Introduction

3D Inspection System software was introduced in 1987 as a DOS product by Carl Fowler, a 20 year veteran inspector and owner of Homebuyers Inspection Service in Fort Myers, FL, and Charles Cubbage, a professional software developer. Since inception, 3D has made tens of thousands of changes and improvements, most of which came directly from interaction with the inspection community. The founding partners are still active participants in the inspection industry and continue as the driving force behind the development of new software products for inspectors. Such is the case with the 3D School Edition, designed with all the forms and documents that a single man inspector needs to successfully produce inspections once initial training is complete.

Inspectors know it’s important to begin building referrals from clients and real estate agents as soon as possible. The inspection report is the inspection company’s product and its appearance and organization represent the inspector long after the inspection is over. Former clients are proud to show their friends a report when it speaks to their skill in choosing an inspector. Real estate agents are happy to take credit for inspector recommendations that impress clients. It’s the impression from the report that starts the referral process, especially if a few extra business cards are included with every handshake. Over the last 20 years, 3D has proven time and again that producing well organized reports will produce instant referrals and top fees. The 3D School Edition will do the same for you!

The 3D School Edition software operates on any regular Windows desktop, laptop, or Tablet PC machine that meet these System Requirements.

The Basics of 3D Inspection System’s School Edition

3D School Edition Inspection software includes a Report Writer for creating inspection reports, a Document Editor for viewing and editing included documents, a Custom Form Studio for creating new forms, a basic Office Management module for maintaining a database of jobs, clients and agents, and mobile apps. The program also comes with a one year Subscription Plan, which provides automatic software updates for one year, free email support and two live support calls per year. Additional live support is available at $15 per incident.

Upon initial startup, a wizard makes it easy to setup company information that automatically populates reports and documents along with appropriate job information.

The Opening 3D program screen includes a shortcut actions menu at the side, a listing of recently added inspections at the center and an information pane at the right. The information pane is periodically updated by 3D to provide user tips and notices to benefit inspectors. 

Report Writer

The REPORT WRITER was designed for creating, modifying, and printing inspections and related documents. It provides automates the defect reporting process by utilizing a single screen interface that speeds entry of defect findings, explanations and recommendations. The entire outline of the currently loaded form is shown on screen with each component of the form having its own listing of inspection comments from which to select or edit. Insert multiple photos in reports, draw diagrams and schematics, mark significant findings for inclusion in a separate summary document, include an index, cover page, or supplemental materials in reports. Annotate photos with arrows, text, shading, highlights, frames, etc. Reports format automatically and include company info. Print reports with attached documents to paper or PDF, email or upload reports using the free 3D FTP Inspection Delivery System.

The 3D School Edition contains expandable forms for:

  • Residential Inspection forms
  • Condominium Inspection forms
  • 4 Point Insurance Inspection forms

Students may download additional forms at no charge from www.3dinspection.com/support/forms/index.html

Features

  • Single screen interface – Move about inspection and enter data with fewer steps and clicks to save time
  • Scroll an entire inspection form from top to bottom. No clumsy windows to obscure and confuse when picking comments
  • Form Buttons along the top instantly jump to main sections
  • List View Navigational option shows headings and subheadings in the current form for instant access
  • Navigate toolbar allows you to quickly move a single field at a time or an entire screen of fields at once
  • Dock toolbars anywhere on the screen
  • Prewritten narratives take the chore out of deciding what to say, and keep the liability to a minimum
  • Customizable abbreviations represent the full comments. Preview items below when the cursor hovers over an item. Click to select or deselect to instantly import comments.
  • Easy navigation.
  • Add or edit a comment immediately in any inspection field. 
  • Drag inspection fields larger or smaller for easier viewing
  • Right-click heading or subheading labels to change them
  • Add, delete or organize comment lists while writing reports for future use.
  • Print to paper or to PDF
  • Inspection Page Setup styles eliminate the need for manually formatting reports
  • Customize the printout look. Change printed element margins, fonts, colors, borders
  • Easily include logos on reports
  • Automatic table of contents index for reports
  • Automatically number subheadings on a report
  • Spell check in American or British English, Spanish, Dutch or French- Underlines misspelled words
  • Text formatting- use bold, italics, underline, colors, etc.
  • Group summary comments into definable categories, such as Immediate repairs, maintenance, upgrades, etc
  • Customize display for different computers or tasks
  • Automatic Timed save
  • Auto Punctuation options
  • Include images with related comments; Include unlimited images for any inspection item
  • Use image time-stamping for automatic sorting of photos for easy importing. Filter images from today, yesterday, etc
  • Edit photos. Add arrows, circles, rectangles, text, Change highlight color, transparency, reposition or resize. Other tools adjust image brightness, or Rotate, Flip, or Crop the area to import
  • Apply Captions to photos
  • Draw and embed diagrams in reports
  • Bookmarks for easy return to certain report fields as reminders, or to indicate the areas to include photos taken during the inspection. A great aid in sorting photos later
  • Improve report readability by categorizing comments from one location in the on-screen display to another location in the printed report.
  • Modify forms on the fly for needs unique to each inspection
  • Add new permanent menu comments
  • Modify menu comments
  • Rearrange menu comments
  • Add new heading below the current heading
  • Add new subheading below the current heading
  • Copy a heading or subheading (and contents) for replication in the report

The Document Editor

The DOCUMENT EDITOR serves to display, edit and attach specific documents used with reports, including company letterhead, index and other desired documents. These might include a cover page, summary page, supplemental information. Various documents can be attached and printed with inspections and can automatically merge Office Management, inspection, and other data. Use the Report Writer lower pane to edit documents already attached to a specific inspection.

Included Documents
  • Home Inspection Contract
  • Summary Templates
  • Prospecting Letters
  • Cover Page and index template
  • Header and Footer document
  • Thank You letters for agent
  • ...and more.

Custom Form Studio

The CUSTOM FORM STUDIO utility is used for creating new form groups, items, or comments for use in the Report Writer for inspections. Additional inspection forms may be created from scratch or downloaded at no charge from the 3Dinspection.com website. Forms for additional tasks are available through a network of 3D distributors across the country. The 3D School Edition contains three pre-populated forms ready for use that may be edited directly from Report Writer.

Office Management

OFFICE MANAGEMENT features handle the "office side" of your business. It allows you to maintain a database of your clients and agents and job information, invoice clients, produce office report printouts, and merge job data into reports and documents. The School Edition also integrates with online schedulers.

Each inspector has a different menu of services to offer and perhaps certain questions that need answering prior to accepting an inspection job. 3D Office Management allows setup of dynamic data field labels and a list of standard responses for selection. Fees and services can easily be added to Invoices, with automatic calculation.

Mobile Apps
Mobile apps are available for collecting field inspection information on a phone or tablet, using forms from your School Edition. Inspection reports completed in mobile apps is sent back to the main Windows computer to open, finalize, and print or email the report. See our Mobile Apps page for more information.

Actions Pane

THE REPORT WRITER'S ACTIONS PANE ties everything together so a single click can produce big results. Click the appropriate Actions set up in the pane at the left side of the program screen to switch between major parts of the software or launch attachments or items for an inspection.  Actions are included to:

  • Offer guidance and support - Getting Started Guide & Overview, links to 3D web resources and support
  • Edit and Print Inspection Agreements
  • Customize Documents- Summaries, Follow Up letters
  • Insert included graphics. 
  • Attach Documents to a report- Attach a summary, contract, or follow up letters
  • Change Screen Display- Panes may be resized and configurations saved to aid in performing data entry and review tasks
  • Insert recommendations for further evaluation, monitoring, or limitations anywhere in a report

Upgrade Pricing

Students may later upgrade from the School Edition version to 3D Inspection System Premier to add additional features to expand their software or business. Check with sales for current pricing.
 

Product Comparison

If you are trying to determine which version of the 3D Inspection software is right for you, please view our product comparison chart.  School editions have the same software functionality as other "Focus" editions.