How to Update Standard Findings

Refine your standard findings templates to improve consistency and accuracy over time.

Updating a Standard Finding

Step 1: Access Findings Library

Navigate to:

• Settings → Standard Findings
• Or Admin → Findings Library

Step 2: Select Finding to Update

Browse or search for the finding you want to modify.

Step 3: Edit the Finding

Click "Edit" button or double-click the finding to open the editor.

Step 4: Modify Finding Details

Update any of these fields:

• Title: Refine the finding name for clarity
• Description: Update or expand the explanation
• Recommendation: Change suggested action
• Category: Move to a different category
• Severity: Adjust if needed
• Location: Update typical location

Step 5: Save Changes

Click "Save" or "Update" to save your changes.

Step 6: Verify Update

The finding should now reflect your changes. Changes apply to:

• Future uses of this standard finding
• New inspections using the template
• Existing inspections are not retroactively changed

Tips for Updating Findings

1. Review regularly: Check findings quarterly
2. Gather feedback: Ask team members for improvements
3. Test changes: Use updated findings on next inspections
4. Document changes: Note why you updated the finding
5. Be consistent: Use standard terminology across findings
6. Simplify: Remove unnecessary complexity or jargon
7. Add detail: Include information that's needed 80% of the time

Common Updates

Improving Language:

• Make recommendations clearer
• Simplify technical terminology
• Make findings more actionable

Adjusting Severity:

• Review findings after real-world use
• Adjust if they're often overestimated
• Adjust if they're underestimating issues

Updating Recommendations:

• Reflect current best practices
• Update based on feedback
• Include cost indicators if helpful

Reorganizing:

• Move to more logical category
• Split into multiple findings
• Combine related findings

Versioning Best Practices

Consider maintaining different finding sets for:

• Different property types (residential, commercial)
• Different inspection types (general, detailed, limited scope)
• Different seasons (seasonal issues only in certain times)
• Different regions (regional code requirements)

When to Update vs. Create New

Update existing finding if:

• Improving clarity or detail
• Fixing terminology
• Adjusting based on experience
• Minor wording improvements

Create new finding if:

• Addressing different issue
• Different severity level
• Different location or context
• Fundamentally different recommendation

Next Steps

• How to Add Standard Findings
• How to Delete Standard Findings
• Importing Findings from Other Programs