon also stores the photos that you do not include in your report, with the file for future reference!

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.

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Can I tell if the client has read the home inspection report?
Horizon lets you know who has read the report and how often.

Can I have a title page in my home inspection reports?
Yes. You can choose from hundreds of title page options, created by professional graphics designers.

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.

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.

How long will home inspection reports be available on the Web?
Although we plan to have the reports available indefinitely, we recommend you keep a copy of each report and work order for your records.

How do I find my old home inspection reports?
From the home page, you can search by report number, client name, inspection address, inspector or inspection date.

Can I change the home inspection report after it is published?
Yes, you can create different versions of reports. 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. Best of all, all the original versions are kept intact, no matter how many subsequent versions you create. You can also update the work order after the inspection to document a conversation with the client months after the report has been published. There is even a spot to document callbacks on the work order, in case the client has issues later on.

How Secure Are My Reports?
When people are looking at Horizon, our web-based report writing system, they often wonder whether their work will be secure.
That is a great question. Many of our users ask us about security at the beginning. Our security is very high, not only for our customers’ benefit, but also because we have our own inspection records stored on these servers as well. Our servers are hosted in what is arguably the most secure data center in Canada. Access to the facility is protected by security personnel 24 hours a day. Entry is blocked by biometric scans and access is reliant on a clear background check by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Your data is secured behind multiple hardware firewalls and housed on an enterprise class redundant disk array. Data is backed up hourly.

You can review our privacy policy here.

The reports that are generated are PDFs. You can simply download and save these to your computer. Your clients can also download, print and save the reports to their computer.

The reports are posted to a URL containing a unique and encrypted ID number that is not subject to search engines. The encrypted code cannot be “guessed”. This provides very convenient access for your clients, and a secure environment. There is no need for any username or password to access the report. The URL is sent to the client in a plain text e-mail to minimize the risk of being rejected or caught in the client’s spam filters.

Our commitment is to keep the reports on the site available for at least one year from the date of the inspection.

I hope this helps answer the security question.

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BOOKING HOME INSPECTIONS

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 can be sent off line for fieldwork using a laptop, tablet or PDA.

How do I book inspections?
Simply follow the step-by-step inspection booking process, including selecting an agent from your database.

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.

What if the inspection is canceled?
You can cancel a work order, and Horizon will keep it for you for three months in a recycle bin. If the inspection comes back online, you can reactivate it without re-entering all the data!

What if I accidentally cancel an inspection where I've already done the report?
Horizon won't let you cancel an inspection if you have generated a report.

Are my inspection work orders archived?
Yes, together with your report. they are stored.

Do I have to re-enter the client data when writing the home inspection report?
No. All the data is entered for you automatically.

What if we've inspected this house before?
Horizon will tell you, and will give you a link to that work order.

What if I inadvertently book in inspector to be two places at the same time?
Horizon will warn you.

What if I accidentally try to move an inspection from Inspector A to Inspector B in the schedule, when it was a specific request for Inspector A?
Horizon will stop you and suggest a solution.

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. You can set up inspectors so they only see their own schedule.

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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!

Can I proofread my inspectors’ reports before they are published? Yes– and after too! 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.

Who can make changes to my system? It's up to you:
- 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

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. Better still, when you select an agent, not only do any notes about the agent appear along with their contact information, something special happens - You are told how many times you work with that agent, and you get that address, date and client name from the last inspection you worked with them on. Makes you look great on the phone!

How does the confirmation email work?
You can set up several standard wordings for confirmation e-mails.

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. You can also export any or all work order fields for any date range to Excel any time.

Can I print a contract by itself so I can have my client sign it on site, before the inspection?
Yes.

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BUSINESS REPORTS

What kind of home inspection reports can I produce with Horizon?

In the Business at a Glance section, there are charts and bar graphs 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 You can run these reports for
- Month-to-date
- Year-to-date (according to your fiscal year)
- Any date range you want

Can I see who owes me money?
An instant detailed Accounts Receivable report is exactly one click away.

FOR MULTI-INSPECTOR FIRMS

Is Horizon suitable for multi-inspector firms?
Absolutely. We have two multi-inspector firms and use Horizon every day. You're welcome to come visit us and see how we use it. 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.

TROUBLE-SHOOTING
Horizon report emails

Report was not received

Confirm if the email is correct.
a. Be aware if the email address was entered incorrectly it might still be valid and go to someone else’s account.

Check Junk or Spam folders for email.

Rare - It is possible that settings on the (clients) mail server may not allow for delivery of this email. Send to an alternate email address if possible.

If all else fails – Save the .pdf report file to your desktop and send to client as an attachment from your email account.

Report link does not open

Check to ensure Adobe Reader (current version) is installed on users machine.
a. Available as a free download from Adobe website.

Try copying and pasting the report hyperlink into a web browser.
a. Some email accounts like Hotmail, Yahoo and AOL may disable email hyperlinks.
b. When an email is opened in a smaller window text-wrapping to the next line may break the link.

If all else fails – Save the .pdf report file to your desktop and send to client as an attachment from your email account.

Report cannot be viewed. In some instances the Adobe .pdf file is corrupted during transition to the web. The corrupt file may appear in one of three ways.

Error Message: "There was a problem reading this document (109)."

Report opens blank pages

Report prints strange characters.
Resolutions:

Open Report Publishing and generate a new version of the report, resend the email.

Edit your Junkmail setting to identify 'DiscoverHorizon.com' domain safe senders and recipients list.

Adobe PDF opens to a blank page or error message 'trouble reading document'.

Method 1:

From Adobe knowledge base article# 1802672: Unable to create PDF from web capture on Windows 2008 Server (32 and 64-bit)
If you are encountering a problem creating a PDF from a web capture on Windows 2008 Server (32 and 64-bit), check your that your Internet Explorer advanced security setting "Enable third-party browser extensions" is ON. The default is OFF on Windows 2008 Server, which will block extensions from loading. In order to use this feature on Windows 2008 Server, please do the following:

Launch IE and Select 'Tools->Internet Options'.

Select 'Advanced' tab and go to 'Browsing'.

Check 'Enable third-party browser extensions'. (if checked, try unchecking)

Restart Internet Explorer.

Method 2:

You can configure the browser to open PDF files in a separate Acrobat window, and then configure the browser to use Acrobat or Adobe Reader as a helper application. Then, when you select a PDF file in Internet Explorer, the browser opens the PDF file in an Acrobat window instead of the browser window.

Close your web browser.

Start Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

Choose Edit > Preferences.

Select Internet in the list on the left.

Deselect Display PDF in Browser, and click OK.

Restart Internet Explorer.

Note: The next time you select a link to a PDF file, the browser may prompt you to open or save the file. If you choose to open the file, then the browser opens the file in the helper application that you specified. If you choose to save the file, then the browser downloads the file to the hard disk.

FAQ’s

Can I save this file to my computer?
a. Yes, Click ‘Save a Copy’ from the Adobe menu bar.
b. Once you have the report copied to your computer you can print, email or transfer it to any memory device
i.e. CDrom, USB key, Memory cards, etc...

Can I get a printed copy?
a. Yes, Click printer icon from the Adobe menu bar.

When I print a report will the articles also be included?
a. No, the articles will not be automatically included. However, you can open the articles and print them separately.

Tips

Optimize Internet Explorer

Open Tools\ Internet options

Add http://www.discoverhorizon to the Trusted Sites

Uncheck ‘Require server verification (https: for all sites in this zone)

Clear Temporary Internet files regularly

Disable unused browser add-ons

Yahoo, Bing and Google search bars and Messenger add-ons.

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