System and method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network

1 . A method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network wherein:

a plurality of system servers and data storage servers are first required to store software programs;

said system servers and data storage servers are connected to a multi-user network, via a switch protected by a firewall, and other access device;

system support is provided via one or more workstations with telephone capabilities connected to the multi-user network;

said system servers are also connected to a phone server, connected to said switch, which interfaces with either portable or cellular phones or standard, wired telephone, both of which are capable of sending and receiving voice and text messages;

a user first registers and creates a new user record comprising a login name and password;

said user is able to obtain inspector information and instant quotes;

said user first creates a record defining the inspection location and elements;

once an inspection record is created, said user can edit or modify the record's data;

upon uploading of said inspection record a property input table is created by the user whereby the user inputs data in the search form creating a search query on the system which will find all requested items with related values;

a quote is created from each available home inspector or technician in a specific geographic area;

once the search process is completed, the output results are displayed in a row rise window, accessible to a user prior to selecting an inspector or technician;

once the inspections are scheduled, a user can communicate with the selected inspector by a private message board and document all transaction details; and

once an inspector performs the inspection, said inspector should upload the inspection report to the database for a user to view and download if desired.

2 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein a user can use discount coupon code number to search for an inspector to produce an instant quote and schedule inspection date and time, and pay online if so desired.

3 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein a user can obtain multiple home inspection quotes from several inspectors simultaneously, view inspector's criteria and uploaded documentation files prior to scheduling or ordering an inspection.

4 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein a user can also select more than one inspector.

5 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 4 wherein the first inspector that replies is the inspector who will perform the job and the only inspector that is able to reply for the same inspection.

6 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein a user can search for records of previously made inspections on a given property address.

7 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein once the inspector is selected, a user will receive an online agreement for acceptance.

8 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein a user can pay for services online or onsite at the time of service.

9 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 8 wherein an inspector will have the ability to view all personal transactions and invoices for service costs and said inspectors services are billed over the multi-user network by a fix dollar amount for administrative and referral fees or by percentage of inspection quote provided by system.

10 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein inspector and customer communications by phone communications server must meet with the following criteria:

an inspector or other party with administration authority must issue permission for the inspector's phone numbers be viewed online or Internet;

an inspector or other party with administration authority must setup or assign a phone and extension number to the inspector;

inspectors can use the assigned phone extension number from system phone server and have all communications routed to a number of his choice or have the system phone server take and deliver messages by email to Internet enabled phones;

users may call the displayed system phone number and extension and can communicate directly with an inspector or can leave a voice message that can be automatically delivered to inspector cell phone.

11 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 10 wherein inspection scheduling can be fully monitored by the call center system and by a live person or system auto-attendants.

12 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 6 wherein evidence of previous inspection records will only be available if:

the user has scheduled an inspection,

an inspector has previously made an inspection on a specific address;

and the user inspection was scheduled through the system.

13 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein a user to search for previously scheduled inspections based on the subject property address.

14 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 1 wherein the information stored for each coupon typically includes:

the coupon number status,

draft or alive,

additional details entered during creation.

15 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 13 wherein coupon numbers are coded with unique inspector or technician and system data and can only be used by the creating inspector or technician.

16 . The method for delivering home inspection quotes over a multi-user network of claim 14 wherein the sample code is comprised of a series of number and letters as follows:

a one category number,

a two letter state abbreviation,

an inspector license number,

a one letter inspector first name letter initial,

unique number, system assigned to inspector,

a one letter inspector last name letter initial,

a two digit percentage of quote followed by the letter PQ,

or fix dollar amount followed by letter FD,

and a coupon expiration date in the format of mm/dd/yyyy.