Import Your Existing Checklist and Be Ready on Day One

Switching to new software usually comes with a chore nobody looks forward to: retyping everything you already have. If you run home watch visits today, you almost certainly have a checklist — in a Word document, a spreadsheet, a printed binder, or a PDF from another tool. HomeWatcher's AI checklist import takes that checklist and turns it into a ready-to-use inspection template in seconds, so you can skip the typing and start running visits the same day you sign up.

What you can import

Bring your checklist in whatever form you already have it:

• Word documents (.docx)
• Spreadsheets (Excel .xlsx or .csv)
• PDFs
• Photos — snap a picture of a printed or handwritten checklist with your phone
• Plain text — paste your list straight from anywhere

You do not need to reformat anything first. The AI reads the structure — your categories, sub-sections, and individual items — and rebuilds it as a HomeWatcher template.

How to import your checklist

1. Open the Checklists section and choose Import Checklist.
2. Either upload a file (or photo) or switch to the Paste text tab and paste your list.
3. Click Convert with AI. In a few seconds, your checklist is rebuilt as a template.
4. You land in the checklist editor with everything filled in. Review it: rename anything, add or remove items, and adjust each item's outcome set if you want a different answer scale than the AI picked (see custom checklist outcomes for building your own).
5. Click Save, and your template is ready to attach to schedules and use on visits.

Nothing is saved until you review and approve it, so you are always in control of the final template.

Tips for the best result

• A clear photo or scan reads best — good lighting and a flat page help the AI capture every item.
• If your source groups items under headings like "Interior," "Exterior," or "Mechanical," those become your categories automatically.
• The import gives you a starting point, not a cage — edit freely before saving. It is often faster to import a close match and tidy it up than to build from a blank page.

What comes next

Once your template is saved, you are ready to put it to work. See our guide to scheduling recurring visits to start generating visits, or learn more about building and customizing checklist templates. Explore everything HomeWatcher offers on the features page, or get started and import your checklist today.