A mobile home inspection report app makes your job much easier, but there are so many on the market. How can you know which one to choose? There are some slick products with every bell and whistle imaginable. And then there are basic ones that appeal to the no-nonsense inspector who just wants a great-looking report without any fuss.

If you’re in the market for a new mobile app or you’re stepping away from handwritten or desktop-dependent software, here’s what’s available today.

The HomeGauge desktop computer-based software has a mobile app companion. It’s a good option for home inspectors who want the flexibility of working between desktop and mobile. The software is compatible with Windows 7, 8 and 10, and the HomeGauge Companion app works on Android and Apple iOS.

The upside of this app is its professional, good-looking reports and a wide range of uses. It’s designed for reporting on residential, commercial, HUD, warranty, contractor bidding and several other inspection types.

One of the downsides is that there are so many different features, most home inspectors might never use them all. The other downside is the price. With an investment of about $1,000 or more, all of the extras seem like expensive party tricks. And if you decide to go with the monthly subscription service, expect to pay $200 up front and about $60 per month.

Home Inspection Report Pro is made for residential home inspectors. It’s also got valuable add-ons for ancillary services such as mold, septic systems and swimming pools. It’s multilingual, so inspectors can create reports in English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish. This is another software that desktop / mobile compatible with Mac, Windows, Android and Apple mobile products.

Some of the pros include versatile template creation, professional-looking reports, and a discount for members of ASHI and other home inspector associations. It also has video, which adds another layer of reporting possibilities.

As with HomeGauge, one of the biggest downsides is the cost. Even with a discount, the investment is fairly steep. The basic desktop / mobile package starts at $649. And their additional $20 monthly iCloud service is required. Their other mobile-compatible package is a leased service that requires $125 up front, a $65 monthly fee plus the iCloud cost.

We might be biased, but we believe that Home Inspection Report is hands-down the best overall value. Our mobile app is designed specifically for busy home inspectors who aren’t tied to a desk for any part of the inspection process. It isn’t dependent on a desktop software package, although an MS Word-based desktop version is also available. Reports are clean, professional, beautiful and easy to use on any Apple or Android device.

As for the downsides, there aren’t many. Home Inspection Report isn’t designed for commercial inspections, so if that’s your bread and butter you might need a different app. And if you love the extra steps and time that it takes to sync your device with a computer just to get a report, you’re out of luck. There’s no syncing required, so you can finalize reports and send them to clients on the spot.

Home Inspection Report is also affordable. You’ll pay zero in monthly fees, zero in add-ons and only a one-time payment of $199 to own the app for good. Even better, we’ll give you the Word version for free with your purchase of the app.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional home inspector with miles of roofs, basements and electrical wiring under your belt or you’re just starting out, Home Inspection Report is a great mobile app that has just what you need and none of the unnecessary extras that bump up the cost.

Home inspectors have a lot of freedom and a lot of responsibility. You never have to punch a time clock. And you also have no one driving your business except you. It takes time to build up a client base and network of real estate agents who are comfortable with giving referrals. Until then, taking on additional inspections in niche markets can help bring in all-important revenue.

Your home inspection training may have covered some or all of these options, but you’ll probably need a bit more. And be sure to check with your licensing board to learn whether you need special credentials. For example, performing radon and mold inspections often requires proof of training and additional licensure or certification.

Here are 10 ideas that could help you build up your business and reach a much broader range of clients:

Radon is a noble gas that is extremely harmful to humans and animals. It’s produced by the decay of uranium in the soil, and it exists everywhere in the U.S. Any home in any location can have a radon problem as it has nothing to do with the age of the structure. In fact, newer homes that are built too tight are more at risk than drafty old houses. A radon test can advise clients about the presence of the gas and the need for remediation measures.

Practically every home sale requires a clear termite letter before it’s finalized. If the home is financed, that’s especially true. But a termite inspection isn’t part of a general home inspection. Instead of allowing another inspector to get all of the benefits, get trained in termite inspections and offer that expanded service.

Mold happens for numerous reasons, all of them revolving around moisture. Sometimes the culprit is poor insulation. Sometimes it’s the absence of adequate ventilation. And sometimes it’s caused by a damp basement. Home inspectors report evidence of mold, but a mold inspection can also be a separate service. Considering the high volume of homeowners who are concerned about hazardous “black mold,” this could be one more avenue for more income.

The general home inspection is usually for the home buyer. But a four-point inspection is something slightly different. It can be quicker, too. Insurance companies may require an inspection prior to offering a policy on a home. Instead of a full home inspection, the four-point version covers the necessary ground. It includes the HVAC system, electrical, plumbing, and the roof.

Green one iomes are increasingly important to buyers.

With the increased focus on healthy homes and green building, more homeowners want to know whether the house they’re buying is safe. A green home inspection can advise buyers of issues such as energy efficiency, water efficiency, sustainable building materials and other “green” concerns.

Indoor air quality may be part of a green home inspection, but you could also offer it as a stand-alone service. Buyers who are concerned about certain hazards, such as asbestos, lead, contaminated air ducts, off-gassing building materials and other hazards may want an air quality inspection prior to buying a home.

This is another inspection that may be part of a green home inspection or a separate service. Even if a buyer isn’t especially worried about sustainable materials, he’s probably interested in whether the home will cost a fortune to heat and cool. Energy audits suss out air leaks, water-guzzling fixtures, poor insulation, and other factors that affect efficiency.

Another inspection that’s not part of a general one is the septic system. Most buyers would otherwise hire a different inspector, but you could offer the service and keep their business. Septic inspections include determining the age of the system locating the drain field and other tasks.

Nine times out of 10, home inspections are purchased by a home buyer. But that leaves out a huge portion of the population who could also benefit from a little knowledge. Homeowners need home inspections to show which systems need attention and possibly repair. Knowledge is power, no matter who acquires it.

A general home inspection doesn’t cover a lot of special systems, and they’re another avenue for potential revenue. Security systems, landscaping issues and further inspections beyond what’s visible and accessible could help boost your income.

Home inspectors wear a lot of hats, and one of those is for marketing and advertising. If inspections aren’t quite making ends meet, or if you’re in the market for adding broader service, there’s a lot for you to choose from. You could even consider training to become a FEMA inspector. Who knows? You might find that you enjoy auxiliary inspections and want to retain them as a service permanently.

You might see and hear the buzzy little aircraft in parks, on TV and around your own neighborhood. Drones are everywhere, and they’re making their way into the home inspection industry. They’re a perfect combination, too.

Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones can reach the roof in under a minute, as opposed to the amount of time it takes a person to set up and climb a ladder. And they can zoom around to take finely-detailed images as well as wide-angle ones that paint a comprehensive picture of the roofing system. Try that in a pair of work boots.

Are you thinking about a drone for your home inspection business? Here are 4 ways it can make your service more marketable and your company a leader in the industry.

Most home inspectors do a good and thorough job. Unfortunately, climbing a ladder and walking a roof comes with inherent limitations. Slippery surfaces, steep pitches, and obstacles such as chimneys and vents limit where the inspector can go. But what if there’s a significant defect in the one spot that’s out of reach?

With a drone, no spot on the roof is out of reach. Not only can you see it all, you can also take detailed photographs for your report. Your customers can view the whole roof system, too, and not just certain parts of it.

There may be some inspectors who charge extra for drone-assisted work, but that comes with a risk. Charging an additional fee could place you in the position of an expert. And as an expert, you could take on additional risk. But using a drone without charging extra gives you a marketing edge.

If you avoid raising the price for your work, a drone makes your inspections a better value. Customers get a more comprehensive service for about the same cost charged by other inspectors who don’t use a drone.

Every inspector is supposed to walk the roof, but a very steep pitched or tall roof might turn some inspectors away. That’s what happened to Jonathan Zeissler from Iowa. His home inspector couldn’t access his steep roof, but that gave Zeissler the idea for a drone-assisted inspection business, says Inspector Pages.

Drones don’t get nervous about heights and they aren’t in danger of slipping on a steep roof. For customers who have either been turned down by an inspector or have received an incomplete inspection that didn’t include the roof, your drone makes a big difference.

One area for additional income that you might not have considered is real estate photography. If you’ve seen one horrible real estate ad with crummy photos, you know how they can affect a buyer’s impression. But with great photos and even aerial video, the ad turns into something special.

Home inspectors and real estate agents already have a long and mutually beneficial history. Aerial photography can help agents produce better and more attractive ads while it helps you earn a little extra income.

Drones are the ambitious new kids on the block in an industry where change is usually slow. And so far, they appear to live up to the hype. There are channels that inspectors must go through to use drones for commercial purposes. But the FAA has clearly outlined them in their new regulations. And if you’re a prospective inspector, programs such as ICA School offer a drone module that covers drone use in depth.

You, too, can be an early adapter. Drones will likely become mainstream for home inspections. But if you add the service now, you’ll be a go-to seasoned pro while others are still learning the ropes.

Home inspections cover plumbing and fireplaces, but in-depth scans can reveal more elusive problems. They’re typically carried out by specialists in those areas. You can train to become a sewer expert and chimney sweep and expand your business. Or you can recommend experts to your clients. Either way, no home inspection is really complete until some of the most expensive and dangerous problems in vulnerable systems are either spotted or ruled out.

Here are three reasons why you should always recommend these scans to your clients.

Where there’s a sewer line, chances are sooner or later there’ll be a tree root. That’s the nature of how roots grow. They’re attracted to moisture, and many sewer lines have at least a tiny leak. That’s all it takes to send roots on a direct and destructive path to the line.

Instead of growing around a sewer line obstacle, tree roots often work their way into seams or create brand new breaks on their own. While a tree root doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole line needs replacement, ignoring the problem often leads to that end. It can be remedied, at least in many cases, if it’s caught early. If not, the homeowner will eventually face a major, costly repair.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends a chimney scan every time a house changes ownership. Where a break in a sewer line is an expensive problem to repair, chimney defects can put your home and family at risk.

A level 2 chimney inspection susses out degraded mortar, creosote buildup, damaged brick, a damaged chimney liner and more. It’s recommended for every type of solid fuel burning appliance, says Structure Tech inspections in Minnesota. Recommend that your clients use a “certified chimney sweep” to ensure they’re getting an expert’s assessment.

The older the home, the more likely it is to have a major blockage or break in the sewer line. And the same applies to a chimney. Time and continued use over the years often lead to a breakdown in the fabrication and materials of both types of systems. But what some homeowners don’t realize is that a new home isn’t immune.

Some brand new sewer lines and chimneys are built with defects. Sometimes the materials are faulty or the whole system falls prey to an outside force. For example, a tree root that’s nearby might make its way into a brand new sewer line over the course of a year. And the longer the line exists, the more time there is for infiltration. New is safer, but no system is too new to have damage.

Many homeowners enter into a home inspection with the belief that once it’s done, every defect will be accounted for. But you know the limitations of your work and can help educate consumers about important additional measures.

As part of the Home Inspection Report software, you get a pre-inspection agreement. That’s one way to inform clients about what to expect from a home inspection. Take the additional step and recommend sewer and chimney scans, and your clients will have a better overall picture of their risk and the condition of the property.

In some states, continuing education for home inspectors is a requirement. But even where it’s not, you can still take professional development hours courses. It’s one of the most important ways to improve your skills and build your business.

Because marketing and brand building rest squarely on your own shoulders, you need as many advantages as you can get. So if you’ve wondered whether it’s worth the trouble, here are 5 reasons why the answer is a resounding “yes!”

Home inspecting doesn’t change very much or very often. But tools and technology always march forward, even if at a slow pace.

Professional development hours keep you in the loop with new tools and handy gadgets that make your job easier. It also keeps you informed about new industry regulations and technology, such as inspection report software, that’s getting traction.

Customers are increasingly self-informed and aware. They’re not afraid to do their homework about home inspections and inspectors. But an unfortunate side-effect is that it’s difficult to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s just another story.

Continuing education can boost your professional reputation. And that could help customers understand that you’re a pro who takes your work seriously, not a scam artist who’ll collect a check without doing the job.

Whether or not your state requires professional development hours, most home inspector associations do. If you want to become a member or keep your membership in good standing, you’ll need regular coursework.

Some associations offer credit hours online at their website. And you can earn more by attending special sessions at national and state-level conferences and at local chapter meetings.

Practice makes perfect. And if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. Professional development hours help you keep your skills in great shape.

Refresher courses are particularly important for areas of the job where you want to improve or for skills that you don’t use very often. And once you master a skill, you might have the opportunity to help other inspectors hone theirs through association or local group workshops.

In a world with more competition, you need every possible edge to boost your marketability. The U.S. Department of Labor shows that incorporated and unincorporated self-employment is rising. And according to Intuit, nearly 40 percent of American workers are likely to be self-employed by 2020.

Continuing education is one of many ways that you can market your skills and your home inspecting business. In states where it’s not required, it shows that you go the extra mile.

If CE courses are required by your association membership or state, you can take the minimum or go beyond and acquire more credits. If they’re not, every credit hour that you build makes your business stronger and more marketable than the next guy. Either way, the courses that you take are a smart business investment.