In zInspector, a Property typically contains one or more Areas; each Area, in turn, contains one or more Details. Additionally, during most zInspector activities, an Action can be specified for any Area Detail for which it is indicated. These tags, Areas, Details and Actions are valuable context for inspection media (photos, 360s, and videos).

In Quick Pictures mode, photos are most valuable when associated with a Property and Activity type as well as an Area and Detail, plus an Action and Comment when appropriate (see image below).

In a standard Ne Inspection mode template, each Detail within every Area must be assigned a condition value. By default if an Action is additionally specified for a Detail, it must be documented with a photo; a detail marked as Damaged must be documented with a photo and comment—but these requirements can be changed (see image below).

 

Whether required or not, by tagging each photo specifically and appropriately, you dramatically increase both the immediate clarity of the inspection and the power of subsequent photo searches.

Area

An Area is a defined inspection space or other element within the property. An Area can be:

• a Room, such as bedroom, bathroom, kitchen;
• a System, such as a heating/cooling unit;
• or Other, such Personal Property, or Keys.

What are Area Descriptions? Why do they matter?

Standard templates will prompt you with a Warning when starting or resuming an inspection for which “[o]ne or more of your Areas need Area Descriptions.”

In these cases, or to be proactive when creating a property, simply add Area Description to Areas as needed to make them unique and easy to identify for any inspector, tenant, owner, or vendor. Multiples of a given room type (Bedroom or Bathroom) should always have a clear Area Description. Examples:

• • Bedroom 1 can be described as “Master Bedroom – Northwest”
  • Bathroom 1 can be described as “Master Bath – en suite”
  • Bedroom 2 can be described as “Guest Bedroom – Southwest”
  • Bathroom 2 can be described as “Guest Bathroom – off Hallway”

Even room types that could be confused with each other  (Living Room or Family Room) might benefit from an Area Description. Unique, unambiguous rooms (Kitchen, Laundry Room) do not require an Area Description—except in rare cases when a property has more than one.

Why are certain areas populating automatically for my properties? How do I change them?

For newly created properties, areas populate based on the defaults you specify for single-family and multi-unit properties on the Edit Area Details page. Toggle areas on and off as needed so future properties contain the specified areas.

Important: Prior to setting up integration with a property accounting software, such as AppFolio or Propertyware, it is important to review and update your default areas and area details on the Edit Area Details page to reflect what is most common across your properties. It will end up saving you time later.

Can I change/edit Areas even after I have created the property?

You can add or delete Areas and change Area Descriptions for a property at any time:

• On the website, go to the Admin Properties page and click “View/Edit Areas” for the property of interest.
• On the app, specify a Property/Unit then tap New Inspection, so during a full inspection (Move In, Move Out, etc.) tap on the Edit Areas link in the template header at any time.

Can I add Areas to multiple existing properties at once?

You can add new areas to multiple existing properties at once.

1. On the website, go to the Admin Properties page. Checkmark multiple properties individually at left -OR- search and/or filter as needed to show only the relevant properties then checkmark the box at upper left to select all.
2. The Data button will activate: click on it and select +New Area from the dropdown.
3. Click +Add New. Select an area to be added from the dropdown (and specify an Area Number or add a Description if appropriate).
4. Repeat as needed and click Save All.

Area changes will sync to all devices and Group Members. For devices not connected to a network at the time changes are made, the area changes will sync when the connection is restored.

Detail

A Detail focuses on a specific item within an Area. For example, a Detail can be a:

• Door/Knob/Lock
• Walls/Ceiling
• Switch/Outlet
• Sprinkler/Timer

Why are certain details populating automatically for my property areas? How do I change them?

For newly created properties and newly added property areas, details populate based on the default details specified for areas on the Edit Area Details page. Add or remove details as needed from areas here so future areas contain the specified details.

To remove a detail from a property, you can simply tap the ⊗ to the left of any detail to mark it as NOT PRESENT and exclude it as a detail automatically in future inspections.

I can’t find a Detail I need for a property. Now what?

zInspector Admin users can define custom detail lists here.

Action

Also known as an “Action Item,” and indicated by the ! icon in a condition-based inspection template, an Action is an action that has been completed or that is required. Examples actions are:

• Cleaning Complete or Required
• Maintenance Complete or Required
• Other Action
• None

Designating an action as Required gives it a higher Priority and moves it ahead of standard or low priority items in the Queue.

While Actions and Tasks are obviously related, assigning an Action item does not automatically create a Task, except in the case where Auto-Convert PM Inspection Action Items to Tasks is enabled in Task Settings.