Configure Agreements and Addendums
Create, customize and assign client agreements and ancillary service addendums to your inspection templates so future inspections use the correct agreement workflow automatically.
Why This Matters
Client agreements help define the scope of the inspection, establish expectations and document the terms under which services are performed.
Configuring agreements at the template level allows you to:
- Maintain consistency across future inspections
- Reduce repetitive setup work
- Ensure agreements match your inspection services
- Organize contract language into clear clauses
- Require client initials for important sections
- Keep agreement updates centralized and easier to manage
Once configured, agreements assigned to a template automatically flow into future jobs created from that template.
Before You Begin
Before starting:
- Ensure your Standards of Practice (SOPs) have already been configured
- Determine whether you will use the Universal Agreement or your own agreement
- Identify any specialty services that may require additional agreement language
- Review any custom agreement language with your legal advisor before use
Understanding Agreement Structure
Within inspectagram, agreements are organized into individual clauses.
Each clause may contain:
- A clause title
- Agreement content
- Client initials requirement
Breaking agreements into clauses improves readability and allows clients to acknowledge important sections individually.
Examples of common clauses include:
- Purpose and Scope
- Standards of Practice
- Limitations
- Exclusions
- Client Responsibilities
- Payment Terms
- Dispute Resolution
- Ancillary Service Terms
Recommended Approach
Configure agreements and addendums from the Library before using a template with clients.
To access templates:
- Open the Dashboard.
- Tap the Library icon (the book icon located to the left of the red + button).
- Open the template you want to configure.
Avoid configuring agreements from a live inspection whenever possible.
Tapping the red + button creates or opens an inspection job. While agreements can be edited within a job, those changes apply only to that specific inspection and are not saved back to the template.
When agreements are configured directly within the template, the configuration becomes part of the template and automatically carries forward to future inspections created from that template.
Why This Approach Is Recommended
Configuring agreements at the template level helps:
- Maintain consistency across future inspections
- Prevent repetitive agreement setup
- Reduce the risk of using outdated agreement versions
- Keep agreement changes standardized across your inspection process
Template changes affect future jobs.
Job-level changes affect only the current inspection.
Step 1: Open or Create a Template
Open the Dashboard.
Tap the Library icon (the book icon located to the left of the red + button).
Open an existing template or create a new one.
Most inspectors begin by duplicating:
Baseline Pro Global (House)
Rename the template to match your business or workflow.
All agreement configuration should be completed within the template whenever possible.
Step 2: Open the Agreement Section
Open the template.
Navigate to the Agreement section.
This is where agreements assigned to the template are managed.
If an agreement is already assigned, you can:
- Review it
- Modify it
- Replace it
- Remove clauses
- Add clauses
Step 3: Choose an Agreement Approach
Most inspectors use one of the following approaches.
Option 1: Use the Universal Agreement
The Universal Agreement provides a professionally structured starting point that can be customized for your business, services and jurisdiction.
Most inspectors begin with the Universal Agreement and then add or modify clauses as needed.
If you are unsure whether the Universal Agreement covers the services you offer, see the FAQ section at the end of this article for a list of commonly included inspection services.
This is typically the fastest setup option.
Option 2: Modify an Existing Agreement
You may edit an existing agreement by:
- Updating clause language
- Adding new clauses
- Removing unnecessary clauses
- Reorganizing clause order
Option 3: Create a New Agreement
If you already have a legally reviewed agreement, you can build a new agreement from scratch and organize it into clauses.
Step 4: Create or Modify Agreement Content
Open the agreement editor.
Add, remove or update agreement language as needed.
If using your own contract:
- Copy the agreement text
- Paste the content into the agreement editor
- Organize the content into logical clauses
Avoid placing an entire agreement into a single clause whenever possible.
Smaller clauses are easier for clients to review and acknowledge.
Step 5: Organize the Agreement into Clauses
Each agreement should be divided into clear sections.
For every clause, configure:
- Clause title
- Clause content
- Initial requirement (if applicable)
Common clause examples include:
- Purpose and Scope
- Standards of Practice
- Limitations
- Exclusions
- Payment Terms
- Dispute Resolution
Organizing content this way improves readability and helps clients review important information before signing.
Step 6: Review Ancillary Service Coverage
Review the clauses already included in the agreement.
Many common inspection services are already covered by the Universal Agreement.
If you offer services that are not covered, add additional clauses or addendums as needed.
Examples may include:
- Septic inspections
- Well flow testing
- Environmental testing
- Lead inspections
- Asbestos inspections
- Builder consulting
- Jurisdiction-specific requirements
- Company-specific legal language provided by your attorney
Add only the clauses necessary for your business, services and jurisdiction.
Step 7: Configure Client Initial Requirements
Many inspectors require clients to initial specific clauses.
Initial requirements can help confirm that important agreement sections were reviewed before signing.
Examples may include:
- Limitations of the inspection
- Exclusions
- Dispute resolution provisions
- Specialty service terms
If initials are removed accidentally, clients may no longer be required to acknowledge those sections individually.
Step 8: Assign the Agreement to the Template
After reviewing all clauses, save the agreement.
Confirm the agreement is assigned to the inspection template.
This step is important because agreements only flow into future inspections when they are attached to the template being used.
Step 9: Verify the Configuration
Before creating inspections:
- Review all clauses
- Verify any specialty services are covered
- Confirm initials appear where intended
- Ensure the correct agreement is assigned to the template
- Test the agreement workflow if needed
A quick review can prevent agreement issues later.
Understanding Template-Level vs Job-Level Changes
Agreement changes behave differently depending on where they are made.
- Library Template — Applies to future jobs created from the template
- Inspection Job — Applies only to that specific inspection
As a best practice, make agreement changes from the Library template whenever possible.
Changes made inside an inspection job affect only that inspection and are not saved back to the template.
Common Mistakes
Editing Agreements Inside a Job Instead of the Template
Changes made inside an inspection job affect only that inspection.
If you want future inspections updated, edit the template from the Library instead.
Forgetting to Assign the Agreement
Creating or editing an agreement does not automatically attach it to a template.
Always verify assignment after saving.
Adding Services Without Agreement Coverage
Review the agreement to ensure all services you offer are addressed by existing clauses or additional addendums.
Removing Initial Requirements Accidentally
Review clause settings before publishing.
Important clauses may require client initials.
Maintaining Multiple Versions Without Review
Using several agreement versions can create confusion and inconsistency.
Review all active agreements regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services does the Universal Agreement cover?
The Universal Agreement includes clauses for many common inspection services, including:
- Residential inspections
- Commercial inspections
- New construction inspections
- 11-month warranty inspections
- Thermal imaging inspections
- Drone inspections
- Mold inspections
- Radon testing
- Sewer scope inspections
- Pool and spa inspections
- Water testing
- Re-inspections
- Limited-scope inspections
If you offer services that are not covered by the agreement, you can add additional clauses or addendums before assigning the agreement to your template.
Review all agreement language with your legal advisor before use.
Can I use my own agreement?
Yes. Stand-alone agreements may be pasted into the agreement editor and organized into clauses.
What are clauses used for?
Clauses organize agreement content into individual sections and allow clients to review and initial specific portions of the agreement.
How do additional addendums work?
Additional services, specialty inspections, local requirements or attorney-provided language can be added as separate clauses within the agreement.
Do template changes affect existing jobs?
No. Template changes affect future jobs only. Existing inspections retain the agreement version that was assigned when the job was created.
Key Takeaway
Configure agreements from the Library template before creating inspections. Start by reviewing the Universal Agreement, determine whether your services are already covered and add only the additional clauses required for your business, jurisdiction or specialty services. Once assigned to a template, the agreement will automatically flow into future inspections created from that template.
