5 Best Construction Inspection Templates

5 Best Construction Inspection Templates

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Many jobs in construction require daily, weekly, and monthly inspections for safety compliance and project management tasks. This article covers some of the most common construction inspection types and templates that can be used to simplify the process.

Inspection templates are helpful to use so that you don’t have to start from scratch. Paper forms and Word documents are one way to create a template, but many companies are moving toward inspection software and mobile forms to make it easier to manage. 

A construction inspection template is typically a pre-built form that is available within the inspection software platform that has many of the fields that you would need to collect for that particular inspection type. Templates are generally meant to be customized, so you can input any project or client specific details that are required. Most inspection software templates are very simple to customize, using a drag-and-drop editor to make the template customizations online. 

Once the template is created, it’s available to inspectors or managers in the field who can go through the checklist items using a mobile device and a PDF report is generated once finished.

Using inspection templates helps to ensure that data is collected in a standard way and required fields are never left blank. Inspection software and forms help bring all of the inspection forms into a central, cloud-based system that is easy to access and easy to share the information with all project stakeholders. 

GoCanvas has worked with leading construction companies to digitize their forms and streamline operational tasks. All of our inspection templates are designed to work with other forms you use on the job site, like work orders, safety meetings, contracts, and more. Follow the links below for some of the most common inspection templates and register for a GoCanvas free trial to see how the product works. 

Daily site inspections are used on many construction projects to report on the daily progress updates for that job site. This gives management and clients a report to communicate the work being done in the field.

Construction firms are going digital with these daily site inspections, with apps to help make the entire daily reporting process painless for site managers. The daily site inspection app from GoCanvas is used to document weather conditions, monitor who has been on site for the day, collect notes for the project, capture images of any issues, and much more. 

Access the Daily Site Inspection template from our free trial and use our no-code builder to easily customize the form to include other relevant information for your job sites.

Building inspections are often required to report on the overall condition and safety of the buildings according to their permits and code. The building inspection app from GoCanvas makes it easy to ensure that buildings are in compliance with permit issuance and do not have code violations.

Building inspectors can use the simple checklists and forms on their mobile devices or tablets, collecting the required information and automatically generating a branded report once they are finished. This app can also be used in conjunction with work orders, making it simple to assign follow up corrective actions after an inspection has been completed.

Access the Building Inspection template from our free trial to see how GoCanvas can help save your business time and money by streamlining how you collect and report on information digitally.

Construction equipment operators and teams that are responsible for preventative maintenance can use the equipment inspection template from GoCanvas to perform complete equipment safety checklists on a mobile device or tablet. 

The template is useful to ensure that heavy construction equipment is in good condition and to identify any issues that require attention. This template can also be used to ensure that your workplace is in compliance with OSHA standards for heavy equipment safety.

Access the Equipment Inspection template from our template library and use the GoCanvas form builder to modify the template to be used across different types of equipment and job sites.

Quality control inspections are designed to check for quality standards and advise where corrective action is needed. This QC template from GoCanvas can be used for many different purposes, including construction projects, building code, work environment, welding processes, environmental monitoring, and more.

Going digital with quality control inspections helps to instantly capture, record, and update quality audits with regards to quality standards in real time during the inspection process. Once the QC inspection template checklist has been completed using a mobile device, a PDF is automatically generated that can be emailed and is stored in the GoCanvas Cloud account for easy access.

Access the Quality Control Inspection from in our template library.

Job site safety inspections are designed to ensure OSHA compliance and best practices are followed in terms of worker safety. This safety inspection template from GoCanvas can be used as a reporting tool for hazard analysis, identifying pertinent safety issues and working conditions for employees.

The safety inspection template can be used on a mobile device so that safety inspectors, safety managers, general contractors, and project managers, any contractor or site inspector can use the app to quickly and easily complete site inspections and send the results directly to the project managers and the safety compliance team. 

Access the Safety Inspection template in our template library for an easy-to-use digital inspection app that can help to keep workers safe and productive on the job site.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

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See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

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Your Guide for Rental Inspection Checklists

Your Guide for Rental Inspection Checklists

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A rental inspection checklist is used by property management companies to ensure that rental units are in good condition for tenants. The rental inspection checklist is typically performed by a member of the property management staff and includes all different areas of the home or property to inspection. Once the checklist form is completed, a report is generated that includes a signature from the inspector and a signature to be collected from the tenant. This creates an agreement between parties that the rental inspection was conducted and records any of the pertinent information, in case of a dispute later on.

A rental inspection can look very different depending on the property type. For example, a single family home will need to cover more areas than that of a studio apartment. The rental inspection checklist should have different templates for all of these different use cases. Here are some examples of the types of things included in a rental inspection checklist:

  • Interior of the unit
  • Exterior spaces
  • Building structures
  • Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing
  • Fire protection
  • And more

It’s important that your property management company performs thorough inspections on a routine basis and confirm that properties are maintained according to local regulations. Proactive inspections can identify issues before they become problems, leading to better maintained properties and lowered risk.

Two common types of rental inspections used by property management companies are residential property inspections and move-in/move-out inspections. Here is a brief overview on these types of rental inspections and templates you can use to get started.

A residential property inspection checklist is used to ensure that the property is livable and meets the required standards in your area. This checklist is used during a housing inspection to assess the overall condition of the property. It will have a thorough checklist for inspectors to review and detailed notes to make recommendations on what needs to be repaired. Similar to a home inspection that is performed for buyers, the rental inspection checklist is designed to give property owners a detailed assessment of the building to prepare it for tenant move-in.

You can access the residential inspection checklist here on the GoCanvas App Store.

Building owners and property managers will perform move-in and move-out inspections for tenants to create a document of how the property is maintained upon move in and any damages that exist upon move out. By performing a thorough inspection upon move-in, it creates a clear record of the condition of the property and an agreement from the tenant. If damages occur, the move-out inspection will document these issues and any applicable fines can be assessed upon move-out. 

You can access the move-in and move-out inspection checklist here on the GoCanvas App Store.

Still using paper forms to manage inspections? Consider going digital with inspection software built for property management companies, building contractors, real estate transactions, and much more. The GoCanvas platform is trusted by thousands of companies to streamline the inspection process and automate how work gets done. 

Tools for management. Inspection software provides tools to better manage inspections. Easily dispatch work orders to the right teams in the field and get real-time reports once work has been completed. Cloud-based tools ensure information is accessible and never lost. Inspection software makes it easier to collect and report on information from the field, saving your business time and money by cutting out manual processes.

Simplicity in the field. Inspection software and forms provide a simple solution for your workforce on site when performing property inspections on a mobile device or tablet. Inspection checklists can be built for your business needs and ensure that data is consistent every time by requiring fields. Information syncs automatically back to the office, cutting down on the reporting process and saving technicians from data entry.

Seamless digital experience. Software for mobile forms helps to digitize inspections, work orders, and other types of paperwork. If you need to share inspection forms with other stakeholders or clients, all of this can be done electronically and provide a better process for documentation. Provide better reports with photos, allow for digital signatures on documents, and manage everything using cloud-based tools instead of paper forms that are easily lost.

Looking for more examples? See how other companies are benefiting from inspection software and forms in this related article.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Man in a hard hat inspecting HVAC vents.

Three HVAC Maintenance Checklists that will Reduce Errors and Grow Your Bottom Line

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Complete Guide to Vehicle Inspection Forms

Complete Guide to Vehicle Inspection Forms

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A vehicle inspection form is used to document the condition of a vehicle. These forms have many different uses, both for personal vehicles and companies that operate commercial vehicles or fleets. Different types of vehicle inspection report forms will have different fields used to assess the vehicle based on the goal of that inspection. For example, a pre-trip inspection will look for safety concerns before operating a vehicle on a trip, whereas a multi-point inspection will provide a greater level of detail if performed only on an annual basis.

Typically a vehicle inspection form is used by a licensed inspector or mechanic to give an official assessment of the vehicle. However, there are also vehicle inspection forms that can be used by individuals or drivers to ensure the safety of their vehicles. 

Whatever your goal is for a vehicle inspection form, consider searching the GoCanvas website for all vehicle inspection forms. With thousands of forms, you can get started with one of our pre-built templates rather than creating your own from scratch.

Once the data is collected in the vehicle inspection form, it’s common for the information to be presented as a vehicle inspection report. A vehicle inspection report will document the findings from the inspection and make any necessary recommendations needed for the maintenance of the vehicle.

One benefit of using inspection software is the ability to streamline the data collection and reporting process. For example, a digital vehicle inspection is performed by a technician using a tablet device to rapidly collect information on an easy-to-use digital checklist. The inspector can upload photos, insert recommendations, and sign digitally. Once the inspection is complete, a branded PDF report can be generated to send to any stakeholders or clients to have for their records. 

GoCanvas provides inspection software and forms that can be used by your business to perform vehicle inspection checklists in the field. Using a mobile form on a tablet, inspectors can use the software to perform faster inspections and your office can have an instant report generated to the cloud and shared via email. 

Why use GoCanvas?

Companies are switching to GoCanvas to eliminate paperwork and cut down on manual, time-consuming processes such as annual vehicle inspection reports. If you need to perform many inspections to scale your business, consider leveraging software like GoCanvas to increase efficiency and eliminate the use of inspection sheets. A recent survey from GoCanvas customers found that they are able to:

  • Shorten the time to receive completed forms by 55%
  • Increase the amount of work completed by 24%
  • Increase the amount of time spent manually re-entering form data by 29%

You can get started for free with any of our vehicle inspection forms or you can contact our team here to learn more about our software for vehicle inspections and more. 

As we mentioned in the article, there are many vehicle inspection forms. In the next section, you will find a complete list of the top forms used for vehicle inspections. Here are some of the common areas of a vehicle inspection checklist:

  • Brake system
  • Coupling devices
  • Exhaust System
  • Fuel System
  • Lighting Devices
  • Safe Loading
  • Steering mechanism
  • Suspension
  • Frame
  • Tires
  • Wheels and Rims
  • Windshield Glazing
  • Windshield Wipers

Looking for a specific vehicle inspection form? Here are some examples and templates you can use to get started. Follow the links below to find the inspection forms and you can use the GoCanvas app builder to easily customize your vehicle inspection forms depending on your needs. Our no-code builder allows you to drag and drop form fields into the designer, giving you a simple way to create vehicle inspection forms for any need. Here are 8 common vehicle inspection form examples and templates to work from:

#1. Annual vehicle inspection form

The easy-to-use safety inspection app is perfect for annual vehicle inspections of fleet cars, commercial vehicles, rental car inspections, and more. The customizable electronic inspection form covers important car inspection details that should be covered by the driver or inspection team, including the motor, safety features, wheels-rims, frame, brakes, tires, steering mechanism, and more. 

Access the template here.

#2. Multi-point vehicle inspection form

The easy-to-use vehicle multi-point inspection app can be used for a variety of tasks, including pre-purchase inspections, vehicle insurance inspections, and dealership inspections, and as part of a general preventive maintenance program.

Access the template here.

#3. Commercial vehicle pre-trip inspection form

The Commercial Vehicle Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist mobile app is designed to test your ability to check a variety of commercial vehicle safety equipment and vehicle components. This ensures that drivers, vehicles, and products reach their destinations safely.

Access the template here.

#4. Daily vehicle inspection form

This Daily Vehicle Inspection Report Mobile App includes the minimum information to be recorded on a daily vehicle inspection report and can be used as a daily log of mandatory safety inspections. Use this vehicle maintenance tool to best monitor your commercial motor vehicle’s windshield, tires, wipers, power steering, parking brake, and more to identify any deficiencies.

Access the template here.

#5. Used Car Inspection Checklist Form

This thorough and extensive pre-purchase vehicle inspection form app makes sure that car inspection technicians conduct all the necessary inspections and repairs during the inspection process before giving motor vehicles to their owners.

Access the template here.

#6. Forklift Safety Inspection Form

This forklift inspection checklist helps ensure safe operation and helps identify areas where forklift maintenance may be required. This forklift inspection checklist covers all areas of the electric forklifts, including fluid levels, tires, forklift trucks, forklift operator safety equipment, and more. Once the form has been completed, the app saves the checklist for your records.

Access the template here.

#7. Fleet Vehicle Inspection Form

As an important component of a fleet management program for a fleet manager, this preventive maintenance checklist app includes a detailed driver vehicle inspection report that promotes driver safety and vehicle integrity by identifying necessary repairs. Use this checklist template app for industry standard compliance, safety, and preventative maintenance through solutions based on real-time tracking and observations. 

Access the template here.

#8. DOT Vehicle Inspection Form

If your company hires drivers of commercial vehicles, you will want the DOT Driver Vehicle Inspections Mobile App available for everyone on your team. This digital checklist or pre-trip inspection form gives the driver assurance their company vehicle is safe for driving – or they can make a note of a maintenance issue.

Access the template here.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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3 Reasons to Digitize Your Construction Safety Programs

3 Reasons to Digitize Your Construction Safety Programs

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Construction safety is a top priority for all firms and contractors. That’s why more construction pros are moving to digitize their construction safety programs to create more visibility into their operations. 

A study from FMI research found that 96% of data goes unused in the construction industry. This highlights the challenge and opportunity that exists for companies to become more data-driven. 

The Challenge

With a distributed workforce that is on different job sites or has multiple subcontractors, it can be difficult to gather data in a consistent way. Traditional safety measures that rely on paper forms make it difficult to roll up that information for reporting and the data becomes lost on paper forms or siloed across the business. This high level of business complexity is a challenge for construction companies, but can be solved by focusing on improving its data processes and culture.

The Opportunity

Countless studies have shown the importance of using data to make business decisions. When data is accurate and available in near real-time, organizations are able to gain greater visibility into their operations and use that information to take appropriate next steps. The opportunity to take advantage of data starts with digitizing programs to improve the data that is captured, ultimately leading to better reporting and processes for construction safety. Key outcomes of digitization include lowered risk and liability, greater productivity, and higher employee satisfaction.

The data dilemma that construction firms and contractors face is the need to move away from paper forms and manual processes through digitization and automation that can streamline operations and provide greater insights. While this requires careful upfront planning and dedicated resources, the upside can be highly beneficial for achieving better construction safety outcomes in the long term.

Accurate reporting relies on having the best data possible. By improving the quality of the data you’re collecting, this allows you to make the best decisions for your business. 

This all starts with data capture. For field operations, the core component of capturing better data in the field relies on mobile technology. Digitizing your construction safety programs often starts with the data that is captured in the field. Traditionally on the paper forms and sheets, now is captured through mobile devices and tablets that sync the information in real-time to the cloud.

In terms of your safety management programs, this would include all types of data that needs to be captured. Examples include:

  • OSHA Forms
  • Inspections and Audits
  • Job Safety Analysis
  • Safety Meetings 
  • Incident Reports
  • Hazard Management
  • Safety Data Sheets

All of these paper forms are opportunities to digitize how data is captured, using simple mobile forms to capture better data from the field. 

Digital forms reduce errors and standardize how data is collected. While paper forms are error-prone and can become lost over time, digital forms can require information and can always be accessed securely through the cloud.

With better practices for data capture in the field, you’re able to take that information and use it for better analytics and reporting.

Tracking the progress of your safety programs can be difficult on paper forms and manual processes. Just getting the information ready for reporting can become a heavy lift for your teams, making it less likely that you can do the analysis you want in the end. 

By eliminating paper and digitizing safety data, all of those key safety data points are available for reporting. Using safety management software, data is captured in real-time and available for you to run as reports, dashboards, or analytics. Are there job sites that are falling behind on compliance? Can you spot trends in your incident reporting over time? Have safety meetings been held and attended? 

Setting up your data capture around the KPIs and business questions you want to answer can help you with data analytics. Better processes for data capture, leads to more accurate and complete data. If you are looking for real-time data exploration and analysis, safety management software can help you to capture better data and serve it for instant insights to drive decision-making. 

Tools and technology for construction safety will help you with the data capture and reporting components. But it will also help you to improve processes and your culture over time.

Digitizing your construction safety programs provides a central solution for employees and managers. There is accountability and structure, so everyone knows where to go when they need to take an action. For example, employees may be looking for an SDS sheet, file an incident report, or attend a safety meeting. With a comprehensive safety management solution, all of these resources are clearly documented and available to access when they are needed. 

In the digital era that we live in today, employees prefer using their phones or mobile devices to access information. This has the benefit of simplifying data forms and eliminating manual work that is a drain on productivity and morale. 

A robust safety program that is managed digitally is a clear sign to employees that their well-being is a top concern, helping with retention and satisfaction on the job. Clear processes and a culture of safety can have a positive impact on the business, making it a clear return on investment for digitizing construction safety.

If you’re ready to go digital, reach out to the team at GoCanvas to learn more about our comprehensive and easy-to-use safety management solutions.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

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Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Why Go Digital with Inspection Checklists?

Why Go Digital with Inspection Checklists?

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Inspection checklists are an essential task for many industries and workplaces. This could be a safety inspection to spot potential hazards, equipment inspections and preventative maintenance, property or residential inspections, and much more. For all types of inspections, the checklist is a useful tool because it provides a clear list for inspectors to follow and helps to ensure a thorough inspection takes place each time. 

With the rise of mobile apps and forms, completing inspections can be performed on a tablet or mobile device, quickly and easily on a job site. This article covers how digital inspection checklists help to simplify the process for inspectors and for management.

A traditional paper checklist can take a long time for inspectors to complete and bring back the forms to the office before manually creating a report. Take for example Lumen, a US based IT services company that used paper forms for preventative maintenance inspections before switching to digital forms instead. Before going digital with inspections, their technicians on site had to complete paper inspection forms, return the forms to a central office, scan the form, and then attach the scanned reports to particular database entries. 

Seeing how much time was being spent on administrative work, Lumen made the switch to digital forms and realized a 35 to 40 percent reduction in admin work, with savings of up to $1 million in their first year of going digital.

Digital checklists and forms allow inspectors to spend less time on admin work and streamline the process for collecting data in the field. Digital forms also allow for more standardization, meaning that required fields and drop down lists ensure that accurate data is submitted the first time. While paper forms can be filled out illegible or incomplete, digital forms provide a greater level of control of the format of data that is submitted from the field.

Other benefits include the ability for managers to schedule out and assign inspection checklists to be completed on a regular cadence. This notifies employees when an inspection is due and allows them to work collaboratively using cloud-based tools to help with productivity. Instead of spending hours on manual work to create inspection reports, the process is done automatically from the inspection app and sent via email to the appropriate groups of people and saved to the cloud.

Rod Badley, Critical Infrastructure Manager at Lumen explained this in simple terms – “The more time we can spend doing actual work instead of doing administrative work means more money and more savings for us.”

The entire organization benefits when efficiencies are gained by reducing manual work. Beyond the cost savings from efficiencies, management teams and business owners also benefit in a number of ways by having their checklists managed digitally instead of on paper.

One benefit is the ability to manage all records digitally, in a cloud-based platform that is secure and accessible. For many businesses performing critical inspections, like a job site safety inspection or equipment inspection, it can be incredibly valuable to have a central place to manage all of these documents. In case of an accident or incident, you can understand if proper protocols were followed on site. In the case of an OSHA inspection or audit, having the proper documentation can mean compliance with OSHA regulations and avoidance of fines. Paper forms leave too much up to chance, running the risk of becoming destroyed or lost over time. Moving this important documentation from inspection checklists will help to lower your risk and liability, with infrastructure to help you better manage your records.

Another benefit for organizations is the ability to track compliance. Many businesses have complex operations, with teams in different locations performing inspection checklists. This organization structure can make it difficult to roll up information quickly to verify that inspections are taking place in different locations. With digital checklists and a mobile data platform, you can perform analysis and run reports to track compliance. This type of technology can enable your organization to use analytics to gain greater transparency into operations and ensure that the appropriate action can be taken if non-compliance is found. Switching from paper checklists can empower your organization with greater insights

Take for example US Inspect, a leader in residential inspections that switched their paper processes over to digital forms with GoCanvas and realized an annual cost savings of $720,000. 

“It sounds crazy but GoCanvas has given our company tremendous long-term competitive advantages. US Inspect is not your father’s inspection company – we have morphed into a wickedly excellent data collection enterprise which just happens to produce inspection reports,” explained JB Haller, President & CEO of US Inspect.

To learn more about how inspection checklists can benefit your field teams and your business, contact the GoCanvas team any time to set up a quick introductory conversation.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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How Inspection Software Saves Your Business Time and Money

How Inspection Software Saves Your Business Time and Money

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Looking to implement inspection software to increase your workforce productivity? There’s never been a better time to embrace technology for the construction job site and office.

As we have seen to date in 2021, there is no shortage of obstacles and challenges facing construction firms. Some of the top challenges include:

  • Labor. 81% of construction firms are having a hard time filling some or all positions (AGC)
  • Productivity. 1% productivity growth annually for the past two decades in construction (McKinsey)
  • Safety. 20% of deaths each year occur in construction even though it makes up only 5% of the workforce (OSHA)
  • Supply Chain. Issues in the supply chain are increasing material costs and resulting in longer lead times (Construction Dive
  • Regulations. 10.9% increase in regulatory costs over the past five years (Construction Dive)

With all of these challenges to manage, technology can make an impact on the organization by saving you time and money through productivity and efficiency gains. This article provides real-world examples to help explain how construction businesses can use technology to help reduce costs and create a competitive advantage. 

Need to make the business case for inspection software? Here are the top reasons why construction companies go digital with inspections versus managing them with paper forms.

Managing inspections on paper forms requires a great deal of manual effort and redundant work. Paper sheets used in the field must be returned to the office and then require manual data entry to copy the information into a computer. Inspection software eliminates the back and forth, by allowing field employees to leverage their mobile devices to collect and share information back to the office.

Inspection software also gives the office tools to dispatch and assign jobs, or hand off inspections to multiple employees at a time. All of this leads to greater productivity for workers when they are able to share information in real-time and automate manual processes.

Example:

True Homes, a building construction company, found that their business growth was causing paper forms to pile up. With inspection processes at each construction site, the amount of paper forms was slowing down their business and creating manual workflows for employees to deal with on a daily basis.

After implementing inspection software for building inspections, they were able to save 450 hours per month for their office staff and they were able to increase communication with clients by having information available in real-time from their inspections.

Overall they found that by eliminating manual processes and workflows, they were able to see an increase in customer satisfaction, employee productivity, and better processes for their data collection and reporting. 

Follow this link to read the full story from True Homes and to learn more about building inspection software designed for the construction industry.

Paper forms can lead to some data collection challenges. For example, you may have someone skip over a question or you may have illegible handwriting that makes it difficult to interpret. Both of these require rework and going back to find the required information.

Inspection software is built with features that enable best practices for data collection. You can make certain fields required and ensure that the data submitted is in the proper format to keep your information consistent for reporting.

You can also leverage dynamic forms that reduce the number of fields based on certain criteria. For example, if you select “Condo” as the type of building in a home inspection, you will only see the relevant boxes and can cut out any of the fields that aren’t relevant for that type of inspection.

Companies have found that standardized data and digital processes enable them to move faster with inspections and avoid rework or manual workarounds to fix messy data.

Example:

Lincs, an Electrical Contractor in the UK, found it hard to scale their business with the growing amount of paperwork. They decided to implement software for inspections, saving their field staff 15 hours per technician on a weekly basis by eliminating manual processes.

Once they deployed software for safety inspections, they were able to collect, share, review, and submit reports all in real-time.

With their new digital inspection software, “Required Fields” helped to ensure that field technicians always complete their reports with the necessary information. 

Reports are now completed much faster than on paper, and they have standard practices to ensure that reports are generated quickly and accurately. Investing in better data practices with digital technology for inspections has helped their contracting business to realize significant cost savings and increase in overall productivity.

Follow this link to read the full case study from Lincs and to learn how construction management software can help digitize inspections.

Paper forms make it difficult to have immediate visibility into the data being collected and require additional work to turn the information into reports. With inspection software, reports are generated automatically and sent via email to the appropriate parties. Sign off on documents digitally and have them stored in a central cloud location to reference any time you need the information.

This level of real-time information sharing is a key reason why companies invest in software for inspections. Instead of relying on paper forms that can be lost or damaged over time, inspection software brings a modern and digital experience for your business. Go one step further and use the information collected using inspection software for advanced analytics to spot trends and gain greater visibility into your field or job site operations.

Example:

US Inspect, a leader in residential inspections in the US, found that their paper-intensive processes hindered their efficiency. They implemented software for home inspections with the goal of saving their technicians time in the field and to create a competitive advantage for the business.

They found that inspection software helped their teams in the field save time and produce better reports. Forms that used to take them thirty minutes now only take them five minutes, with required fields helping to ensure data accuracy.

They also found that the home inspection software helped them streamline their reporting and allow them greater insight into their data. With better data visibility they are now able to more accurately understand how the business is doing and where there are opportunities to improve. 

Follow this link to read the full case study from US Inspect and how software can be used for residential and home inspections.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

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A electrician inspecting equipment.

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Beginner’s Guide to Digital Inspection Form Builders

Beginner’s Guide to Digital Inspection Form Builders

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Inspection forms are used during the inspection process to collect information that is compiled into a report. An inspection form can be completed using a standard sheet of paper or it can be completed digitally using software for inspections on a mobile form.

Many different types of inspection forms exist and will depend on the use case. For example, there are home inspections, commercial vehicle inspections, building inspections, safety inspections, equipment inspections, operational inspections, and even more. Each of these inspection types will require different form fields to collect the information that is relevant to that industry. Checklist forms are commonly used for many inspection types to give the inspector a simple checklist to ensure all items are filled out.

Inspection forms are most commonly used in the fields of construction, service industry, oil & gas, transportation & logistics, utilities, and various other industries. These industries can benefit greatly from software designed to streamline the inspection process for field teams collecting data.

Companies are adopting software to transform their business operations in many different ways. Inspections are a perfect example of a paper-based process that works more efficiently when performed digitally. The reason for buying inspection form builder software is to save time and money for your business. Here is how most companies make the business case and ROI for inspection form builder software:

Eliminating cumbersome data entry from the field

Inspection form builder software allows field teams to capture data from the field using inspection forms. Data is captured in real-time and shared with anyone that needs to see it, rather than relying on paper forms and manual data entry.

Most inspections contain information that is very important to a business and needs to be kept safe. With paper documents, there is no way to control if documents are lost or illegible. With digital inspections using software and forms, organizations reduce their risk by having the information automatically saved to the cloud. Inspections can even be performed offline and then synced to the cloud when an internet connection is available again. This ensures that inspection reports are always available, whenever they are needed.

It’s really difficult to spot trends and have meaningful insights into your business in real-time when manual processes and paper forms are involved. You may get to the reports, but your staff spends too much time creating reports on a daily and weekly basis. Moving the inspection process to software will give your organization the ability to analyze trends and potential problems. You can even get alerts to know when inspections fail, so you can send someone to resolve the issue right away. All of the reporting is done in real-time and available in the cloud, giving your business greater visibility into field operations.

There are many different features and functionality offered for inspection form builder software and forms. Here are some of the main ways that inspection software can be used:

One key feature of inspection form builder software is dispatch. With Dispatch, you can create, assign, and send tasks to your team from the software application. Field technicians can then head directly to the next call without ever having to check in with status updates. The software will also let you create custom report approvals between employees and supervisors using workflows. The goal of dispatch is to send jobs directly to your workers in the field to improve their productivity and reduce their downtime.

Another feature of inspection software is the form builder for field data collection. Forms and checklists that were once paper-based, now become a digital process for technicians to complete on tablets or mobile devices. The best form builder inspection software will allow you to build customized inspection forms using a low-code or no-code platform. This means that you can easily create customizable forms and apps on the platform, without any advanced technical knowledge. Mobile forms and checklists for inspections make the entire process simple. Easily collect all of the relevant information for your industry’s inspection, collect electronic signatures on the spot, and have the information digitized for record-keeping.

Once the inspection is completed in the field, the next step in the process is to generate a report. Without software for inspections, this might require several hours of additional work to compile the reports and send them to the appropriate parties after the job has been completed. Inspection form builder software streamlines this process by generating a digital report in real-time that can be shared via email and other communication channels.

Another important feature of inspection form builder software is the ability to perform analytics across inspections. For many industries, this is useful for visualizing what’s happening across the business and distributing findings throughout the organization. Analytics is designed to allow you to drill down into one facet of your business or keep track of everything in a high-level view. All of this is meant to empower data-driven decision-making that can result in improved productivity and greater profitability.

The best part about inspection form builder software and forms is that the process to get started is simple. You can get started for free by signing up for an account with GoCanvas and companies that use the platform see a very fast time to value with digital inspections. Here are some common inspection form templates and examples.

Building Inspection Form

Looking for a customizable inspection form for your business? This versatile inspection form is designed for building inspections and can be adapted to fit your needs. This digital inspection form simplifies the processes to assess home condition and safety.

The inspection template covers general property condition topics covered during the inspection process, including cleanliness, safety and overall condition. Jot down notes about whether or not the home is in good condition and add photos.

Follow this link to try the GoCanvas Building Inspection Form.

Quality Control Inspection Form

The Quality Control Inspection form enables inspection of mechanical devices and equipment inspections. The form is designed for quality management and can be used by many different industries.  The form is designed to help you detect problems and identify where quality improvement  through corrective measures is needed. The digital quality control inspection form allows you to make recommendations in real-time using inspection form builder software to streamline the process for your business.

Follow this link to try the GoCanvas Quality Control Inspection Form.

Vehicle Inspection Form

Vehicle inspection forms can be used during the pre-purchase phase of the vehicle, to ensure that the car is ready to be sold. Vehicle inspection technicians can use this mobile form to review the vehicle’s condition and assess what repairs are needed in order to have the vehicle in top condition for the new owner. Use this inspection form to ensure customer satisfaction and document your dealership’s attention to detail when performing vehicle inspections for the customer.

Follow this link to try the GoCanvas Vehicle Inspection Form.

Housekeeping Inspection Form

The housekeeping inspection form is designed for companies that provide cleaning services and janitorial services. Use the mobile form to add specific details about the building, including areas that need extra attention from cleaning staff, and the overall condition of inspected areas.

This inspection form helps to ensure that the highest level of standards are met and inspections are performed consistently using the template form provided to employees. Going digital with this type of inspection form allows your teams to complete inspections faster and provide instant feedback from their inspections. For example, if an issue is detected during the inspection, an image can be attached to the report and submitted instantly to have the item corrected as soon as possible.

Follow this link to try the GoCanvas Housekeeping Inspection Form.

Food Service Inspection Form

The Food Service Inspection Form helps restaurants to perform full  inspections of food service operations electronically.

The food establishment inspection form includes all areas of the food service facility and can be completed on a mobile device with a report that is automatically generated with the results of your inspection. This form is essential for restaurants and other service businesses to ensure the quality and cleanliness standards are met.

Follow this link to try the GoCanvas Food Service Inspection Form.

Looking for something different? See another helpful resource that is a compiled list of inspection templates and examples for many different use cases and industries. You can also find all of our inspection apps on the GoCanvas App Store.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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The Ultimate Guide to Construction Inspections

The Ultimate Guide to Construction Inspections

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When you’re in the process of building a commercial property or a home, you’ll discover that it’s a requisite to conduct regular construction inspections to ascertain that the construction process meets all the quality and safety procedures and standards. However straightforward it may sound, this process can be tasking, given the multiple tasks involved in construction projects. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that the contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. 

This article covers an in-depth look at all aspects of construction inspections to help you have a better grasp of the process and to share how technology can be leveraged to streamline the process. 

Construction inspection is a contractual duty held by the contractor to assess the progress of a construction project. It entails ensuring that procedures and materials comply with the plan and specifications – monitoring a contractor’s schedule, conducting field testing, and going over the drawings to pick out any errors.

Upon completing the inspection, the building inspector issues the contractor with a construction inspection report. This document acts as evidence that proper tests were conducted to uphold the structural integrity of the building. 

Below are some of the benefits you’ll accrue from construction site inspections: 

The inspection process ensures that the installation materials and equipment comply with the design plans, contract documents, specifications, and the approved drawings. As such, it offers assurance that the contractor gets materials and quality of work specified, and the building owner gets their money’s worth. 

Safety should always be the number one priority of a project manager. Construction inspections can help you ensure that the contractors and people who reside around the locality of the construction site are safe from any harm.

The inspections prioritize safety by identifying safe gear for workers to wear, safe roads to transport various materials and equipment, and potential risks and hazards that might occur on the construction site. After all, the construction profession is a dangerous one. The inspections ensure that the necessary precautions are put in place for workers and site safety, so your project flows seamlessly without any instances of work-related injury litigations.

Smooth communication between all the parties involved in the project is essential for its efficient completion. An inspection can address a construction team’s communication if the operations aren’t in line with the proper codes and regulations.

In most construction projects, careful coordination of various work processes is essential to limit any possible risks. Inspectors are tasked with communicating with the contractor, anticipating risks, and documenting progress and potential design and construction issues with the owner. 

Most, if not all, companies strive to offer quality when working on a given project. It not only helps build your reputation but your team members pride in their artistry.

That said, to produce quality work, you need to set high standards, and what better way to do that than through inspections. They will help you identify any code errors or non-adherence to construction regulations.

Producing top-notch work and abiding by the construction regulations will ensure that you present your client with a well-constructed structure. 

While inspection may be a thorn to construction workers at times, it helps them be alert when working on the project.

Inspections ensure that agents and construction workers focus on the task at hand so that they don’t violate any construction regulations. To add to that, construction workers and agents work more efficiently since they know the pre-established standards they should attain. 

There are environmental regulations that are geared towards ensuring that the construction industry promotes a greener construction environment.

Routine inspections contribute to ensuring that construction companies heed to them. Failure to follow these regulations may lead to construction companies or building owners incurring heavy penalties. 

Construction is a precarious and hazardous industry encompassing a wide range of activities such as remodeling, repair, and commercial construction.

While performing their tasks, construction workers are subjected to various kinds of harm, including unguarded machinery, electrocution, getting hit by heavy equipment, and falling off rooftops.

Developing a construction inspection checklist addressing the above risks and outlining the various construction regulations your project needs to heed will ensure that you pass your inspection with flying colors when the inspectors come to review your site.

That said, which types of inspection should you perform? Here is an outline of the different types of construction inspections: 

Just like the name suggests, these inspections are carried out daily.

These inspections assess several activities, including the number of workers on-site in a given day, the types of equipment used, whether the day’s work met quality standards, any unusual happenings on the site, whether there was damage to government property, whether the project is on schedule, among other issues. 

One of the areas that the construction inspection covers is the health and safety of workers. Contractors have to ensure that the site meets the health and safety standards set out by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The health and safety inspections can be conducted externally by a regulating body, internally by the contractor, or through third-party audits. Among the health and safety standards that are checked during this inspection include: 

  • Asbestos risks
  • The soundness of electrical systems
  • Provision of welfare services such as handwashing facilities and toilets
  • The management of various respiratory risks
  • The prevention of unauthorized people from accessing the site
  • The structural stability of the construction
  • Provision of personal protection equipment (PPE) such as helmets, goggles, or other garments. 
  • Provision of personal fall protection systems among other fall prevention equipment
  • The condition of the vehicles, plant, and other equipment, among other things.

The timing of health and safety inspections should be as frequent as possible and be accompanied by accurate reports and actionable measures. 

Quality control inspections are those that are geared towards ensuring that construction workers comply with the construction requirements and regulations.

These controls encompass the products and materials, the execution of the project, and the completion of the construction works. Quality control inspections are a way of ensuring that the finished works meet the set standards. It helps refine the work before it’s presented to the client so that if there is anything that doesn’t comply with the standards it’s fixed. 

The international standard that governs the construction industry is the ISO 9000 set of standards. It includes reports, technical guides, and specifications on the efficiency of a construction company’s quality management system.

Typically, the principles that dictate quality management in the construction industry are the budget of the project, the scope of the construction project, and the scheduled completion time.

Some of the construction inspections related to quality include checks for equipment and materials, work processes, units, and services planned and designed by the construction company to comply with the quality requirements of the contract. Quality control inspections lead to a monthly quality report that identifies various issues and monitors the project’s progress. 

Building inspections are usually conducted by an approved third party or a building control local authority. Depending on details such as the scope of the project, these inspections vary in frequency and number. Generally, the building inspections are required in the following stages of the project: 

  • Commencement
  • Excavation stage (prior to the filling of excavations)
  • Foundation stage (before the foundation is covered up)
  • When laying the damp proof courses
  • Installation of new drains (before covering up)
  • When constructing the primary structure
  • When installing insulation
  • Construction of the roof
  • Completion of the project

OSHA conducts periodic inspections and consultations to ensure contractor compliance and protect workers. The OSHA inspector will look at procedural problems or physical hazards like equipment lockout procedures, inadequate machine guards, respiratory issues, noise, availability of PPE for construction workers, among other issues. 

Among the reasons OSHA may come to inspect your site include workplace fatalities and hospitalizations, imminent danger situations, referrals and complaints concerning potentially hazardous conditions, scheduled inspections, and follow-up inspections.

Depending on the inspection findings, a contractor may receive a report detailing the violations found, what has to be corrected, the duration within which to make the corrections, and the monetary fines for the violations. 

Some other inspections that contractors should expect include: 

  • Insurance inspections
  • Environmental inspections on pollution (water, smoke, and noise) 
  • Fire inspections—availability of fire protection systems, fire escapes, and storage of certain materials
  • Planning inspections to ascertain whether you complied with planning permissions, obligations, and conditions
  • Inspection of the release of finances (by relevant agencies)
  • Archaeological inspections (in case of excavations)
  • Inspection of street works conducted by highway authorities in the case of road and sewer constructions

Here is an outline on some of the best practices to heed for construction inspections:

  • Ensure that you have a checklist: Your construction inspection checklist will help you identify any violations of the construction regulations and have them rectified before the inspection. 
  • Budget: Ensure that all your construction inspection checklists that have monetary dealings reference the project budget. Make sure that you complete the project with the allotted budget. Also, use your inspection to ascertain that every spending meets the budgetary allocations as you move from one phase to the next until the completion of the project. 
  • Schedule: Remember, your project should not affect your client’s budget. As such, not completing the project in time will make them dissatisfied. Use the inspection to monitor the schedule of your project daily, weekly, and monthly. Also, ensure that you inform the relevant parties of any delays. 
  • Scope of the project: The inspection process should be led by the defined scope of the project. Ensure that you notify your client of any adjustment to the scope of the project. Also, make sure that you use the construction inspection to confirm that everything is running according to the project’s scope. 
  • Plan ahead: You can do this by undertaking a pre-task session that allows workers to identify and avoid mishaps. 

As you probably know, the construction industry has cutthroat competition. As such, you need proper productivity tools to gain a competitive edge.

Given the fast rate at which the construction industry is adopting digital solutions, you cannot afford to lag behind.

Construction project management software will give your construction business a leg up that you need to stay ahead of your competition. Here are some of the key benefits of mobile forms and apps:

  • The improvement of communication between various parties in the construction project: Mobile apps and forms eliminate communication gaps by enabling you to dispatch information to various parties of the project directly via a mobile phone.
  • Incorporating photos into documents: Enabling the photo capture feature on your mobile forms app will allow you to add pictures directly into your documents. You can, therefore, better describe construction progress issues and achievements.
  • Capturing digital signatures: Mobile app forms allow you and your client to sign and save various documents directly via the program.
  • Improved document organization: This app enables you to keep track of paperwork and files so that you always know where to retrieve them from.
  • Mobilization of document construction: With this app, you can go with your documents wherever you want without the fear of losing them or being damaged. 

Are you looking for an easy-to-use mobile forms app that can help improve the operations of your construction company? GoCanvas is your go-to tool for construction inspection reports, checklists, and more. Try out GoCanvas and all its features with a free trial or contact our team to learn more.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

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A electrician inspecting equipment.

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Connect with an Expert Today.

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Ultimate Guide to Home Inspection Checklists [+Templates]

Ultimate Guide to Home Inspection Checklists [+Templates]

When you are buying a new or previously owned home, one of the final steps in the home buying process is to have a qualified home inspector perform a home inspection.

These inspections are designed to help potential buyers identify any problems that they would consider to be a deal-breaker. If there’s an inspection contingency in place, homebuyers can walk away from a real estate purchase if a problem is found during the inspection.

An important part of the process for home inspectors is to use a home inspection checklist to help them standardize the data collected and to accelerate the inspection process.

Inspection apps have grown in popularity because they allow the inspectors to capture data and generate reports that help to streamline the home inspection process. Continue reading to learn about the home inspection process, what’s included in a home inspection report, and how you can start to automate the processes for home inspection reports.

The American Society of Home Inspectors defines a home inspection as a visual examination and assessment of the house’s physical structure and systems. Home inspections cover everything from the foundation in the basement to the shingles on the roof.

Home inspections are designed to protect home buyers by ensuring that the home they are purchasing meets their expectations. Inspections also help verify that homeowners’ disclosure statements in the real estate contract are accurate.

The inspection process must be performed by a professional home inspector. After the inspection is complete, homeowners selling their property may have the opportunity to correct certain problem areas. Homeowners may also reduce the sale price so the buyer can address problem areas themselves or the buyer can have the option to walk away from the contract.

Lenders also rely on home inspections to protect their interests. In many cases, lenders will require a home to pass a professional home inspection before loaning money for buyers to purchase the home.

For average-sized homes in reasonable condition, home inspectors spend between two and four hours checking the state of the following items:

  • Heating and central air conditioning systems (HVAC) and ductwork
  • Interior plumbing systems and water heaters
  • Electrical systems including electrical outlets, electrical panels, and light switches
  • The roof, including shingles, flashing, vents, etc.
  • Attics and visible insulation
  • Walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors
  • Kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances such as faucets, toilets, countertops, garbage disposals, and exhaust fans
  • The foundation, typically looking for cracks in the foundation, leaks, or water damage
  • The basement area, typically looking for standing water or rotted wood
  • Crawl spaces and storage areas
  • Structural components
  • Chimneys and flues
  • Exterior components like downspouts, window exteriors, gutters, patios/decks, facades, stucco, landscaping, etc.
  • Septic tanks and sewer system connections

Home inspections are critical to ensuring a home buyer acquires a house that is in good condition. These inspections are vital for older homes that may have potential problems such as asbestos, older plumbing, frayed wiring, damaged systems, and more.

Real estate agents should refer clients to certified home inspectors who have passed the National Home Inspector Exam and have current and up-to-date state licensing. Home inspectors who are ASHI members (the American Society of Home Inspectors) or InterNACHI members (the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) are often safe choices. Members of these professional organizations have access to excellent training and can obtain advanced certifications through those organizations.

Home inspection reports are detailed documents that cover general information about a home. This includes information about:

  • The house’s exterior and interior
  • Checks of all major systems
  • Sewer checks
  • Radon testing results
  • Whether or not asbestos is present
  • Signs of termites

A professional home inspection report has a combination of checklists, images, recommendations, and descriptive text discussing why inspectors may not have inspected certain items.

For example, InterNACHI and ASHI guidelines do not call for the testing of smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, so home buyers are directed to having these devices properly tested or purchased for a home.

Reports typically have a summary at the front that highlights any significant issues. The report then goes into greater detail in each section by highlighting specific problems, recommendations, and potential fixes.

Home inspectors should include some key information on a report like:

  • Their name and the company they work for
  • License numbers and contact information
  • A report ID or report number

A home inspection report should also include some general information like:

  • Client & Site Information: Key information includes the inspection date, the address of the inspection, whether anybody is occupying the home, and whether anyone was present at the time of inspection
  • Building Characteristics: These characteristics include the building’s age and what type of home it is (e.g., detached single-family, townhome, etc.)
  • Climatic or Environmental Conditions: The weather and other conditions such as temperature can impact the outcome of the report
  • Utility Service Information: This information includes the water source (public/city or well), sewage disposal (septic or city sewer)
  • Payment Information: Knowing who paid for an inspection can be vital in settling disputes later

Inspection reports should also have a key or legend that explains what acronyms mean. For example:

  • SER means “Appears Serviceable”
  • MM means “Marginal/Maintenance”
  • RR means “Replace or Repair”
  • SAF means an item is a “Safety Concern”
  • NI means an item was not inspected

Home inspections are labor-intensive, requiring an inspector to visit a home to review all the inspection components thoroughly.

Home inspectors arrive at a home with a clipboard, inspection forms, and a digital camera to photograph different property elements and identify where there are problems. After several hours on-site, the real work begins. Inspectors return to their office to compile the information, associate images with specific report items, and assemble the forms into a cohesive report that can be dozens of pages in length, if not longer.

But mobile apps for home inspections can help to streamline this process for inspectors. A well-designed home inspection checklist app can significantly improve the home inspection process. Companies have started using mobile apps so that inspectors can deliver a completed home inspection report to clients or homebuyers in a matter of minutes after completing the home inspection process.

Digital inspection forms eliminate paper processes and rely on mobile device capabilities to collect data for the report. Here are some of the key features in a home inspection mobile app:

  • Create a scalable inspection with countless items included as new line items are added to various rooms or areas.
  • Associate any images that the inspector took with the mobile device that the home inspection checklist app is on with the actual line items they refer to.
  • Leverage native features of mobile devices such as GPS to verify the location of a home inspection.
  • Use conditional logic within the app to create a customized inspection that prompts users to fill out certain information if needed (e.g., checking that there is no basement can remove pages that have inspection items related to the basement).
  • Leverage voice-to-text capabilities on a mobile device to rapidly generate longer descriptions of inspection items and provide more valuable information to clients.

Home inspectors that use these apps can deliver a completed home inspection report to clients or homebuyers in a matter of minutes after completing the home inspection. They can immediately send the inspection report as a PDF that includes all the images taken, descriptions of problem areas, and detailed information about all home inspection checklist items.

Companies embracing this technology will see a boost in their productivity, as inspectors will be able to produce more inspections each day because they are spending less time preparing reports. Mobile apps can also help companies reduce errors. Since the report is being generated in real-time, inspectors do not have to go back later to match content after the inspection or recreate details based on potentially incomplete notes.

Mobile apps are a great solution for companies looking to modernize the home inspection process with technology that is designed to streamline processes, reduce errors, and eliminate time-consuming work for inspectors.

Paper forms become difficult to manage for home inspectors and home builders in the construction industry. A leading residential inspection company, US Inspect, found that their paper-intensive processes hindered their efficiency. 

Before finding GoCanvas, US Inspect managed all information through Excel spreadsheets and email. These processes hindered the company’s growth and sparked their search for a data collection solution. As the company grew, JB Haller, CEO at US Inspect, realized that they needed a solution to give them a more efficient way to organize and analyze their data.

us inspect customer story for inspection templates

GoCanvas helps companies like US Inspect to streamline their home inspections by eliminating paperwork and automatically generating digital reports. When deploying GoCanvas for home inspections, US Inspect was able to see an immediate return on their investment into the platform. Here are some of the results in action:

  • Recovered +9,900 Hours of Productivity Annually
  • Over 53,000 Digital Reports Produced Annually
  • Annual Dollar Savings of Over $720,000+

Read the US Inspect customer story here to learn more about their experience using GoCanvas for home inspection checklists. 

Ready to see how mobile home inspections work? Check out the GoCanvas home inspection checklist template that can be customized to fit your business needs. This home inspection template is designed to be completed on a mobile device or tablet by inspectors in the field. This template is very comprehensive for home inspectors, covering all aspects of a home to cover during real estate closings.

home inspection checklist template
  • Leverage the dispatch feature to send the right person out for the job
  • Simplify the process for collecting data
  • Automatically generate PDF reports to share with key stakeholders
  • Use the digital signatures feature to get sign-off on documents

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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15 of the Best Inspection Apps in 2021

15 of the Best Inspection Apps in 2021

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The term mobile inspection refers to the process of using a mobile device or tablet to perform an inspection in the field. Companies are eliminating paper forms and instead relying on mobile technology in today’s digital era to perform job functions like inspections on a mobile device. 

The mobile inspection is performed by a technician in the field and the data is then automatically synced in real-time to the office or generated as a report for the customer. Given the remote nature of many inspection job sites, mobile inspections can also be performed offline. Using an inspection mobile app, the information can be collected offline and synced to the cloud once an internet connection is available again.

The best construction project management app should be simple to use and customizable for any business or use case. Here is what you need in order to have a best-in-class inspection app for your business:

  • Ease to use and adopt. The best inspection apps should be easy to use and easy for your entire staff to adopt into their workflows. No coding or advanced help from IT should be required with app development or customization, ensuring that you can quickly build inspection apps and see a fast return on investment.
  • Fast time to value. The best inspection apps should provide an immediate value to your organization. There should be clear processes to help you implement and get started with the app platform, with dedicated customer success teams to ensure your organization is getting value from the inspection app.
  • Secure and compliant. The best inspection apps will have robust security for cloud software and will be designed for compliance with HIPPA, GDPR, OSHA, and any other business-specific requirements to ensure data is processed and stored properly.
  • Data integrations and insights. The best inspection apps will integrate with other cloud apps that your business already uses. Analytics and reporting capabilities should be robust to provide business insights in real-time to inform smarter decisions for operations leaders.

When evaluating inspection apps and technology, be sure to take these factors into consideration to ensure that you have tools that can help you scale your business, automate key business processes, and enable your business to work more efficiently.

GoCanvas is a leading provider of inspection apps and forms for businesses across industries. Our expansive library of templates is a great place to start when looking for free templates to use for your next inspection. All of our mobile inspection apps are completely customizable and are built on our drag and drop interface that doesn’t require any coding to build apps. 

This article compiles a list of our most popular inspection apps available for businesses in 2021. You can also search the GoCanvas application store for more examples and templates. Follow the links below to see how it works or simply contact our team any time to learn more.

Property and Building Inspections

Vehicle Inspections

  • Pre-Trip Inspection App
  • Vehicle Inspection Mobile App
  • Free Fleet Inspection App

Construction, Manufacturing, and Job Site Inspections

  • Safety Inspection App
  • Heavy Equipment Inspection App
  • Forklift Inspection App
  • Ladder Inspection App
  • Manufacturing Material Inspection App
man holding tablet performing home inspection

Home inspection apps are used during real estate transactions to assess the state of a property. If you are in the business of performing home inspections, this app allows you to digitize the process of a home inspection. Dynamic checklists help to speed up the process and home inspectors only need to fill out the relevant sections of the form based on the house type. Use the dispatch feature to send out a worker in the field and automatically have a report generated for the buyer and for your office records.

Learn more about the GoCanvas home inspection app and get started for free.

Similar to the home inspection app, this property inspection mobile app is designed to assess the state of a property, specifically for landlords or management companies for their rental properties. This checklist inspection app allows property owners, managers, or landlords to easily check the condition of a residential rental property and record that it is in good condition for tenants. Digitizing this information makes it simple to create PDF reports that can automatically be shared with the tenant and the management team has a record stored in a central cloud location for easy access when needed. 

Learn more about the GoCanvas property inspection app and get started for free.

janitorial work station

Custodial inspection apps are used for janitorial services to denote which areas of the building were cleaned by staff. Using an inspection app can ensure that quality standards are met and simple checklists are helpful for remembering all areas of the building. Digitizing this information can help cleaning businesses to elevate their customer service experience, bring reports, invoices, and a digital record of work that has been performed.

Learn more about the GoCanvas custodial inspection app and get started for free.

Many companies in the hospitality industry leverage the GoCanvas mobile platform to complete their hotel room inspections. This simple app provides a checklist for cleaning crews to perform all of the necessary tasks for servicing guest rooms at a hotel. Managers and hotel management benefit from having this information digitized, giving them more visibility into their operations and helping to understand the overall condition and state of the hotel in real-time.

Learn more about the GoCanvas hotel room inspection app and get started for free.

Fire alarm and fire sprinkler inspections are common in buildings to ensure that all of the smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and smoke alarms are in working order. This app allows inspectors to perform this inspection using a mobile device or tablet and a report is automatically generated with the results. This streamlines the process for staff and gives instant visibility into fire inspections for management and anyone else that needs the information.

Learn more about the GoCanvas fire alarm inspection app and get started for free.

This app is designed for pool inspectors and public pool managers so they can list safety violations, corrective actions taken, and document any required pool closures. The pool safety inspection app includes fields for a variety of details, including water chemistry, pool water cleanliness, equipment safety and more. Once the inspection is completed, the pool operator can instantly sign off on the results using a tablet or mobile device and have the records saved automatically to the cloud.

Learn more about the GoCanvas pool inspection app and get started for free.

HVACChecklist

HVAC inspections are needed to ensure the heating and air-conditioning systems are properly configured. This mobile app template includes important elements, including the HVAC ducts, air quality test, exhaust fans, testing for leaks and a thermostat check. 

As a building inspector or contractor, this inspection app simplifies the process for performing residential or commercial services and allows the entire process from work order, inspection, invoicing, payment, and reporting to be managed digitally. 

Learn more about the GoCanvas HVAC inspection app and get started for free.

The pre-trip and post-trip inspection is performed by drivers with CDL licenses to track details about their trucks and report any damage or improvements that need to be made before the vehicle can go out on the road. Digitizing this form allows commercial truck drivers and managers to ensure that the proper inspection has been performed and signed off digitally to keep an accurate record for management purposes.

Learn more about the GoCanvas pre trip inspection app and get started for free.

man holding the key to a new vehicle after inspection

The vehicle inspection app is designed for car dealerships to perform a pre-purchase inspection of a car. This mobile app is designed to digitize the inspection form that is used before vehicles are given to a new owner of a car. GoCanvas vehicle inspection apps can be customized to your needs and this template is a great way for car dealerships and business owners to manage the vehicle inspection process digitally.

Learn more about the GoCanvas vehicle inspection mobile app and get started for free.

Field inspector on ipad

For transportation companies that have a fleet management program, this inspection app provides a template that can be used for compliance, safety, and preventive maintenance. Managing this digitally allows fleet operations teams to gain greater instant visibility into their fleet with real-time reports.

Learn more about the GoCanvas fleet inspection app and get started for free.

Construction safety helmets hanging on the wall

Safety inspections are an important part of any construction project. This safety inspection app helps contractors and construction firms to ensure compliance with OSHA and perform regular safety inspections of job sites. The data collected from a safety inspection app can be used as part of the safety management program and other important programs like toolbox talks, job safety analysis, incident reports, and more can be managed through GoCanvas for a comprehensive digital safety solution.

Learn more about the GoCanvas safety inspection app and get started for free.

construction worker filling out near miss reports on phone

Performing heavy equipment inspections are important on the job site to ensure safety and prevent delays by having greater insight into your equipment. This inspection app provides a template that can be used on job sites and includes all of the important details for the inspection, including the date of safety inspections, issues found, and other relevant details.

Learn more about the GoCanvas heavy equipment inspection app and get started for free.

man using tablet on construction site for safety

Forklifts are commonly used in many different job sites. The GoCanvas forklift inspection checklist helps ensure safe operation and identifies areas where forklift maintenance may be required. The checklist template covers all areas of the electric forklifts, including fluid levels, tires, forklift trucks, forklift operator safety equipment and more. 

Learn more about the GoCanvas forklift inspection app and get started for free.

man carrying ladder on job site with safety vest

Ladder inspections are critical for job sites to ensure worker safety. Using the ladder inspection app on GoCanvas, you can make sure that all ladder equipment is in good condition and any damaged equipment is fixed before use. Use this in conjunction with the other GoCanvas safety apps to ensure that all aspects of the job site are compliant with OSHA and injuries and incidents are avoided.

Learn more about the GoCanvas ladder inspection app and get started for free.

This mobile app is designed for quality inspections when items arrive or they are taken out of inventory as part of the manufacturing operations. The app is designed as a quality control tool to be used from anywhere and have a digital report generated automatically to simplify the process for workers and eliminate tedious paper work.

Learn more about the GoCanvas manufacturing material inspection app and get started for free.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Two people in hard hats looking off camera.

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Person in safety vest smiling.

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Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

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