HomeGauge Companion

This app is pretty good, but whenever I do ANYTHING, I mean ANYTHING with photos and it auto-saves, the app freezes and I lose any unsaved info. I've had to get back onto roofs and re-inspect multiple items. Also, this app hasn't made my inspection process any faster, it's just more convenient to carry a phone around instead of a laptop and camera. I average 300 inspections a year so I'm putting this app to the test. I'm currently using an iPhone 6S. UPDATE: I never had any issues with not being able to Include/Exclude sections with the same name UNTIL THE 10/1/16 UPDATE THAT CLAIMED TO FIX THOSE ISSUES. C'mon HG, this is my livelihood. Please help! UPDATE 10/18/16: Be sure to save your report every chance you get because this app will randomly crash and you'll lose EVERYTHING!!! I certainly hope they're working on this because it used to be awesome prior to the 10/2/16 update.

I paid a bunch of money for this app abut 5 years ago, only to find it useless if I don’t pay their exorbitant online services fees. Not only that, the camera in the app is literally unusable. It is zoomed in much farther than it should be when using landscape mode, and there is no way to zoom out. The only way to take a picture is to push a button on the screen. I use my iPhone camera for all of my inspections and being able to take a picture with the volume buttons and zoom in and out or use the fisheye lens is absolutely critical. And of course it is way too clunky to take a picture with my iPhone camera and then insert it into the app on my phone. You should be able to take a picture with the Apple camera and it should be inserted into the comment automatically. I just can’t believe how many years this app has been out and how little progress it has made. Edit: Looks like we’ve got some fake reviews up from the company. Anyone claiming to use to use the camera through the app successfully is off. They try to address my complaint, but missed the mark. Just download the app and see for yourself. Put the camera in landscape mode and it’s zoomed in, with no option to zoom out. If you wanted to take a picture of a sink, you’d have to stand in a shower or tub.

I have been using honegauge companion on iPad for 7 or 8 years. It’s had some ups and downs. There was a point in time like another reviewer mentioned that the app would crash and the report would be corrupted. That did happen to me probably 10 times (years ago) but I was always able to recover the photos taken for the report and transfer them to a new clean report. This bug has surely been fixed because I haven’t experienced it in over 5 years. I figured out that it was more likely to happen if I had a lot of old reports stored in the app. So every couple days I would delete the reports for inspections I already completed off of the app. Another review mentions the camera feature is not great. I use an old iPad mini and it only has one lens on the backside. The in-app camera function has always been sufficient for me. Very rarely do I need to zoom way in on a distant object, or need macro for a photo in an inspection report. Overall, the app saves me time. I have created templates and generally have a lot of comments for common defects that auto load into every report. While at the inspection when I encounter a defect, it’s quick to find the comment and snap a photo, and move on. I then upload the report to my laptop and add the final touches before sending it to the client and agent.

I started using the companion out several years ago, and it has saved me a tremendous amount of time completing reports. I used to do the inspection in the field 2-3 hours, taking photos, making notes, coming back to the office for another 3-4 hours adding photos and comments in the report. With the app, I can take photos and immediately placed them in a section with the comments a little time in the field, but almost eliminates time spent in the office working on reports.

I must say, HomeGauge has really put in the work to make this app solid. I love how easy it is to use! I especially love the light feature in the camera setting. I’ve also noticed they frequently come out with updates which makes me feel confident that the app will only get better 🤌🏼 Their support is also top notch! Can’t say enough good things.

I love using Companion. It’s very versatile between tablet phone, and sending it up to the cloud to then work on at the desktop. I really honestly couldn’t imagine working with a easier software system. On top of that the customer service is top-notch. Big fan of HomeGauge all around.

I have started using companion on my phone after I did the web meeting that explained it. It works well in the field and has saved some time. I am still reviewing the report after I get home with the computer but basically just editing some of my field work. Works well for me.

Companion make writing reports a breeze. They are always making it better and customer support is always very helpful.

The companion app has saved our inspectors so much time and flexibility in the field. 100% recommend if your looking for a handheld easy to use reporting app

App has often cracked losing all information put into it. Needs updating to make it more efficient such as being able to select and drop multiple photos from camera roll instead of individually selecting and dropping. I’m sure others would agree it would significantly speed up their process.

I’ve been a HomeGauge user for 7 years and it’s pretty clear they have no real intention on making an app for iOS that actually works well. I wish they would just bow out of the market and refund us poor suckers who insist on phones that actually work.

It will only open right in the App Store.

After 8 years of using HomeGauge I’m switching to Spectora.

I have been using the Homeguage app for several years now. After trying several different inspection apps this is hands down the best. I went from an average of 3.5 hours down to 2.5 hours using this vs. the others. The support I have received was very quick when I needed them. I am excited to see what Homeguage does next. Thank you for continuing your hard work in making your products better and better. Thank you Homeguage crew!! Jeremy Wolfe Wolfe Inspections

Well, on this release HG didn't fix the template bug which they acknowledged back in May... they didn't even reply when I contacted them and showed them that they knew of the problem. Who knows when/if it will be fixed. They suggested that I change my template to confirm to this release... But I pointed out they their software says you can have custom column headers... Past post: I found it works well if your template uses consistent Column Headers throughout the template; if not, your report will not download and open from the cloud. HG confirmed this a couple months ago; I'm waiting anxiously for an update so I can use the iPhone with my template.

I've tried the new HG app for iPhone & IPad despite the app not being fully completed I like it better. You can't transfer but so many photos and its small glitches with completion checks after finishing sections but other that it's cool. I can connect all my FLIR products straight to the iPad or iPhone which provides easy IR photo transfer into HG reports. I also use HG on Mac w/Parallels. Can't wait for the next update to fix small issues.

The software is great when it works. I've paid my 200 bucks and after a month of success the new version crashes when I use it. You can't go back to a client and say sorry I don't have your report my software crashed. I hope they fix the bugs soon. Update- two weeks now and HomeGauge claims they can't duplicate my issues. Looks like other users are having the same issues. It seems like support just isn't concerned. It's unfortunate for me I've invested time and money in your software.

Can't wait for the full version. Visually not great but already does everything I need it to. No issues yet.

For almost 2 years now there has been a picture rotation issue on iOS. Glad I paid so much money for a broken product. HomeGauge says it’s an iOS issue.

In the Details section, it says that it is compatible with the iPad. i am wondering when the iPad Version of the app will be published.

There are multiple bug issues with the iOS Home Gauge app multiple calls into Home Gauge to no avail they will not fix the issues Contacts do not import app freezes up and camera now is not operating properly

We have been waiting for nearly 2 years and it's still not ready. If you use iOS, don't trouble yourself and find another software. We are in the process of moving to another one now.

I realize that this is the first version, but it has been in beta too long. Currently not usable, don't try it or you will loose inspection information. For Mac and iPhone use HIP until Homeguage figures out how to work on Apple products.

This app will cost you time and money. Crashes constantly. Will update once fixed whenever that is.

For over a year there have not been any updates to the software meanwhile there are all sorts of problems.

Ok Home gauge needs to get with the program. Apple is the present and future and they need to truly develop an app for the plethora of Apple users. And how about software for the truly stable Apple computer.

Will not upload any templates from the cloud, user login is glitchy and only occasionally lets you in.

I have been using HG companion for years works extremely well with android but has major issues with the iOS platform been hearing it’s going to be fixed for too long. Headway needs to be made as there are many other platforms that work extremely well with iOS, but I do not want to completely train my inspector staff on a new program if I don’t have to. Please develop an iOS platform that works as well as android.

I purchased an android a year ago just for inspections because HG seems to have no problem neglecting the largest mobile device manufacturer. I love the software most of the time. I just wish they would develop the IOS side of the house so I can stop paying for and carrying two phones. Think of how many IOS inspectors went to another product and how much revenue has been lost over the years. I always check back on my IOS hoping for an update. Still nothing.

This version of the companion app is horrible with iOS 11. Do you not have full use of all functions of the app, the app crashes multiple times during a single inspection and you lose all data have to re-enter from the beginning. Home Gauge support offers a lot of empty promises for updates with no date of fixing issues. Claims the developer doesn’t respond. These known issues have been happening for several months. Being forced to go buy an android tablet in order to continue using the software in the field. The desktop version of the software is great and powerful but the field version is very frustrating.