SpecCheck Pro User's Guide

Complete user's guide for SpecCheck Pro — comprehensive inventory management for houses, vehicles, and collections with photos, maintenance tracking, and PDF reports.

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Welcome to SpecCheck!

SpecCheck is your comprehensive inventory management app for cataloging houses, vehicles, and collections. Keep detailed records of everything you own with photos, specifications, maintenance tracking, and professional PDF reports.

Getting Started

First Launch

When you first open SpecCheck, you’ll see a welcome screen with three action buttons:

Create a House — Start documenting a home room by room
Create a Vehicle — Track vehicle specs and maintenance
Create a Collection — Organize tools, collectibles, electronics, and more

Tap any button to create your first category.

Home Screen

Once you’ve created categories, the home screen shows two sections:

My Categories — All your houses, vehicles, and collections listed with icons, names, and item counts. Drag to reorder.
Create New — Buttons to add more houses, vehicles, or collections.

Tap the gear icon in the top-left corner to access Settings.

SpecCheck uses a simple drill-down navigation. Tap a category to see its contents, then tap an item to view and edit its details. Swipe left on items for delete or archive options.

Houses and Rooms

Adding a House

Tap “Create a House” (or the house button under “Create New”)
Enter the house name/address
Fill in optional details: square feet, year built, bedrooms, bathrooms, lot size, construction type, roof type, foundation type
Review the “What Will Be Created” preview showing rooms and systems
Tap “Create”

What Gets Created Automatically

Home Systems:

HVAC System
Water Heater
Safety Systems (electrical panel + smoke/CO detectors)
Electrical System

Standard Rooms (based on your bedroom/bathroom count):

Living Room, Family Room, Dining Room
Bedrooms (matching your count)
Bathrooms (matching your count)
Kitchen (with automatic appliance sub-items)
Garage, Laundry Room, Basement
Exterior

Adding Custom Rooms

From the house detail screen, use the “Add a Room” grid to add additional rooms, or tap “Add Custom Room” to create a room with any name.

Room Detail Screen

Each room tracks extensive specifications:

Dimensions and Measurements

Length, width, and height (in feet/inches or meters/centimeters)
Automatically calculated: floor area, wall area, volume, perimeter
Window opening count (up to 20 per room)

Calculated Estimates When dimensions are entered, SpecCheck automatically calculates:

Paint gallons needed (based on wall area and coverage rate)
Flooring square feet with waste factor
Recommended lumens for lighting
BTU required for heating/cooling
Recommended outlet count

Paint and Finishes

Paint brand and color notes
Up to 3 paint color photos for reference
Flooring type (tile type, closet flooring)

Room Features

Ceiling fan tracking (brand and model)
TV tracking for family rooms and bedrooms (brand, model, size, mount type)
Bathroom exhaust fan (brand and model)
Ensuite connection to link bathrooms to bedrooms

Favorites Star any specification to surface it in the house overview screen for quick reference.

Window Measurements (Premium)

Track individual windows within each room:

Name each window (e.g., “North wall left”)
Record width and height
Automatic area calculation

Kitchen Appliances

Kitchens automatically include common appliances. You can also add from 18 appliance types:

Refrigerator, Dishwasher, Range/Oven, Oven, Wall Oven, Cooktop, Microwave, Washer, Dryer, Garbage Disposal, Range Hood, Freezer, Ice Maker, Wine Cooler, Warming Drawer, Steam Oven, Built-in Coffee System, and Other.

For each appliance, track:

Manufacturer and model number
Serial number
Finish/color
Energy rating
Capacity and features
Warranty expiration date
Filter type, last changed date, and replacement interval (auto-enabled for refrigerators, range hoods, ice makers, and coffee systems)
Smart home and Energy Star flags

Appliance Favoriting: Star any spec field (manufacturer, model, finish, warranty) to display it under the kitchen section in the house overview for quick reference.

Home Systems

HVAC System

System type: Central Air/Heat, Ductless/Mini-Split, Heat Pump, Boiler, Furnace Only, or Other
Zone, blower brand/model, condenser brand/model
Filter size and MERV rating
Tonnage, refrigerant type, ductwork notes
Thermostat brand/model
Service tracking: last serviced date, condensate line cleaning
Service company and phone number
Warranty and maintenance notes

Water Heater

Type: Tank, Tankless, Hybrid Heat Pump, Solar, or Other
Brand, model, fuel type
Tank capacity (gallons), BTU rating, venting type
Location, warranty years, install date
Maintenance tracking: flush/drain date, valve test date (with intervals)
Flush due dates are automatically favorited for house overview display

Safety Systems

Smoke/CO Detectors: Number, locations, last test date, test interval
Electrical Panel: Amperage, breaker slot count, brand, model, circuit notes

Plumbing System

Pipe type (PEX, PVC, Copper, Galvanized, etc.)
Shutoff valve location
Water pressure (PSI), drain type
Water source (city/well), sewer type
Septic pump date and interval

Vehicles

Adding a Vehicle

Tap “Create a Vehicle” (or the vehicle button under “Create New”)
Enter year, make, and model
Select vehicle type: Car, Truck, SUV, Motorcycle, RV, or Boat
Optionally add VIN, license plate, and color
Tap “Create”

Auto-Created Maintenance Items

Each new vehicle automatically includes tracking items for:

General Information
Engine Oil and Filter
Engine Air Filter
Cabin Air Filter
Windshield Wipers
Brake Pads
Spark Plugs
Tires
Battery
Transmission Fluid
Coolant

General Information

Make, model, year
VIN (with camera scanner — Premium)
License plate
Color, current mileage
Engine size, transmission type, fuel type

Maintenance Item Details

Engine Oil: Oil type (Synthetic, Conventional, etc.), weight (0W-20, 5W-30, etc.), capacity, brand, API specifications.

Tires: Size (e.g., 225/60R16), type (All-Season, Winter, Summer, Performance), load/speed rating, tread depth (in 32nds), brand.

Battery: Group size, CCA rating, type (Standard, AGM, Gel), brand.

Wipers: Driver, passenger, and rear sizes, connector type (Hook, Pin, Bayonet, Side Lock), brand.

Air Filters: Part number, filter type, shape, brand.

Brakes: Position (Front/Rear), type (Ceramic, Semi-Metallic, Organic), current thickness, brand.

Spark Plugs: Heat range, gap, type (Copper, Platinum, Iridium), brand.

All maintenance items include: last-service date, service interval, and a “Performed Today” quick-update button.

VIN Scanner (Premium)

Open a vehicle’s General Information
Tap the camera icon next to the VIN field
Point the camera at the VIN barcode or text
SpecCheck reads and validates the 17-character VIN
Falls back to manual entry if the camera is unavailable

The scanner also supports license plate recognition.

Collections

Creating a Collection

Collections use a 3-step wizard:

Step 1 — Choose a Type:

Tools and Equipment
Collectibles
Toys and Models
Electronics and Gadgets
Sports and Outdoor Gear
Art and Crafts Supplies
Other

Step 2 — Choose Fields: Select which tracking fields to include from 22 options: Operating Manuals, Warranties, Consumables/Parts, Loan Tracking, Purchase Price, Current Value, Condition, Storage Location, Missing Pieces, Set/Model Number, Instructions, Serial Number, Model Number, Year Acquired, Year Released, Rarity, Size, Maintenance Schedule, Quantity, Color, Expiration Date, Brand.

Step 3 — Name Your Collection: Give it a descriptive name and tap “Create.”

Collection Items

Each item in a collection tracks:

Name and description
Photos (5 free, unlimited with Premium)
Receipt photos (up to 3)
All fields you selected during collection creation

Key Collection Features

Operating Manuals: Attach a PDF file or enter a URL. PDFs open in an in-app viewer; URLs open in an in-app browser.

Warranties: Set an expiration date. SpecCheck shows days remaining with color-coded status (green/yellow/red).

Consumables/Parts: Add sub-items with part number, size/grade, quantity, and notes.

Condition Tracking: Rate items as New, Like New, Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor (color coded).

Loan Tracking: Record who borrowed an item, with contact info from your address book, loan date, expected return date, and reminder. Overdue loans are highlighted. Full loan history is preserved.

Searching and Filtering

Use the search bar at the top of a collection to search by item name, brand, or model number
Toggle “Show Loaned Only” in the toolbar menu to filter to currently loaned items

Organizing Items

Drag items to reorder within a collection
Archive items you no longer actively track
Items can be edited or deleted at any time

Photo Management

Adding Photos

On any item detail screen with photo support:

Tap “Add Photos”
Choose “Take Photo” (camera) or “Choose from Library”
The photo appears in the item’s photo grid

Viewing Photos

Tap any photo thumbnail to open it full-screen with pinch-to-zoom.

Deleting Photos

Tap the X button on a photo thumbnail, then confirm deletion in the dialog.

Photo Limits

Free tier: Up to 5 photos per item
Premium: Unlimited photos per item

Photo Types by Context

Rooms: General photos, paint color photos (up to 3), countertop photos (up to 3)
Vehicles: Vehicle photos
Collection items: Item photos and receipt photos (separate)
Appliances and systems: General item photos

Maintenance Tracking

How It Works

All maintenance-trackable items follow the same pattern:

A “last performed” date
A service interval (Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, Annual, Every 2 Years, or Custom)
An automatically calculated “next due” date
Color-coded status: green (current), yellow (upcoming), red (overdue)
A “Performed Today” button for quick one-tap updates

Home Maintenance

HVAC System:

Filter changes with size and MERV rating
Annual professional service
Condensate line cleaning

Water Heater:

Tank flushing/draining (tank type)
Descaling (tankless type)
Shut-off valve testing
Type-specific maintenance varies by water heater type

Safety Systems:

Smoke/CO detector monthly testing
Battery replacement tracking

Plumbing:

Septic tank pumping schedule

Appliances:

Filter replacement for refrigerators, range hoods, ice makers, coffee systems

Built-In Maintenance Guides

Tap the ”?” info button on certain system detail screens to access step-by-step maintenance instructions:

Water heater maintenance (with type-specific guides for tank, tankless, hybrid, and solar)
HVAC system maintenance
Smoke detector testing procedures

Vehicle Maintenance

Every vehicle maintenance item tracks service dates and intervals. Use the “Performed Today” button after completing any service to update the record instantly.

Home Reports (Premium)

Generate professional PDF reports of your house data.

Accessing Reports

From a house detail screen, tap the ellipsis menu (…) and select “Generate Home Report.”

Report Templates

Choose from 6 presets or build a custom report:

Full House Report — All rooms, all data types
All Bedrooms — Dimensions, paint, windows, features
Kitchen and Bathrooms — Appliances, countertops, features
Paint and Finishes — Paint colors, wall area, flooring, countertops
Appliances Only — Complete appliance inventory
Systems Overview — HVAC, electrical, plumbing, water heater
Custom — Pick rooms and data types manually

Configuration Options

Select individual rooms to include
Choose from 12 data types: Room Dimensions, Square Footage, Wall Area, Paint Colors, Appliances, Home Systems, Window Details, Countertops, Flooring, Room Features, Maintenance Schedules, Photos
Drag to reorder report sections
Organize by Room, Data Type, or System Type
Toggle photos on/off
Toggle AI-powered insights on/off

Preview the PDF in-app, then use the share button to save, AirDrop, email, print, or export to any app.

Backup and Restore

Exporting a Backup

Open Settings (gear icon on home screen)
Tap “Export Backup”
Wait for the progress indicator to complete
The iOS share sheet appears — save to Files, iCloud Drive, AirDrop, email, or any destination
The backup is a compressed JSON file containing all your data and photos

Importing a Backup

Open Settings
Tap “Import Backup”
Select a .json backup file
Confirm the warning: “This will replace all existing data with the backup. This action cannot be undone.”
Wait for import to complete

What Gets Backed Up

All categories (houses, vehicles, collections)
All items with every specification field
Window measurements
Photos
User settings and preferences

Backup Compatibility

SpecCheck maintains backward compatibility with older backup versions. If you restore from an older backup, newer fields will use default values.

Settings

Access Settings by tapping the gear icon on the home screen.

Measurement Units

Imperial (feet/inches) or Metric (meters/centimeters)
Affects all dimension displays throughout the app
Dimensions are stored internally in Imperial and converted for display
When switching units, you’ll be offered the option to convert your paint coverage setting

Room Calculations

Show Room Calculations: Toggle the automatic calculation display on/off
Paint Coverage: Set square feet per gallon (default: 350) or square meters per liter
Flooring Waste Factor: Set waste percentage (default: 10%)

Automation

Auto-detect Room Types: Automatically suggest room types based on names (on by default)

Premium

View Premium status
Upgrade to Premium (one-time purchase)
Restore previous purchases

Data Management

Export Backup
Import Backup

Free vs. Premium

Free Tier Limits

Resource	Free Limit
Houses	1
Vehicles	1
Collections	1
Rooms per house	6
Items per collection	25
Photos per item	5

Limit warnings appear when you’re within a few items of the maximum.

Premium Unlocks

Unlimited houses, vehicles, collections, rooms, items, and photos
Home Reports — PDF report generation and export
VIN Scanner — Camera-based VIN and license plate scanning
Window Measurements — Individual per-window dimension tracking
Home Insights — AI-powered analysis in reports

Premium is a one-time purchase (not a subscription). Use “Restore Purchases” in Settings if you reinstall the app or switch devices.

Tips and Best Practices

Getting the Most Out of SpecCheck

Fill in details early. Enter specs when you buy or install something — you’ll thank yourself later when you need a part number or serial number.
Use favorites. Star the specs you reference most often so they appear on the house overview without drilling into each room.
Take photos of labels. Photograph model/serial number plates on appliances, water heaters, and HVAC equipment.
Set realistic intervals. Follow manufacturer recommendations for maintenance schedules rather than guessing.
Tap “Performed Today” immediately. Update maintenance records right after completing service so you don’t forget.

Backup Recommendations

Export a backup after adding significant data.
Store backups in more than one location (iCloud Drive + email to yourself, for example).
Test a restore occasionally to verify your backups work.

Organization

Use consistent naming (e.g., “123 Main St” not “Our House”).
Archive items you no longer actively track rather than deleting — this preserves your records.
Use the notes field for context: service provider names, special instructions, quirks.

Kitchen Appliance Tips

Add each appliance individually for complete tracking.
Enable filter reminders for refrigerators and range hoods.
Star manufacturer and warranty info so it shows in the house overview.
Photograph the model plate inside the appliance door.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Photos Not Saving

Check that SpecCheck has camera and photo library permissions in iOS Settings
Verify your device has sufficient storage

Backup Failed

Ensure you have enough storage at the destination
Try saving to a different location (Files app instead of iCloud, or vice versa)

VIN Scanner Not Working

Ensure good lighting on the VIN
Hold the camera steady and close enough to read
Try the license plate if the VIN barcode is damaged
Manual entry is always available as a fallback

Maintenance Dates Seem Wrong

Check that your device date/time is set correctly
Verify the service interval matches your intended schedule

Data Safety

SpecCheck stores all data locally on your device
Regular backups are your best protection against data loss
If you delete the app, your data is removed — always export a backup first

Privacy and Security

All data is stored locally on your device
Photos remain under your control
No analytics, tracking, or ads
No account required
No internet connection needed (except when saving backups to cloud storage)
No data is sent to external servers
Backups are protected by iOS file-level encryption