Your first inspection should take about 8 minutes from "+ New inspection" to an owned report draft and a closed job.
1. Start a new inspection
From /dashboard/inspections, click + New inspection.
2. Pick the claim type
The picker shows four options: WATER (S500:2021), MOULD (S520:2024), TRAUMA (S540:2023), FIRE (S700:2025). The standard you pick determines which fields RestoreAssist gates as required before sign-off.
3. Capture photos with chain-of-custody
Photos are optional for a Basic AI draft. When you do capture them, tap the camera button at the bottom-right of the inspection screen. Every photo carries a SHA-256 hash, UTC timestamp, GPS coordinates, and your tagged user ID — see Photo chain-of-custody.
4. Add readings + scope items
Add moisture readings, affected-area measurements, and scope line items. Each becomes input to the AI report.
5. Generate the AI report draft
Tap Generate report when you are ready. Basic does not require photos or an IN_PROGRESS status. The draft takes 10-30 seconds. That draft is not a signed or issued report — review, rewrite, then confirm ownership.
How an inspection becomes a report
The report is generated from the inspection you captured, or from the Basic fields on /dashboard/reports/new. Photos, moisture readings, and scope items improve the draft. They are optional for Basic. Quick Fill can populate those Basic fields without photos.
There are two ways to reach the report:
- From the inspection (recommended for your first job) — tap Generate report on the inspection detail page, as above. The new inspection is pre-linked, so every reading and photo flows straight in.
- From
/dashboard/reports/new— start a report and pick the inspection to pull from, or use Quick Fill for a Basic draft.
Either way the bridge is the same: inspection or Basic fields → AI draft → rewrite → confirm ownership. See Generate your first AI-drafted S500 report for what the draft contains and how to edit it.
6. Sign off → invoice → handover
Click Close inspection, generate the invoice, and hand over to the client via the portal.
Done
You should now have a CLOSED inspection with all evidence captured, AI report drafted, invoice issued, and client portal link sent. Average time: 8 minutes for a standard Cat-1 job.