How Home Inspectors Are Really Using AI (And Why It’s Not as Scary as You Think)

As featured on Spectora Spotlight, Episodes 139 & 140

AI isn’t coming for you—it’s here to help you do your job better, faster, and with a whole lot less stress.

That’s the big idea behind our two-part Spectora Spotlight series on AI in Home Inspections, where we talk with Chris Skinner from Silk Inspections about how he's actually using AI tools in real-world inspections—from staying in the zone to saving hours on admin tasks.

Spoiler: It’s not magic. And it’s definitely not replacing inspectors. But it is helping smart pros streamline their workflow, reduce mental load, and stay focused on what matters most.

What AI Looks Like for Inspectors (Right Now)

Here’s how Chris is using AI in his day-to-day—and what you can try, too:

1. AI for Report Writing

Chris built custom ChatGPT models trained on his tone and templates. He plugs in a few key details (name, address, services), and he gets a polished email or text ready to send.

2. AI for Flow State

Instead of toggling between crawlspace notes and mobile apps, Chris captures voice memos and photos in the field, then processes them later using AI tools. It helps him stay present during inspections and work faster with fewer distractions.

3. AI for Admin Tasks

From texting agents to email follow-ups and appointment reminders, AI is doing the easy lifts—so Chris can focus on people, inspecting, and relationships, not paperwork.

Want to Try AI Yourself? Start Here

Whether you're writing reports, transcribing voice notes, or handling scheduling, these tools help you dip a toe in without diving headfirst into complexity.

For Report Writing and On-Site Inspection Help

• OpenAI (ChatGPT) – Summarize notes, draft comments, and build assistants that speak your language. (Free + Pro versions)
  
  
• Claude by Anthropic – Great for refining wordy inspection notes into clean, client-friendly narratives.
  
  
• Writer.ai – Turn your spoken or typed notes into standardized report language.
  
  
• Jasper.ai – Trainable content assistant that generates polished reports and emails from prompts.
  
  
• Fireflies.ai – Transcribes your voice memos and site walkthroughs with timestamps.
  
  
• Otter.ai – Live transcription that captures everything you say on-site or during meetings.
  
  

For Admin, Scheduling, and Phone Support

• OpenPhone – Business phone app with voicemail transcripts, call routing, text templates, and CRM integration.
  
  
• Smith.ai – 24/7 virtual receptionist (real humans + AI) to answer calls, book appointments, and screen leads.
  
  
• Drift – AI-powered website chat to handle FAQs, qualify leads, and auto-schedule calls.
  
  
• Calendly – Automate your booking process and reminders. Add their AI Assistant to take things further.
  
  

Quick AI Reality Check

AI is a tool—not a replacement. And like any tool, it only works well when you know how to use it.

Here are a few rules of the road:

• Double-check everything, especially safety or defect-related details.
  
  
• Ask for sources. Prompt tools like ChatGPT to give you links so you can verify information.
  
  
• Use it as a supplement. Let AI do the admin stuff so you can do the expert stuff.
  
  
• Start small. You don’t need to automate your whole business overnight.
  
  

What’s Next for AI in the Inspection Industry?

“If AI could take the media I capture on-site and generate an accurate report? That’s the dream.”
— Chris Skinner

We're not far off. Tools are evolving fast. And the more inspectors share what’s working—like Chris just did—the faster the whole industry levels up.

AI is already helping inspectors:

• Get into a better workflow
  
  
• Shave hours off of admin work
  
  
• Improve client communication
  
  
• Reduce reporting stress
  
  
• Free up time for marketing, networking, and actual growth
  
  

Wish You Hadn’t Missed the Podcast?

Watch Spectora Spotlight on YouTube:

EP139 - AI in Home Inspections Part 1
EP140 - AI in Home Inspections Part 2

Or listen to the Episodes:
EP139 – AI in Home Inspections Part 1
EP140 – AI in Home Inspections Part 2

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New Spectora Spotlight episodes drop every other week. Watch on YouTube or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.