ASHI
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REPORTER
Bylaw s This S Vote pring P35
Inspection News & Views from the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc.
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eing Frank: It’s B Spring: Make Room for New Things!
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Marketing Yourself to Real Estate Agents
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Electrical Water Heaters
34 USING DRONES: THE EYE IN THE SKY P12
Your ASHI: ASHI Membership FAQs
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Commercial Inspection: Taking Your Home Inspection Business to the Next Level
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
9/23/16 2:23 PM
4.17
REPORTER ASHI
April 2017
Features 12
17
Using Drones: The Eye in the Sky
Ron Greene, Golden Eagle Home Services
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Marketing Yourself to Real Estate Agents Joel Singer, Managing Partner of Applica/Home Wizard
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Electrical Water Heaters
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Why I Volunteer
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Vol. 34, #4
Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop Paul Staron
Bylaws Vote This Spring
Brendan Ryan, Bylaws Chair
Commercial Inspection: Taking Your Home Inspection Business to the Next Level Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop
Departments
6 Being Frank Frank Lesh, ASHI Executive Director
Leviton Healthy Home Checkup How to Operate Your Home America’s Call Center OREP Target Professional Programs BPG Inspections RTCA Joe Ferry ASHI Benefits Wagner Meters US Inspect NHIE Study Guide InspectorPro The ASHI School 3D Inspection System American Home Warranty Allen Insurance Sun Nuclear HomeGauge
2 Leviton.com/eol 5 healthyhomescheckup.com 8 htoyh.com 8 AmericasCallCenter.com 10 OREP.org 15 TargetProIns.com 19 bpgwi.com 19 RTCA.com 23 joeferry.com 24 ASHI.org 26 wagnermeters.com 27 844-268-2677 27 NHIEStudyGuide.org 33 InspectorProInsurance.com/ASHI 39 TheASHISchool.com 41 3dinspection.com 43 ahomewarranty.com 45 allenins.com 47 sunradon.com 48 HomeGauge.com/CRL
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7 Around the CoRner Hollis Brown, Speaker of the CoR 9
You Tell Us Letters From Our Readers
28 ASHI Community
Chapter News, Chapter Listing, New Inspector Status, Chapter Education
34 Your ASHI
Membership, Endorsed Member Programs & Anniversaries
42 Postcards From the Field
It’s Wacky Out There
Howie Pegelow, ASHI President
46 On My Mind
38
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3April 2017
• www.ASHIReporter.org
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ASHI National Officers and Board of Directors Educated. Tested. Verified. Certified.
A SH I M ISSIO N S TATEM ENT To set and promote standards for property inspections and to provide the educational programs needed to achieve excellence in the profession and to meet the needs of our members.
ASHI STAFF Main Phone: 847-759-2820, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Mon. - Fri., CST Executive Director
Frank Lesh, Executive Director, 847-954-3182, frankl@ashi.org
Officers Howard Pegelow, President Gilbert, AZ, 480-699-8561 hpegelow@yahoo.com
Donald Lovering, Sr., Treasurer Auburndale, MA, 617-928-1942 Stonehouse1@earthlink.net
Tim Buell, President-Elect Marysville, OH, 614-746-7485 tim.buell@gmail.com
Mike Wagner, Secretary Westfield, IN, 317-867-7688 mwagner@ralis.com
Scott Patterson, Vice President Spring Hill, TN, 615-302-1113 scott@traceinspections.com
Randy Sipe, Immediate Past-President Spring Hill, KS, 913-856-4515 randy@familyhomeinspections.com
Directors Bruce Barker 2015-2017 Cary, NC, 919-322-4491 bruce@dreamhomeconsultants.com
Bruce LaBell 2015-2017 Scottsdale, AZ, 602-765-2140 inspect@cox.net
Michael Conley 2017-2019 Bradenton, FL, 941-778-2385 FLinspector@outlook.com
Reuben Saltzman 2017-2019 Maple Grove, MN, 952-915-6466 reuben@structuretech1.com
James J. Funkhouser 2017-2019 Manassas Park, VA, 703-791-2360 jfunkhousr@aol.com
Bob Sisson 2017-2019 Boyds MD, 301-208-8289 Office@inspectionsbybob.com
Bryck Guibor 2017-2019 Tucson, AZ, 520-795-5300 bryck@msn.com
Tony Smith 2015-2017 Cedar Rapids, IA, 319-533-4565 inspecthathouse@netscape.net
Ken Harrington 2015-2017 Delaware, OH, 614-507-1061 InspectorKen@kustomhi.com
Blaine Swan 2016-2018 Columbus, Oh, 614-506-0647 goodeyeinspections@gmail.com
Richard Hart 2016-2018 Conyers, GA, 770-827-2200 Ashi1@comcast.net
John Wessling 2016-2018 St. Louis, MO, 314-520-1103 john@wesslinginspections.com
David Haught 2016-2018 Huntington, WV, 304-417-1247 inspector@wvchi.com
Speaker, Council of Representatives Hollis Brown, 2017-2018 Manassas, VA, 703-754-8872 Inspectors@ThoroSpec.com
Jen Gallegos, Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator 847-954-3177, jeng@ashi.org Education, CE Approval, ASHI Online Learning Center, InspectionWorld
Michele George, Director of Education & Events, 847-954-3188 micheleg@ashi.org Membership, Chapter Relations, Booth Rental, Product Orders
Russell Daniels, Assistant Executive Director, Director Membership & Chapter Relations, 847-954-3185, russelld@ashi.org Janet George, Membership Services Supervisor, 847-954-3180 janetg@ashi.org Michael Krauszowski, Membership Administrator, 847-954-3175 Michaelk@ashi.org Mark Lester, Membership Services Coordinator, 847-954-3176 markl@ashi.org Accounting
Toni Fanizza, Accounting, Purchasing and Human Resources Manager, 847-954-3190, tonif@ashi.org Beverly Canham, Financial Assistant, 847-954-3184 beverlyc@ashi.org Website, Information Systems, Database
Mike Rostescu, Director IT & Internet Communications 847-954-3189, miker@ashi.org Advertising, Marketing, IW Expo Hall, Public Relations
Dave Kogan, Director of Marketing & Business Development 847-954-3187, davek@ashi.org Graphics, Publications, Member Logo Design
Publisher: Frank Lesh Editor: Carol Dikelsky Art Director: Arlene Zapata, Designer: Kate Laurent American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. 932 Lee Street, Suite 101 Des Plaines, IL 60016
847-954-3186 Reporter calls only 847-299-2505 (fax) Reporter only Email: frankl@ashi.org
Kate Laurent, Graphic Designer & Digital Strategist 847-954-3179, Katel@ashi.org
Advertising: Dave Kogan Phone: 847-954-3187, Email: davek@ashi.org
The ASHI School
ASHI REPORTER – ISSN 1076-1942 – the official publication of the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. (ASHI), 932 Lee St., Suite 101, Des Plaines IL 60016, is published monthly. Annual subscriptions: $44.95 to non-members. Periodical postage paid at Des Plaines, IL 60016 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ASHI Reporter, 932 Lee Street, Suite 101, Des Plaines, IL 60016-6546. Copyright© 2017, ASHI. None of the content of this publication may be reproduced, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Inclusion of or specific mention of any proprietary product within does not imply endorsement of, nor does exclusion of any proprietary product imply non-endorsement, by the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. Opinions or statements of authors and advertisers are solely their own, and do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of ASHI, its agents or editors. See above for information pertaining to submission of articles, advertising and related materials.
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Arlene Zapata, Graphic Department Director & “ASHI Reporter” Managing Editor, 847-954-3186, arlenez@ashi.org
Bonnie Bruno, Manager, 888-884-0440 or 847-954-3178 bonnie@theashischool.com Steve Reilly, Senior Sales Representative, 888-884-0440 or 847-954-3181, steve@theashischool.com Michelle Santiago, Administrative Assistant & Sales Representative 847-954-3198, Michelle@theashischool.com
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5April 2017
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It’s Spring: Make Room for New Things! From ASHI’s Executive Director
A
s usual, things are happening at ASHI. Ever since we returned from another successful InspectionWorld®, we’ve been busy implementing the initiatives from the national board meeting, as well as those from many other meetings and conversations we had while we were in Las Vegas.
In last month’s column, I told you about the new Insight app that Carson Dunlop developed. At the time I’m writing this column, the app is still being offered free of charge to ASHI members. If you haven’t checked it out yet, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity while you can. Visit www.carsondunlop.com/Insight/ to get all the details. Another great idea is being developed by Bronson Anderson, ACI, who will be hosting monthly podcasts for inspectors. Bronson will be interviewing inspectors and experts involved in the home inspection profession. Soon, inspectors will be able to download these podcasts, and hear about timely topics and inspection tips from experts in the field. The beauty of podcasts is that you can listen to them whenever it’s convenient for you—even during “windshield time” on your way to inspections. ASHI staff members are looking forward to working with Bronson and others to develop this form of communication. If you have suggestions for topics or if you’d like to be interviewed, please contact Arlene Zapata (arlenez@ashi.org). Free Logos We are proud to announce that record numbers of new inspectors are joining ASHI every month. ASHI is happy to welcome our new members and support them as they become successful inspectors. One way we offer support is by creating business logos for our members. To learn more about how to access this valuable service, visit the ASHI website, choose the “Members-Only” tab and select “How to Videos.” There, you can view a video that describes how easy it is to have the ASHI staff help you design a custom logo for your business. The designs are unique and they are provided to you free of charge. It’s just part of what we do for our members to earn our keep. Market Your Business Another helpful way that we can contribute to your success is through our Print on Demand site. The redesigned brochures you’ll see there have been carefully crafted to impart a quality image to your clients. The colorful, tactile feel of these brochures will help set you apart from your competitors. And, of course, your contact information will be displayed prominently, so you’ll be easy to reach. On the ASHI website, visit the “Members-Only” tab and select “How to Videos” to view details about the accessing Print on Demand benefit. 6
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Get More Clients Also, be sure to take advantage of having your personal profile on the ASHI website. Every ASHI member is invited to set up a profile, and keep it updated with your qualifications and other information for potential clients. For example, if you perform radon, mold or pest control inspections, you can include that information in your profile. Likewise, if you specialize in inspecting historic homes or new construction, if you offer EIFS inspections, or if you can prepare and provide expert witness testimony, be sure to list those specialties in your profile. You can select up to eight specialties from more than 50 options on the list. All of this information can help set you apart from the rest and showcase your qualifications to prospective clients. To get started or to update your current profile, visit the ASHI website, select the “Members-Only” tab and choose the tutorials about membership profiles in the “How to Videos.”
I encourage all members to spend a little time on the ASHI website. There is so much information there that will help you in your business. Win a Complimentary IW 2018 Registration We even started a new and exciting program to keep you even more engaged with ASHI’s online information. Every month, when you read ASHI’s e-newsletter, “Another Thing,” you can click on a link to be entered into a monthly drawing for a fabulous assortment of ASHI swag. In addition to having the chance to win a monthly swag prize, for each month you participate, your name will be entered into a drawing for a complimentary IW conference registration! The winner will be randomly selected at the end of the year from everyone who entered this monthly e-newsletter program. So, if you participate every month from now until the next IW, you’ll have racked up several chances to win a complimentary registration to IW 2018 in Orlando!
I hope everyone is as busy as we are here at ASHI HQ. If you’re not, I suggest that you get to work on building your profile on the ASHI website so that people who go to “Find an Inspector” will see just how multi-talented you are! H Frank Lesh, Executive Director American Society of Home Inspectors Direct: 847-954-3182 Frankl@ashi.org • www.ashi.org
Leaders: Volunteers or Volunteered?
Around the CoRner
From the Speaker of the CoR
By Hollis Brown, Speaker of the Council of Representatives
I
’ve noticed that, although people come into leadership positions for many different reasons, they all seem to fall into one of two basic categories: pushed or pulled. Pushed: Some of us aspire to leadership positions. We think about ways that we can step forward, rally the troops, create incentive, give directions, take charge. We may have been taught leadership. We may have admired strong leaders. We may have developed leadership skills. We join an organization and immediately start looking for opportunities to get involved—to be helpful. When the current leaders ask for volunteers, we step up. Before long, other members begin to recognize us, maybe even appreciate us. Our names come up at nominating committee meetings. We might even nominate ourselves. We push ourselves into leadership roles. Pulled: Others of us are slow to volunteer. It’s not that we’re unwilling; it’s just not in our nature. We have responsibilities outside the organization. We appreciate the efforts of the volunteers who do get things done, but it’s just not our style. Eventually, though, some set of circumstances brings each of us, individually, to the attention of our peers. Someone recognizes that we have a certain skill. There is a need and we just happen to be there with the ability to meet that need. We’re not about to nominate ourselves, yet our names do come up at nominating committee meetings. We are pulled into leadership.
As we enter ASHI’s election season, let us not forget that the Council of Representatives (CoR) has several roles and responsibilities within ASHI. By design, the CoR is the deliberative body. It is incumbent on us to be constantly engaged in thoughtful
dialogue, considering options, imagining possibilities and charting a future. Specifically because of its crucial role in the officers and directors selection process, the CoR must be engaged in thoughtful consideration of what policies are pending and which directions are being explored. This is why the CoR Group Leaders meet every month; our discussions become the foundation of the nominating process. It is our job to consider the direction in which we want to steer ASHI.
Not only is it incumbent on us to understand the issues, but we should also be talking to the potential nominees about where they stand on the issues. It is to that end that I keep encouraging discussion at the grassroots level. This is where the future leaders are. If we wait for those who push themselves, we miss half of the pool of future leaders. Part of our job is to pull people into positions of leadership. Besides reminding ourselves to pull in the more reluctant leaders, let’s not forget to welcome the enthusiastic volunteers. ASHI is a big-tent society. Let’s talk it up; encourage each other to volunteer. Let’s step it up; volunteer ourselves. Let’s build it up; untapped human resources abound. You may be sitting next to the person who has the necessary skill or the next big idea, but you’ll never know if you don’t start the discussion. H
ASHI Council of Representatives Speakers and Group Leaders
SPEAKER: Hollis Brown speaker@ashicor.org 703-856-7567 ALTERNATESPEAKER: Janni Juhasz janni.j@homtec inspections.com 419-215-5505
South Atlantic Gerald Simmons Jerry@simm inspect.com 404-281-3734
Gulf Craig Lemmon reioftexas@ sbcglobal.net 817-291-9056
SECRETARY: Brendan Ryan brendan@csahome inspection.com 724-321-1360
South Midwest Joe Pangborn Joe@Pangborn Inspections.com 573-228-4509
GROUP LEADERS
North Central
New England/ Canada
Donald Bissex Donald@mystic homeinspection.com 781-475-8980
New York/ New Jersey Steven Baranello inspect-me@att.net 516-972-4875
Mid-Atlantic Bronson Anderson 2inspect4u@ gmail.com 540-836-0256
Andrew Seeger Andrew@Building Safeguard.com 513-482-0449
Mountain John Thompson Shelterworksllc@ gmail.com 406-360-4613
Pacific Darrell Hay Darrellhay@aol.com 206-226-3205
Midwest Eric Barker Ebarker@moraine woods.com 847-408-7238
7April 2017
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
262-303-4884
• insufficient outlets • insufficient lighting circuits
Some Points About Knob-and-Tube Wiring
R
egarding the article “Knob-and-Tube Wiring: A Revisit,” by Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, which appeared in the February 2017 issue of the Reporter, I’d like to note these points:
First, I have been told by clients and contractors that when they have tried to change overhead lights, they have found that the knob-and-tube (K&T) conductors have been “baked” by the light fixtures and that the black covering falls off as they try to make connections. Typically, a light fixture box with an attic above has insulation over it, which captures the heat of incandescent light bulbs. The typical repair is similar to the diagram (shown on this page as it appeared in the article) for extending a circuit: A person can mount boxes to each side, where the K&T conductor is intact, and then run nonmetallic (NM) cable to the light fixture box. Second, the article failed to address the following common conditions found in buildings with K&T wiring: • undersized fuse panels with double taps and over-fusing (that is, those telltale green 30-amp fuses)
• original light fixtures with exposed, energized terminals • K&T conductors exposed to traffic and mechanical damage in stairways, attics, basements and garages • K&T wiring that has been modified or damaged, and which is now behind new drywall, ceiling tiles or paneling Diagram reprinted from “Knob-and-Tube Wiring: A Revisit,” One of the principles that guides my inspections is by Alan Carson, published in the Reporter, February 2017. protecting my clients. Another is protecting their bank accounts. I know that a remodeling the city, town or village centers. My clients contractor, an electrician or both someday often are paying top dollar for old homes will offer to eliminate all of the home’s K&T that were built before current safety circuits at a substantial charge. standards. I always prepare my clients for that inevitaThank you for the opportunity to comment ble encounter, when they move from being on this article. H a buyer to an owner. Also, insurance companies have stepped up efforts to determine Sincerely, the condition of the homes they are insurPatrick M. Lyons ing, with questionnaires and inspections, Buyer’s Inspector, LLC which may lead my clients to spend money Ann Arbor, MI on K&T wiring, either by paying a higher 734-645-8041 or 734-428-3808 premium or by replacing the K&T. patricklyons2@me.com annarborhomeinspector.com In my area, the oldest homes are in highly buyersinspector.com desirable, “walkable” neighborhoods near
A Focus on Work Lights
I
’d like to thank to Rick Bunzel for sharing his latest flashlight survey, “Flashlight Shootout 2016” (published in February 2016), with readers of the Reporter. One topic that Rick did not cover, however, is the development of very useful, battery-powered LED work lights. I’ve been using an LED work light instead of a flashlight for several years. The work light has the advantage of casting a smooth, even beam instead of a bright, narrow spot. This makes it particularly useful for taking photos without the use of a flash; a camera’s flash often puts a bright white spot in the center of the photo of any nearby smooth surface. The wide beam of the work light also gives me a better view of the overall condition of the component being inspected. My light is a Milwaukee M12TM LED Stick Light (2351-20), with three LED lights and a lithium ion M12 rechargeable battery (https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2351-20). It has 220 lumens, weighs about 1 pound (with battery) and has an impact-resistant, replaceable lens. I’ve
dropped this light on hard surfaces several times, and it has sustained no damage. This light easily stands on its end, hangs from its hook or sticks to ferrous metal surfaces with the optional powerful magnet accessory.
These features enable me to leave my hands free to use a digital camera or other tools. The light has four indicator lights to show the battery’s charge level. The battery provides this light with more than four hours of run time and it serves me for at least two full ASHI Standard inspections. The M12 battery is interchangeable with the Milwaukee drill driver that I use on panel cover screws, among other items.
The light easily fits in the pocket of my pants or I can hang it from my belt loop. This feature of the light is particularly useful in attics, where I often do not have a hand free to hold a light. I’ve also marked the back of the light to serve as a 6-inch ruler so I don’t have to pull out another tool for short measurements (see photo).
photo courtesy of Roger Hankey
Continues on Page 19 9April 2017
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Using Drones: The Eye in the Sky
Using Drones: The Eye in the Sky How can drones make the home inspector’s job easier and better? By Ron Greene, Golden Eagle Home Services, 425-640-5949
Filling a Need Inspecting a roof can be a tricky and dangerous business. Safety is always a primary concern for the inspector and others in the vicinity. “Accidents waiting to happen” revolve around the use of ladders, steep roof slopes and unsure footing. In addition, inspectors should not traverse roofs that are in poor condition or that have a roof covering that can easily be damaged. Finally, some roofs are out of a ladder’s reach and are just not accessible. My biggest nightmare is a low-slope roof that cannot be viewed from the ground and is out of the reach of my ladder. Now what? For me, reporting that the roof was inaccessible and could not be inspected is not an option. 12
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Enter the Drone Every so often, a product that makes inspections easier and better hits the market. One example is the thermal imaging camera, which is increasing in popularity and becoming more affordable. Another product gaining popularity in the recreational and photography markets is the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone. By definition, a drone is an unmanned, rotary-wing aircraft. Aircraft are of two types: fixed and rotary wing. Fixed-wing aircraft include gliders, commercial airliners and the like. They get their lift from air moving over the wings. These aircraft must maintain a minimum, forward speed to fly. This type of drone will not work for roof inspections.
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The second type—rotary-wing aircraft—includes helicopters and drones that get their lift from one or more horizontally rotating propellers or rotors. Because it is the rotor, not the aircraft, that moves through the air to get lift, these aircraft can hover and their ability to hover makes the rotary-wing aircraft an ideal option for inspecting roofs.
Using Drones: The Eye in the Sky
Drones have an even number of rotors. Half of the rotors rotate clockwise and the remaining rotors rotate counterclockwise to cancel the motor torque, thereby keeping the drone from spinning. Drones are usually quadcopters (four blades) or hexacopters (six blades). The Good News and the Bad News Drones have properties that lend themselves well to the inspection industry. A drone never makes contact with the roof, so there is no chance that it will damage the roof covering. The drone “traverses” the roof, leaving the inspector safely on the ground. Roofs are no longer limited to ladder accessibility (Photos 1 and 2). Also, a drone is easier and more compact to transport than a ladder that is 22 feet or longer.
Photo 1
Nothing is perfect. Drones do have drawbacks. They should never be flown in rain, snow, high or gusty winds, or when the temperature is extreme. Drones can’t check shingle-to-shingle bonding, the presence of drip-edge flashing or the resilience of the roof decking. (Checking bonding and flashing can be done from a ladder on a lower section of the roof; checking decking resilience can be done in the attic.) It’s important for the inspector to always keep the drone (aircraft) in sight during flight. Legal Eagles and Liability Because of drone collisions, airspace incursions and near misses with aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has clamped down on people who use drones. The FAA’s Small Unmanned Aircraft Regulations (Part 107; refer to www.faa.gov/ news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=20516), which became effective in August 2016, require commercial drone users (that’s us) to be certified every two years, as well as to adhere to the current drone registration requirement. FAA regulations prohibit drone flight in Traffic Control Areas (TCAs) near airports, as well as flying more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL), over crowds, near emergency workers and in restricted airspace. There are also other restrictions that come under the heading of “common sense.” As a drone operator, you are responsible and legally liable for any damage and personal injury caused by your drone. However, considering the liability related to ladder use and traversing roofs, in my opinion, it’s a wash. A few months ago, I contacted my insurance carrier to determine the rulings and policies on drone use for inspections. Because drones are a relatively new part of the big picture of home inspection, my insurance carrier had no official policy in place. This will likely change with the increased use of drones by home inspectors.
Photo 2
Selecting a Drone Okay, so you’re considering buying a drone. Where do you start? A good way to start is by visiting drone clubs’ websites, drone use forums, independent drone reviews and manufacturers’ websites that provide technical information and product features. Learn as much as you can about drones and their capabilities, characteristics and limitations. Decide which features and attributes are important to you. For me, ease of flight control, stability, flight battery capacity and an on-board camera are musts. Keep in mind that your primary focus will be flying the drone; taking pictures will only occur during momentary interludes. I chose DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard (www.dji.com/phantom-3-standard) because of its onboard flight stabilization features: compass, barometer, gyroscopic stabilization and, best of all, GPS locking. Keep in mind that, without on-board, intelligent control, you cannot fly a drone. A drone is inherently unstable. Most drones may have additional features that may not be important to you. 13April 2017
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Using Drones: The Eye in the Sky
Select the product that best fits your needs. Although I am not specifically promoting DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard, it is the one I use and know. The Phantom’s camera takes crisp, 4.5 MB photos, and it can switch between video and still modes at a finger’s touch. I do not take videos; I find that the video frame resolution does not obtain a crisp image, even when the photo is reduced to a size suitable for a report. Instead, I operate in still mode and crop the photos to highlight selected features. Image size should be 4 MB or larger. What is the flight time with a full battery charge? You will probably need 15 minutes or more of flight time to cover an average-sized roof. The Phantom 3 has a flight time of 25 minutes at an air temperature of 70 degrees. Keep in mind that a battery’s capacity will decrease with decreased air temperature. In cold weather, for example, you may not get more than 15 minutes on a full charge. Before you buy, check out the manufacturer and ask yourself these questions: Does the manufacturer offer good product and technical support? Is the company responsive to questions? Does the website provide online tutorials? What is the warranty policy? Once you’ve selected your drone, you can build your kit. Of course, you will need the drone and a controller. The Phantom 3 comes with a separate remote control—nice. Invest in a spare battery. You may need it if you will be conducting multiple-unit inspections or if you are inspecting a large, complex roof. I highly recommend obtaining propeller (rotor) guards. The last thing you need is to break a rotor and crash onto an inaccessible roof. I also recommend investing in a quality carrying case. I have a case (by GoPro) that is specifically designed to hold the DJI Phantom 3 series. It cost $350, but I believe that it is well worth the cost to protect my investment. By the time you purchase all the items you need, your drone kit likely will cost you at least $1,000. But again, in my opinion, considering the freedom, versatility and safety the drone affords me, the investment has been well worth it. Before You Inspect The natural impulse might be to grab your brand new, untested drone kit and whisk off to your first inspection. Don’t do it! Flying requires specific skills and hand-eye coordination that can only come with knowledge and practice.
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iPhone or Android mobile device (not included), which serves as both the “cockpit window” via video feed and the instrument panel. The drone application can be downloaded from the manufacturer. Before your first flight, make sure your mobile device is connected (typically via Wi-Fi) to your controller and that there is a definite link with the aircraft (drone). Wait until you have GPS acquisition before flying, especially the first time. Start the rotors and slowly ascend to about 5 feet AGL. Get the feel of the flight controls by maneuvering your aircraft in a safe area. Check the camera gimbal operation and take some shots of ground features. As you become more familiar with your aircraft’s flight characteristics, go higher and farther. Practice a roof inspection on your own home. Practice hovering in a stable manner over a fixed point below; this is the most frequent and the trickiest flight maneuver you will need to perform. The Phantom 3 aircraft camera connects to a computer via the included cable, which plugs into a standard USB port for image download. The camera looks like any other external storage device for the computer.
Read the manual first. Most likely, it will be a downloadable document. I printed out the manual for my drone and then I read it five times before flying. Get to know the features and operating procedures for your drone. Watch online tutorials.
I highly recommend that you spend at least 10 hours in practice flight mode before you take your drone on an inspection. You should be as comfortable flying the drone as you are driving your car. Aircraft operation must be instinctive; you won’t have time to think and wonder during a drone flight that’s part of an inspection.
Assemble your drone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. You most likely will have to attach the propellers (rotors) and the propeller guards (recommended). Make sure the batteries are fully charged before flight. The Phantom 3 drone system consists of three parts: the remote controller, which contains the flight controls; the aircraft itself, which is a quadcopter; and an
All drones must be registered with the FAA (to register, visit www. faa.gov/uas/). I recommend that you wait to register until you are sure that your drone operates properly and that you have selected the drone that is right for you. This should not take more than a couple hours of flight time.
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Choose our E & O / GL insurance and save 15% on the cost of outstanding coverage. As ASHI’s endorsed provider for E & O and General Liability Insurance, Target Professional Programs offers ASHI members the highest premium discount available anywhere – a full 15% on any amount of coverage purchased. More Attractive Advantages In addition to covering all inspectors in the firm (including interns), Target’s policy covers your administrative staff, referral agencies and even spouses. Plus, Identity Theft Coverage up to $25,000 is a no-cost bonus with every policy. Target includes coverage for specialized inspections: • 4 Point • Infrared Thermography • Commercial (Up to 100,000 Sq. Ft.) • Pool & Spa • Construction Draw • Radon • Code Compliance • Septic / Well • EIFS • Water Testing • Energy • Wind Mitigation • HUD / Section 8 Optional policy endorsements let you purchase only the extra coverage you may need for inspections you actually perform: Carbon Monoxide, Lead, Mold and/or Termite inspections. Coverage for Drone Inspections At a low premium of only $100, this optional endorsement provides $50,000 in coverage per policy term for damage or injury caused by an inspector’s drone during the course of an inspection. We’re happy to offer you (or your insurance agent/broker) a no-obligation quote at any time. Visit: www.TargetProIns.com for an application and more details about coverage features & benefits. Or contact us: Fausto Petruzziello 973-396-1790 FPetruzz@TargetProIns.com
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Using Drones: The Eye in the Sky
Flying High We are used to getting in our cars and driving off. If your car quits, all you need to do is pull over to the shoulder and summon assistance or make the necessary repairs. Operating an aircraft is quite different. Eventually, every aircraft will land. The question is, how will it land? Specific checks must be made before flight to ensure that your aircraft is in good condition and calibrated. This procedure is called preflight. Part of the normal preflight procedure should be checking the rotors and guards for damage. Do not fly with a damaged rotor! Check the aircraft itself for damage and ensure that the camera is mounted properly. Check the flight battery level. It should be fully charged before flight. DJI also recommends compass calibration when flying in a new location. Make sure there are no metal objects nearby, as they will throw off the compass. I always take off my watch and remove keys from my pocket before compass calibration. Take off slowly and note the sound the aircraft makes. If it sounds irregular or unusual, or if it exhibits any unexpected instability, land immediately! Observe FAA regulations; do not fly in rain, snow or high winds and gusts. During flight, always keep the aircraft in sight. Most of your attention should be on the aircraft’s behavior and position, with occasional glances to your “instrument panel” (mobile device). If the aircraft ducks behind an obstruction, it could lose communication with the remote controller. The Phantom 3 has a returnto-home (RTH) feature that automatically brings the aircraft back to its takeoff location if the controller signal is lost. If you have to move from the front to the back of the house, increase the aircraft’s altitude so it is always hovering in sight as you move to the back, then bring it back down to continue your inspection. 16
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Be aware that, during inspections, you will be using the drone in a manner that most manufacturers recommend you don’t do: flying close to obstructions. Keep at least a 2-foot distance from obstructions in case the aircraft drifts or is pushed by a wind gust. All aircraft use fuel. Larger aircraft use either gasoline or jet fuel. Drones use electricity. Think of the aircraft battery as a fuel tank and land when it gets low (below approximately 25 percent). Don’t push it! If you run out of “fuel,” the aircraft will land in an undesirable and possibly destructive manner. Conclusion The advent of drones has opened up new horizons to home inspectors, just as thermal imaging cameras did in the recent past. So, should you invest in a drone? Only you can answer this question. Just as your job is to enable a homebuyer to make an informed purchasing decision, you should apply the same philosophy when you make a decision about whether to incorporate a drone into your inspection business. For me, it was the right move. I’ve been able to perform more thorough inspections without risking my neck or damaging a roof. My drone has certainly paid for itself. H Ron Greene is Owner-Operator of Golden Eagle Home Services LLC, Mountlake Terrace, WA. He is certified by ASHI and InterNACHI. He has been a licensed home inspector for about three years, after having been a handyman for eight years.
Marketing Yourself to Real Estate Agents
Marketing Yourself to Real Estate Agents By Joel Singer, Managing Partner of Applica/Home Wizard
I
n the competitive business of home inspection, a steady stream of calls and referrals from real estate agents can drive and sustain the growth of your business, even in the toughest of times and markets. Being qualified, responsive and objective is absolutely required, of course, but what is the secret to effectively marketing yourself to real estate agents?
• Consistent messaging—such as our monthly Home Wizard eNewsletter and monthly motivators (created by our business manager).”
To answer this question, I asked two successful industry veterans to share their advice, based on their experiences working with real estate agents over the years. Peter Ottowitz is the founder of The Hawkeye Companies, a team of eight professionals who have been providing home inspections, environmental testing and energy audits across eastern and central Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and eastern Connecticut since 2004. In addition to being a Certified Master Inspector, he has a master’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA.
According to Ottowitz, “I think that focusing on how we can help the real estate agent—versus telling agents how great we are—is the best approach. We provide helpful information, including the Home Wizard eNewsletter and office presentations, and we post articles on social media on subjects relating to home inspections. In addition to providing information via the Internet, we also regularly use direct mail.” He added, “In my mind, a marketing message to real estate agents must include the following important elements: • How we can help them sell more homes by providing education on the inspection process, components of the home and new technologies • Timely information
Richard Cummings also offered advice. He is the founder of Cornerstone Residential Inspections, which has provided inspection services in central Oklahoma for the past 10 years, and is a graduate of the Midwest Inspectors Institute, Lansing, KS. According to Cummings, “Over the years, I’ve tried several strategies, including the following: • I’ve offered to speak to ‘new’ agent classes (and supplied the donuts, of course!). • Some years ago, I ordered 700 bottles of water with my business card as the label. When I would go to open houses, I’d introduce myself to the agent and present them with a cold bottle of water. • I’ve provided lunch for meetings of real estate agents. • I’ve supplied pens and tickets to Oklahoma City Thunder games for an agents-only open house. • I’ve also tried a number of other things, all with limited or no results.” Cummings added, “I reached out to my ‘best’ real estate agent to ask what he looks for in a home inspector. He responded that the top five qualities he seeks are the following: • Integrity and honesty • Detailed and thorough inspection reports • Communication • Punctuality • Flexibility 17April 2017
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Marketing Yourself to Real Estate Agents
you’ll always want to defer to Ms. Real Estate Agent for her advice on such-and-such, as she is the expert in this part of the process.’ I do this because I don’t want the agent to feel left out. This can be challenging with some agents, because the better the inspector, the more thorough the inspection and report, which generally means more concerns found during the inspection. Our duty is always to the client; however, the really good agents want a thorough report, as it will show their clients that they also really care about them— and that’s why they chose to refer you as the home inspector for their client.” H
These are traits that I believe all inspectors should strive to achieve.
Joel L. Singer is the managing partner of Applica/Home Wizard (jsinger @applica-solutions.com, www.applicasolutions.com/ASHI, 508-281-2050). The Home Wizard eNewsletter and mobile app help home inspectors generate referrals and repeat business from real estate agents and homeowners. Applica Solutions, headquartered in Marlborough, MA, is a Gold Affiliate member of ASHI. ASHI members receive a 20% discount.
“On a personal note,” Cummings continued, “when I give my verbal summary to the client after the inspection, I always try to include the real estate agent as well. As an example: ‘Mr. Smith, of course,
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Continued from page 9 Milwaukee Electric Tool and other manufacturers make LED stick lights with 18-volt batteries, but I’ve noticed that lights with 18-volt batteries are heavier and do not readily fit in pant pockets. Depending on which style you choose and from which vendor you buy, the Milwaukee 2351-20 M12 LED Stick Light Bare Tool will cost approximately $72-$80; the corresponding Milwaukee M12 12-volt lithium-ion battery pack will cost approximately $35-$50. The light uses the same charger as the other 12-volt tools in this series. Discounted combination packages on tools, battery and chargers are offered by several online vendors. I have spotlight-style flashlights in my toolbox, but I use them only when a bright light is needed to show a distant component. The advantages of using a hands-free light with a wide uniform beam have definitely improved my inspections. H Sincerely, Roger Hankey, ACI 952-829-0044 rhankey@hankeyandbrown.com www.hankeyandbrown.com
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ASHI Event Calendar
April 28-29, 2017 ASHI Board Meeting Des Plaines, IL
July 21-22, 2017 ASHI Board Meeting Des Plaines, IL
October 19-21, 2017 Leadership Training Conference and ASHI Board Meeting Des Plaines, IL
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Electrical Water Heaters
Electrical Water Heaters By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070
E
lectric water heaters work on a different principle compared with gas or oil-fired water heaters. Because there is no burner, there is no core in the center, and no heat exchanger or venting system is required.
Electric water heaters typically employ two immersion elements that are similar to the elements in a kettle. One is near the top of the tank and the other is near the bottom. In general, both elements do not work at the same time. (Note: There are some water heaters that have only one element. Also, some water heaters are designed to have both elements on at the same time). Thermostat Control Both elements are thermostatically controlled, and the temperature setting is usually the same on the top and bottom. A high-limit switch, sometimes called the reset button, usually is attached to the upper thermostat on two element heaters, and to the single thermostat under the lower access panel on single element heaters. It’s a safety device that shuts off the power to the elements if either thermostat fails to shut off. It must be manually reset to reactivate, and it is deliberately designed into the safety device to warn of a possible thermostat failure, which could result in an explosion. Most professionals suggest that, if the device has to be reset more than once, an unsafe condition exists and it requires servicing. The thermostats and high limit controls are not normally accessible without removing an access panel and, often, some insulation. If the electric power to the water heater is on, there is a risk in removing these access panels and accessing the thermostats. There are live electrical connections adjacent to the thermostats. Unless you are comfortable and skilled working with electricity, you should leave these access panels closed. The ASHI Standard does not require us to remove these panels during an inspection. These elements provide the heat and, for the most part, the water configuration is the same as on a gas or oil system. Cold water is introduced near the bottom of the tank and hot water is drawn off near the top. The cold pipe may enter the top of the tank or the side of the tank near the bottom.
20
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Lower Element Comes on First When the tank is at rest, it will be filled with hot water. When a hot water faucet is turned on, hot water will be drawn off the top of the tank and cold water introduced at the bottom. This cold water near the bottom of the tank will activate the thermostat for the lower element. The lower element will turn on and heat the incoming cool water. The upper element will still be surrounded with hot water and will be satisfied. Upper Element Has Priority If we keep drawing off hot water, the tank will be filled with cool water because the lower heating element will not be able to warm the water quickly enough as it comes in and flows through. Eventually, all of the hot water will be drawn out of the tank and all the water will be cold. At this point, the thermostats for the upper and lower heating elements both will be calling for heat. The upper element has priority and it will shut off the lower element so that it can operate. As previously noted, only one element can work at a time. Hurry to Get Some Hot Water The upper element has priority because after the tank has run out of hot water, we want to prepare quickly for the next use of hot water. The upper element heats the water near the top of the tank first because it is the water that will be drawn off first. Once it heats the water in the top part of the tank, the thermostat will be satisfied and the upper element will shut off. The lower element now gets electricity and heats up the water in the lower two-thirds of the tank. If the upper thermostat never reaches the set temperature because of a burned-out upper element, the lower element will never become energized. The tank will remain cold. Lower Element Works More Under normal use, the lower element works more often than the upper element, although the upper element has priority. It would be helpful to let clients know whether both elements are in working order.
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Can’t Tell Whether One Element is Burned Out We can’t tell if one element is burned out without doing tests that go beyond the scope of the ASHI Standard inspection. Some helpful clues can be passed on to your client, however. It is common for two-element water heaters to work—but not very well—if the lower element is burned out. When this happens, only about one-third of the normally supplied hot water is produced. Water heater problems are not always related to the elements. Replacement of elements is not a big job and water heaters themselves are not terribly expensive.
Common Conditions Although there are many common conditions related to electric water heathers and gas or oil-fired heaters, for the most part, they are entirely different. Obviously, issues like fuel supply, burner, combustion air and venting systems are not the conditions that will cause concern.
Electrical Water Heaters
Common conditions that you will need to be aware of include the following: • Inoperative system (no hot water) • Inadequate capacity and recovery rate • Leaking • Rust • Damaged tank • Inadequate clearance from combustibles • Poor location • Low water pressure and flow • Noisy water heater • Temperature and pressure relief valve problems • Unstable or wobbly tank • Reversed hot or cold piping • Drain valve problems
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Electrical Water Heaters
Wiring In terms of electric water heater wiring, you should be able to recognize the following problems: • not on dedicated circuit • damaged • not well-secured • flexible conduit needed for mechanical protection • loose connections • open splices • too close to ducts, pipes, chimneys and others • too close to edge of studs or joists • in steel studs without protection • exposed on walls or ceilings • exposed in attics • undersized wire • improper color coding • abandoned wire
Home inspectors should be aware of the many issues concerning the electrical supplies to water heaters. The Electrical Module of ASHI@HOME training discusses issues such as wire size and type, fuses and breakers, quality of connections and support. We encourage you to review this module to learn more about addressing electrical issues related to water heaters. H For information about the ASHI@HOME 10-course training program, you can find more information on the ASHI website (http://www. homeinspector.org/ASHI-HOME-Training-System) or through Carson Dunlop (http://www.carsondunlop.com/Colleges/ASHI/) or call 800-268-7070, ext. 251.
22
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
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To help you “Keep on Truckin,” use ASHI’s benefit resources to drive your success down the road. ashi.org/members-only/member-benefits ASHI Reporter • April 2017 24 www.ASHI.org/Members-only/Member-Benefits
Why I Volunteer
Why I Volunteer By Paul Staron
I
was honored and very humbled to receive ASHI’s John E. Cox Award for outstanding contributions to a chapter at ASHI’s InspectionWorld® in January. This recognition caused me to pause and take a look at why I volunteer, so I wanted to share with you the reasons why I take time away from my business, my family and myself to give back to our profession. All of us, somehow, have found ourselves in the profession of home inspection. (Or maybe the profession found us?) I’ve still never met anyone who says that they dreamed of being a home inspector when they were growing up, but we all eventually found this profession. And a noble profession it is. We have the privilege of using our knowledge and skills to help people with one of the largest purchases of their life. We help them find the right home where they will live, perhaps raise a family or mark a new chapter in their life. We matter. And our profession matters. Additionally, I believe one of the reasons we are here on this earth is to help people. We help people when we inspect, we help people when we volunteer in our community and we help people when we volunteer for ASHI.
During this year’s IW, I was reminded of some of my inspirations and what helped to drive my passion for making ASHI and my chosen profession better. Almost 20 years ago, I volunteered to serve on my first national committee, Public Relations. Ron Passaro from Connecticut also was a member of that committee. Ron is so passionate about our profession that, in 1976, he founded ASHI. His vision of bringing our profession together to form the ASHI Standard of Practice and to share experiences are the cornerstones of ASHI to this day. It was great to see Ron at IW this year and I hope that he continues to attend IW for many years to come. We should all thank him, as ASHI may not have been formed without him. During the recent ASHI Board of Directors meeting, I was reminded of the passion of our current leadership, of which I’d like to recognize a few: Jim Funkhouser, who helped energize the Council of Representatives; Don Lovering, who tirelessly gives back to our profession and is now serving as ASHI Treasurer; and Tom Lauhon, who serves as chair of the Standards Committee and was honored with ASHI’s Ironman Award. There is so much strength in our leadership, even with our diverse personality types. Director Bruce Barker, a self-proclaimed “extreme introvert,” was honored with ASHI’s President’s Award and has done an amazing job to further our profession. Incoming Board Member Bryck Guibor has been a tremendous inspiration to me because of his work in Arizona and nationally.
So, how about you? How do you give back? We all face the challenge of time management, and it is easy to become preoccupied with our business and the next inspection. There is no doubt that my volunteer efforts have cost me a few inspections over the years. But there is also no doubt that my volunteer efforts have added greatly to my business success. The maxim “the more you give, the more you receive” rings true. In direct and often indirect ways, my business and my life have benefited greatly from the volunteer work I’ve done, the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve shared.
I encourage you to join your local ASHI chapter if you’re not already a member. Ask the chapter president how you can help. Start with a couple small tasks and start making a difference. Many hands make the load lighter and I believe ASHI’s primary strength is in the quality of the individuals who call themselves ASHI members. H Paul Staron has been inspecting since 1994 and is president of Valley Building Inspections in Scottsdale, AZ. He has served as chair of the ASHI Public Relations Committee (2005-2006) and as a member of the ASHI Board of Directors (2008-2010). In 2010, Paul received ASHI’s Ironman Award. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (2011-2017).
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Chapter Spotlight Great Plains ASHI inspectors attended a chapter meeting and education seminar to sharpen skills at Anthony’s HVAC & PLUMBING in Kansas City.
26
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
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Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors
Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors
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The National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) is developed and maintained by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). This board has received many requests over the years for a study guide to assist those taking the NHIE. This study guide, and the associated NHIE Home Inspection Manual, were developed to address this need.
Please submit your proposals for consideration.
The NHIE Home Inspection Manual addresses the technical aspects of the NHIE. This NHIE Study Guide addresses the non-technical aspects. Many come to the home inspection profession as a second or a third career, and may not have taken a professional entrance exam for many years, if ever. This study guide helps to familiarize the candidate with the examination itself, and with the associated administrative procedures. It also includes helpful insights into the types of questions the exam contains, and techniques for success. ISBN 978-0-9964518-1-9
Locate the form under the Education tab on:
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Deadline for submissions is 3/15/17.
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The National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) is devel oped and maintained by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). This board has received many requests over the years for a study guide to assist those taking the NHIE. This manual, and the associated NHIE Study Guide, were developed to address this need.
NHIE Study Guide
This NHIE Home Inspection Manual is based on the most recent Role Delineation Study (RDS). This study surveys thousands of home inspectors in order to determine the services they provide, and the components they inspect. The questions in the NHIE are derived directly from this survey, Exam Administration and constitute the knowledge base for an entry level home inspector. This manual is the Content first of its kind to follow this Exam Outline format. It also informs the candidate about the knowledge base behind the current examination questions, and proHow to Take an Exam vides a technical reference for the experienced home inspector. $98.50
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NORTH CENTRAL ASHI Central PA
www.ashicentralpa.com Second Monday, 6 pm, except Jan. & July, Hoss’s Steakhouse 1151 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, PA Kevin Kenny, 717-226-3066 info@midpennhomeinspections.com
Keystone (PA)
www.keystoneashi.org First Monday, 5:30 pm The Crowne Plaza, Reading David Artigliere, 610-220-1907 artihi@gmail.com
Ohio
www.ohioashi.com Howard Snyder, 330-929-5239 ohashi@neo.rr.com
North Central Ohio
www.ncohioashi.com William Stone, 216-308-9663 wstonehomeinspection@gmail.com
Pocono-Lehigh (PA)
www.pocono-lehighashi.org Third Tuesday, Tannersville Inn, Tannersville Ronald Crescente, 570-646-7546 amerispec@pa.metrocast.net
PRO-ASHI (PA)
www.proashi.com Second Wednesday of Jan., March, May, July & Nov. Ray Fonos, 412-461-8273 southpittsburgh@hometeam.com
Tri-State (DE, NJ, PA)
www.tristateashi.org Second Tuesday except April, Aug. & Dec., Dave & Buster’s Plymouth Meeting, PA Peter Muehlbronner, 215-852-7319, peter@ahiconsulting.com
MIDWEST Central Illinois
www.cicashi.com Second Monday, 6 pm Kevan Zinn, 309-262-5006 info@inspectwithzinn.com
Great Lakes (IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, OH, WI) For monthly meetings: www.greatinspectors.com/ schedule-of-events/ Carol Case, 734-284-4501 carol@greatinspectors.com
Greater Omaha (NE)
www.ashiomaha.com Jon Vacha, 402-660-6935 jon@hsinspections.com
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Heartland (IA, MN, ND, SD, WI) www.ashiheartland.org Reuben Saltzman, 612-205-5600 reuben@ashiheartland.org
Indiana ASHI
www.inashi.com Quarterly Danny Maynard, 317-319-7209 danny@inspectinc.net
Iowa ASHI
www.iowaashichapter.org Fourth Tuesday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Clarion Inn, Cedar Rapids Craig Chmelicek, 319-389-7379 elitehomeandradon@gmail.com
Kentuckiana (IN, KY)
www.ashikentuckiana.org Allan Davis, 502-648-9294 elitehomeinspections@ insightbb.com
Mid-Missouri
www.midmoashi.com Second Thursday, 12:00 pm, even months of the year; Columbia Board of Realtors office: 2309 I-70 Drive NW, Columbia, MO Mark Kelsey, 573-356-5305 mark@ inspectcolumbia.com
Northern Illinois
www.nicashi.com Second Wednesday (except Dec.) 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm Crazypour, 105 E. North Ave., Villa Park, IL Jeremy Meek, 630-854-2454 jeremy@discoveryinspector.com
OHIO SOUTH ASHI Meeting: Last Sat. every month, noon @ Frickers, North College Hill, Ohio P.O. BOX 532197 Cincinnati, Ohio 45252 Chris Green, 513-939-4036 Email president@ohsoashi.com
SOUTH MIDWEST Arkansas Lonnie Moore, 479-530-5792 mhinsp@cox.net
Great Plains (KS, MO)
www.ashikc.org Second Wednesday of even months The Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas City Doug Hord, 816-215-2329 doug@firstchoice.com
Midwest PRO ASHI (KS) David Mason, 316-393-2152 david@allprohomeinspec.com
St. Louis (MO)
www.stlashi.org Second Tuesday, 6:30 pm 4355 Westhampton Place Ct. Frank Copanas, 314-456-0783 Acropolis-inspection@live.com
MOUNTAIN Arizona
www.azashi.org Bryck Guibor, 520-419-1313 bryck@msn.com Quarterly education on azashi.org
New Mexico
www.ashinm.org 2nd Saturday of every other uneven month (January-March-Etc.) Albuquerque - Mimi’s Cafe, 8:30am Except for November - Santa Fe Lance Ellis, 505-977-3915 lellis@amerispce.net
Northern Rockies (ID, MT) Steve Jenicek, 406-949-6461 Steve@taskmasterinspections.com Secretary: Kelly Campeau 877-749-2225 Kelly@inspectormt.com
Rocky Mountain Fourth Tuesday, 6:30 pm Brian Murphy, 303-791-7824 brian@murphyinspection.com
Southern Colorado
www.ashi-southerncolorado.org Second Thursday, 6:30 pm Valley Hi Golf Club, Colo. Springs Daniel Noteboom, 719-332-9660 Dan@KeyInspectionServices.net
Utah
www.ashiutah.com First Tuesday, 7 pm Marie Callender’s, Midvale Fred Larsen, 801-201-9583 Fred.larsen@pillartopost.com
PACIFIC Alaska Meeting dates: Jan. 1, March 1, Aug. 1, Nov .1 Location varies each meeting David Mortensen, 907-243-4476 dave@discoveryinspect.com
ASHI Hawaii
www.ashihawaii.com Alex Woodbury, 808-322-5174 Woodburya001@hawaii.rr.com
California Randy Pierson, 310-265-0833 randy@southbayinspector.com
Central Valley CREIA-ASHI Peter Boyd, 530-673-5800 Boyd.p@comcast.net
Golden Gate (CA)
www.ggashi.com John Fryer, 510-682-4908 johnfryer@gmail.com
Inland Northwest (ID, WA) Chris Munro, 208-290-2472 chris@peakinspections.net
Orange County CREIA-ASHI (CA) www.creia.org/orange-countychapter Third Monday, 5:30 pm Hometown Buffet 2321 S. Bristol, Santa Ana Bill Bryan, 949-565-5904 bill@rsminspections.com
Oregon
www.oahi.org Fourth Tuesday, 6:30 pm 4534 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Portland Jay Hensley, 503-312-2105 jay@carsonconstruction.com
San Diego CREIA-ASHI First Tuesday each month Elijah’s Restaurant 7061 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard San Diego, CA 92111 Dennis Parra II, 619-232-1100
San Joaquin Valley (CA) Third Tuesday, 6 pm Rice Bowl, Bakersfield, CA Raymond Beasley, 661-805-5947 rbinspector@aol.com Mail: 3305 Colony Oak St. Bakersfield, CA 93311
Silicon Valley ASHI-CREIA (CA)
www.siliconvalleyinspector.com Skip Walker, 650-873-4224 homeinspection@sanbrunocable.com
Southwestern Idaho Second Monday David Reish, 208-941-5760 dave@antheminspections.com
Los Angeles-Greater San Gabriel Valley Second Tuesday, 6 pm Old Spaghetti Factory, Duarte Larry Habben, 714-685-0321 habbenshome@earthlink.net
Los Angeles-Ventura County ASHI-CREIA First Thursday, 5 pm Holiday Inn, Woodland Hills Bob Guyer, 805-501-0733 guyerinspections@roadrunner.com
South Bay (CA) Webinar meetings Randy Pierson, 310-265-0833 randy@southbayinspector.com
Western Washington
www.ashiww.com Chapter Meetings held at chapter seminars in March and September Karl Nueffer karl@G4inspections.com
NEW ENGLAND/CANADA British Columbia
www.hiabc.ca Sean Moss, 604-729-4261 sean@homeinspectorsean.com
CAHPI Atlantic
www.cahpi-alt.com Lawrence Englehart 902-403-2460 inspections@eastlink.ca
CAHPI Ontario
www.oahi.com Rob Cornish, 613-858-5000 robc@homexam.ca
Coastal Connecticut
www.coastalctashi.org Third Thursday, 6 pm, Westport VFW Lodge, 465 Riverside Avenue, Westport Gene Autore, 203-216-2516 gene.autore@gmail.com
New England (ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
www.ashinewengland.org Fourth Thursday, 5 pm The Lantana, Randoph, MA Michael Atwell, 617-630-5629 mike@jmhi.com
Northern New England (ME, MA, NH, VT)
www.nnec-ashi.org Tim Rooney, 603-770-0444 homeviewnh@comcast.net
Prairies (Alberta) (CAHI)
www.cahpi-ab.ca Chris Bottriell, 780-486-4412 api94@shaw.ca
Quebec AIBQ
www.aibq.qc.ca Pascal Baudaux, 450-629-2038 info@almoinspection.ca
Southern New England (CT) www.snecashi.org First Tuesdays, 6:30 pm Billy T’s, 150 Sebethe Dr. Cromwell, CT Richard W. Hall, 860-281-4238 rhall@usinspect.com
NEW YORK/JERSEY/ DELAWARE Capitol Region (NY)
www.goashi.com Third Thursday, 7 pm, Doratos Steakhouse and Pub, Guilderland Robert Davis, 518-885-7949 rdavis@home-inspection.com
Central New York
www.cnyashi.com Second Wednesday, 6 pm, Tony’s Family Restaurant, Syracuse Peter Apgar, 315-278-3143 peter@craftsmanhomeinspection. net
First State (DE)
www.firststateashi.org Third Wednesday, 7 pm The Buzz Ware Center 2121 The Highway, Arden Mark Desmond, 302-494-1294 mark@delvalleyhome.com
Garden State (NJ)
www.gardenstateashi.com Second Thursday, The Westwood, Garwood Bret Kaufmann, 973-377-4747 bretkaufmann@optonline.net
Greater Baltimore (MD)
www.greaterbaltimoreashi.org Third Thursday except July & Aug., 6:30 pm dinner, 7:00 pm speaker Maritime Institute Conference Center 5700 N. Hammonds Ferry Rd. Linthicum Heights, MD 21090 Andy Bauer, abauer@bpgwi.com
GULF ASHI South (AL)
www.ashisouth.org Quarterly, Homewood Library, Homewood John Knudsen, 334-221-0876 jgknudsen111@gmail.com
Florida Wiregrass
Greater Rochester (NY)
Second Thursday, 7 pm, Cypress Point Country Club, Virginia Beach Gregory Murphy, 757-535-4355 gmurphy@coastalinspect.com
www.ashiwiregrass.org Second Wednesday, 6:30 pm Meeting/Training Room in Lutz Nancy Janosz, 813-546-6090 ProTeamInsp@aol.com
MAC-ASHI (MD, VA)
Gulfcoast (FL) First Thursday, 7 pm, The Forest Country Club, Fort Myers Len Gluckstal, 239-432-0178 goldenrulehi@comcast.net
Hudson Valley (NY)
www.mac-ashi.com Second Wednesday, Rockville, 6 pm Senior Center, Rockville Mark Mostrom, 301-536-0096 pivotalinspections@comcast.net
NOVA-ASHI (MD, VA)
www.ashitexas.org Bud Rozell, 214-215-4961 goodhomeinspection@att.net
www.ashirochester.com Second Tuesday, 6 pm, Murph’s Irondequoit Pub, Irondequoit John White, 585-431-0067 john@iihomeinspections.com Second Tuesday, 6 pm Daddy O’s Restaurant, 3 Turner Street, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 Michael Skok, 845-592-1442 ashistatewide@yahoo.com
Long Island (NY)
www.liashi.com Third Monday, 6 pm, Domenico’s Restaurant, Levittown Steven Rosenbaum 516-361-0658 inspector@optonline.net
New York Metro
www.nyashi.com Last Thursday, 5pm Travelers Rest 25 Saw Mill River Road Ossining, NY 10562 Chris Long, 914-260-8571 pres@nyashi.com
Southern New Jersey (NJ) www.southernnjashi.com Third Wednesday, 6:30 pm Ramada Inn, Bordentown Rick Lobley, 609-208-9798 rick@doublecheckhi.com
Western New York Second Thursday, 6:30 pm Tony Rome’s, West Seneca Andy Utnik, 716-636-9676 esimail@aol.com
MID-ATLANTIC Central Virginia
www.cvashi.org Second Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Keegan’s Irish Pub 2251 Old Brick Road Glen Allen, VA 23060 John Cranor 804-873-8537 cranorinspectionservices @gmail.com
Hampton Roads (VA)
www.novaashi.com Fourth Tuesday, Associate hour 6-7 pm, Membership meeting 7-9 pm Northern Virginia Resources Center, Fairfax Tony Toth, 703-926-6213 tony_toth@msn.com
Piedmont ASHI (VA) Robert Huntley, 540-354-2135 rwhuntley@cox.net
SOUTH ATLANTIC ASHI Georgia
www.ashigeorgia.com Shannon Cory, 404-316-4876 shannon1943@comcast.net
East Tennessee
www.etashi.org Third Saturday of Feb., May, Aug. and Nov. Paul Perry, 866-522-7708 cio@frontiernet.net
Lone Star (TX)
Louisiana Quarterly Meetings Michael Burroughs 318-324-0661 Mburroughs2@comcast.net
Suncoast (FL)
www.ashisuncoast.com First Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Please see our website for meeting locations. Steve Acker, 727-712-3089 buyersally@gmail.com
Southwest Florida
www.swashi.com Serving Manatee, Sarasota & Charlotte Second Wednesday, 6 pm Holiday Inn, Lakewood Ranch 6321 Lake Osprey Drive, Sarasota Michael Conley, 941-778-2385 FLinspector@outlookcom
Mid-Tennessee Ray Baird, 615-516-5511 bairdr@comcast.net
Mid-South (TN) Steven Campbell, 901-734-0555 steve@memphisinspections.com
North Carolina
www.ncashi.com Third Wednesday, 3 pm, Quality Inn at Guilford Convention Center, Greensboro Andy Hilton, 336-682-2197 hiltonhomeinspection@gmail.com
South Carolina First Saturday of Feb., May, Aug. & Nov., 8 am Roger Herdt, 843-669-3757 herdtworks@msn.com
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TO SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS FOR MOVING UP, PLEASE CONTACT JANET GEORGE AT 847-954-3180 OR JANETG@ASHI.ORG
New ASHI Associates
H Cody Wojasinski Jacksonville, FL
As of February 1, 2017
H Denotes graduate of The ASHI School Alicia McCain
Dean Peterson
Wasilla, AK
Sun Chasers Home Inspection Services, LLC Palm Desert , CA
Randall Norris Salem, AL
Barry Oxley National Property Inspections Madison, AL
Steve Parks Spanish Fort, AL
Brian Garoutte Arkanite Home Inspections, LLC Bentonville, AR
Collin Chmielowiec A Basic Home Inspection Tucson, AZ
Brian Lang Buyers Protection Group - BPG Phoenix, AZ
Lori Sipple Insight Building Inspections, Inc. Morristown, AZ
Jerry Thielmann Scottsdale, AZ
Tom Pape Truestar Home Inspection Services Gibsons, BC
Shane Aust Quality Tile by Shane Clovis, CA
John D'Angelo A Thorough Home Inspection Company Berry Creek, CA
Ariel Guzman Kasim Inspections Santa Fe Springs, CA
John Hammond Hammond Inspection Services Yorba Linda, CA
Bill Lugar Lugar Inspection Services Torrance, CA
Thomas McCorkell Amerispec Inspection Servies Lake Forest, CA
August Mendieta HomeGuard Incorporated San Jose, CA
J. William Naish Ramona, CA
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MEMBER
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Rob Rose Norwalk, CA
Michael Slayton Makena Property Inspection, Inc. Glendora, CA
Greg Brown Black Diamond Inspections Delta, CO
John Fanch Safe Haven Inspections, Inc Arvada, CO
James Hale Journey Inspections Colorado Springs, CO
Jerrod McClure All In One Home Inspections Colorado Springs, CO
Johnny Rivera Rivera Home Inspection Fort Morgan, CO
Matthew Robinette Bonafide Home Inspections, LLC Littleton, CO
Jason Santostefano Choice City Home Inspections, LLC Fort Collins, CO
Merlin Smith Total Home By Smith Steamboat Springs, CO
Kevin Wagstaff Spectora Denver, CO
Andy Hartman Meriden, CT
Thedius Burden B-Rite Inspection Company Columbus, GA
Joseph Daniel JLC Enterprises, LLC Jasper, GA
Mike Darnell Kingston, GA
Dusty Hobbs The BrickKicker Statham, GA
Michael Johnson Absolute Home Inspection Service, LLC Jonesboro, GA
David Lands Lands Home Inspections Dalton, GA
Ian Rhinehart Noble Fox Home Inspections Eagle, ID
Cody Sinclair Sinclair Property Inspections Coeur d'Alene, ID
Julie Walker Walker's Home Inspection Boise, ID
Dustin Weed Vargas Inspections Pros (VIP) Coeur d'Alene, ID
Anthony Darr Godfrey, IL
Pillar to Post Home Inspectors Johns Creek, GA
Steve Doyle
Douglas Schreiber
H John Burns
Harrell Home Inspection Norcross, GA
Sydney Trail Omega Pointe Holdings aka OPH Home Inspector Lithia Springs, GA
Billy Wood All View Home Inspections Gainesville, GA
Justin Dotson
Doyle Home Inspections Aurora, IL US Inspect Greenwood, IN
David Powell Pillar to Post Home Inspectors New Albany, IN
Andrew Stevens Lebanon, IN
H Kelly Conway Topeka, KS
Lawrence Waligora
Randy Maynard
Preferred Property Inspections, LLC Brighton, MI
Pillar to Post Home Inspectors Eureka, MO
William Bisek
David Taylor
Inspect-It 1st, Andover Andover, MN
JP Inspection Services Catawissa, MO
Jonah Carlstrom
Dustin Bauch
Homesight Inspections Ham Lake, MN
Level Lines Construction, Inc. East Helena, MT
Todd Devine Devine Inspections St. Louis Park, MN
Zach Gustafson Elk River, MN
John Mika Minnesota Inspections, LLC Independence, MN
Andrew Morse A Morse Inspections Roseville, MN
Marcus Pennington Pennington Home Inspections Newport, MN
James Peterson Peace Of Mind Home Inspections, LLC Maple Grove, MN
Kirk Robideau Robideau Home Services Ramsey, MN
Nicholas Sartell Young America, MN
Mark Cannon
Michael Code 406 Pro Inspections Bozeman, MT
William (Bo) Curry Highland Home Inspections, LLC Missoula, MT
Justin Kirkbride WIN Home Inspection Five Hamilton, MT
Gary Cook At Ease Home Inspection Services, LLC Troutman, NC
Tim Trickel Riverbend Home Inspections, LLC Durham, NC
Robert Grohowski Home Standards Inspection Services Omaha, NE
Paul Pachunka
First Action Home Buyers Festus, MO
Home Standards Inspection Services Omaha, NE
True Sight Inspections Honolulu, HI
Patrick Gordon Topeka, KS
Daniel Davenport
Harold Fuller
Kevin Cordray
Larry Hickok
Iowa Home & Property Inspection, LLC Humboldt, IA
Wichita, KS
BPG Inspections Kirkwood, MO
Mark Meirowsky
Kyle DeRodes
New England ProSpect Property Inspections Newmarket, NH
William Farber Farber Home Inspections Bettendorf, IA
Christopher Stratton
Port Charlotte, FL
Megan Keith
Phillip Beggs
Certified Property Inspections, LLC Port Saint Lucie, FL
True North Inspection Services Coeur d'Alene, ID
William Radcliffe
Geff Blecha
First Consulting & Technical Services Molino, FL
Black Diamond Home Inspections Boise, ID
Jim Schweitzer
Tony Gunnerson
WIN Home Inspection Clermont Clermont, FL
Peace of Mind Home Inspections, LLC St. Maries, ID
Eric McCoy
Mescher Home Inspections Waukee, IA
David DuBosque
John "Doc" Millikin
Attentive Home Inspections Star, ID
Better Call Mark, LLC Wichita, KS
Kenneth Richardson Derby, KS
Todd Davis Solution Recon Andover, MA
Eric Salus Fermata Home Services South Hadley, MA
Dave Johnson PSI (Professional Home Inspections) Starks, ME
Louis Smith Home Facts Inspection Services Grand Rapids, MI
Home Detective Property Inspections Kansas City, MO
John Heavisides
James Dick
Kaiser Home Inspector Kingston, NH
Turn Key Home Inspection Lake St. Louis, MO
Jeffrey Green Accurate Inspections, LLC California, MO
Dave Gress Mirowski Inspections Springfield, MO
Tim Lappe TWL Inspection Services, LLC Perryville, MO
Pete Lombardo Lombardo & Sons St. Louis, MO
Manchester, NH
Kip Kaiser
Raymond Banjany Rest Assured Home Inspectors Hazlet, NJ
Mike Bugge Record Home Inspections Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Eric Koch Northern Home Inspection Montague, NJ
Kyle Kudelin McFauld's Inspection Consultants Toms River, NJ
SEE PAGE 32 FOR CHAPTER EDUCATION.
Francisco Gonzalez
Chris Heldman
Daniel Romeo
Corey Jones
Ascending Home Inspections North Las Vegas, NV
Berning + Associates, Inc. dba The Brickkicker Columbus, OH
Romeo Home Inspection, Inc. New Wilmington, PA
FireProof Home Inspections S. Chesterfield, VA
Jaime Ackerman
Thomas Huston
H Paul Spatz
Shane McClung
Valley Stream, NY
Trenton, OH
New Tripoli, PA
Timothy Canniff
Joshua Lafferty
Dale Miner
Longs GCS Corp. Home Inspections Mohegan Lake, NY
Berning + Associates, Inc. dba The Brickkicker Columbus, OH
Dale Miner Home Inspections Cookshire-Eaton, PQ
A Safe Home Inspection, LLC Alexandria, VA
Allison Chan
Chris Matthews
Stuart Malamut
Valley Stream, NY
Procheck Engineering Columbus, OH
Housemaster Home Inspections Greenville, SC
H Tony Singleton
Cincinnati, OH
Van Pinckney
Michael Montgomery
Homescope Inspections, LLC Simpsonville, SC
Blue Horizon Home Inspections, LLC Leesburg, VA
Kenneth Formicola Legacy Inspection & Contracting Hopewell Junction, NY
Richard Hughes RH Inspections, Inc. Massapequa, NY
Christopher Long Longs GCS Corp. Home Inspections Mohegan Lake, NY
Jason Long Longs GCS Corp. Home Inspections Mohegan Lake, NY
Jesse McCabe McCabe Inspections, LLC Buffalo, NY
Julio Ordonez
Steve Meyer
BPG Cincinnati, OH
H Kristen Reiter Assured Inspection Services, LLC Findlay, OH
Andy Tabler
Muhammad Shaikh
Certified Inspections, PC Crossville, TN
Zach Brown Tabor Northwest Contracting, LLC Portland, OR
Paul Dunn
Ryan Thomas
P. Dunn Construction Boring, OR
Rick Aspinwall Doylestown, PA
Ron Buxton
Wilredo Baez
On Point Inspection Service Oregonia, OH
Pillar to Post Croydon, PA
Bill Davis
Stonewall Contracting & Consulting Philadelphia , PA
Pro Check Engineering, Inc. Columbus, OH
Darrell Freshour Darrell's Home Inspections Dayton, OH
Phillip Harford Unique Neo Home Inspection and Consulting Mentor, OH
Lebanon, TN
John Wingoj
Elmont, NY Good Neighbor Home Inspections Buffalo, NY
Cramer Home Inspection Group Barnet, VT
New Seasons Home Inspection, LLC North Canton, OH
Ability Home Inspections, LLC Broken Arrow, OK
All Around Property Inspections Camillus, NY
Thomas Galinat
Cardinal Rule Inspections Greenbrier, TN
Prohab Home Inspections Bronx, NY
Paul Janaitis
Alexander Laughlin
Kenneth Prouty
Tamill Acker Acker Home Inspections Little Elm, TX
Don Crook Accurate Inspections Wichita Falls, TX
Mark Koeppen MBK Inspections Canyon Lake, TX
Philip Lovello Assurance Home Inspections, PLLC Austin, TX
Billy Murphy Murphy Inspection Services Spring, TX
Dutton Smith HomeSmith Services, LLC Middlebury, VT
Christopher Honingford On The Spot Inspection Seattle, WA
Kris Kent Residential Network Kent, WA
Chris Robison Clarity Inspections, LLC Vashon, WA
Duncan Spence Pillar to Post Edmonds, WA
Kathleen Walsh Reality Home Inspection Seattle, WA
Russell Winters
James Ramirez
Christopher Beard Beards Home Inspection, LLC McLean, VA
Brian Jenkins
As of February 1, 2017
Margaret Monprode
INSPECTOR Kevin Lantaff
Buyer’s Inspection Group Greenville, SC
Aaron Bailey Bailey’s Property Inspection Ashland, VA
Michael Luber At Home Inspections, LLC Potomac, MD
Aaron Houlne Covered Bridge Professional Home Inspections, LLC Campton, NH
Discoveries Home Services Commerce City, CO
Jarrett Ziegler Potomac Home Inspections Sterling, VA
Vincent Lee Top to Bottom Home Inspections Jackson, NJ
Troy Allen ProSpect Property Inspections Stratham, NH
New ASHI Certified Home Inspectors As of February 1, 2017
Timothy Hollis
Nicholas Stanisic
New Day Resources LLC Florence, AL
Coastal Home Inspections Silver Spring, MD
Jeff Walsh
Jim Powlesland
Long River Inspections Fairfield, CT
Spot-On Home Inspections Ltd. Calgary, AB
Daniel Hagman ProSite Home Inspections, LLC Pleasant Hill, IA
Steven Spoon iLook Home Inspection Co. Gladstone, MO
Ed Snope
Anthony Kelly ProSpect Inspection Services, LLC McLean, VA
Eric Meyer Marell Inspection Services, Inc. Oakland, CA
ATLAS Home Inspection Arlington, VA
H Cortney Willert Issaquah, WA
Mark Levinstein
Assured Property Inspection Reading, PA
1st Choice Home Inspection Hinesburg, VT
Lake Area Home Inspections Enchanted Oaks, TX AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service Spring, TX
Ronald Natale
Greg Kelsey
Shawn Phares
Eagle Home Inspections Turtle Creek, PA Dover, PA
Patrick Woodward
DILIGENT Nashville, TN
Stephen Pentecost
Ross Freeman
Tim Wiley
Kyle Monroe
Allie Wims
Ruben Perez
Midlothian, VA
Reality Check Indian Land, SC
H Rick Murray
Win Home Inspections, LLC Johnstown, OH
Cape Henry Insp. Svc. Virginia Beach, VA
Truss Home Inspection Services, LLC Fredericksburg, VA
ARS Inspections Zanesville, OH
Tell All Home Inspections Middletown, NY
Barry Rinaldi
James Willig
H John Sawyer
New ASHI Inspectors
VanPort Property Inspection, LLC Vancouver, WA
H Wally Czuprynko Wisconsin Inspection Consultants Lake Delton, WI
Darren Taylor Advanced Property Inspection Pleasant Prairie, WI
Middletown, VA
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ASHI Chapter Education North Central Ohio ASHI When: April 13, 2017, 6pm-9pm Where: Independence Library 6361 Selig Blvd. Independence, OH 44131 Topics: Forced Air Furnaces Speaker: Mike Nolan, licensed HVAC Contractor CEUs 3 ASHI CEs Contact: Paul Wancata, inspectionsunlimited@ cox.net
Northern New England ASHI Spring Event When: April 20, 2017, 8:30am-4pm Where: The Yard House Restaurant 1211 South Mammoth Road Manchester, WA 03109 Topics: Wood-destroying Insects, Proper Identification of Termites and Other Wood-destroying Insects, Pest Identification and Assessment Speakers: Scott Posocco, Kevin Moran & Galvin Murphy CEUs 7 ASHI CEs Contact: nnec.ashi.2016@gmail.com
Los Angeles/Ventura County ASHI Event When: April 26, 2017 Where: So. California Edison Energy Educational Center 6090 N. Irwindale Ave. Irwindale, CA 91702 Topics: Grounding and Bonding CEUs 7 ASHI CEs Contact: Bob Guyer, guyerinspections @roadrunner.com
SUNTECH 2017 Conference Suncoast ASHI Chapter When: Where: Topics:
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May 5-6, 2017 Hampton Inn 4017 Tampa Road Oldsmar, FL 34677 Crawl Space, Foundations, Electrical Code Change, Infrared Testing, Mold, Lightning Restoration and more
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Speakers: Mike Cramer, Scott DeMalteris, Sean Wise, Christopher Casey, Will Spates, Tim Toburen, Tom Miller CEUs 14 ASHI CEs Contact: Kevin Koplar, inspector@koplar.net More info in their article on Page 37
ASHI’s Recruit-aMember Program
MAC ASHI Educational Event When: May 6, 2017 Where: Johns Hopkins University Rockville, MD 20850 Topics: Main and Sub-panel Issues, Inspecting the Exterior Envelope Speakers: Steve Thomas, Mark Parlee CEUs 8 ASHI CEs Contact: Avi Levy, avilevyllc@gmail.com
Los Angeles/Ventura County & San Diego Thermography Event When: May 23-26, 2017, 8am-5pm Where: Downey Association of Relators Training Room 12073 Paramount Blvd. Downey, CA 90242 Topics: Level-1 Thermography ITC Certification Program Presenter: Bill Fabian, Monroe Infrared CEUs 32 ASHI CEs Contact: Bob Guyer, guyerinspections @roadrunner.com
IMPORTANT REPORTER DEADLINES: • JUNE ISSUE - 4/15/17 • JULY ISSUE - 5/15/17 • AUGUST ISSUE - 6/15/17 • SEPTEMBER ISSUE - 7/15/17 • OCTOBER ISSUE - 8/15/17 The Reporter is produced 6-8 weeks ahead of the week it arrives in your mailbox.
HELP ASHI GROW & Earn $50 in Gift Cards
( Who knows best how to sell ASHI membership? YOU!
Who deserves to be rewarded for helping ASHI grow? YOU!
Earn $50 in gift cards for every new member you recruit. Download the Membership Application form, have the new member fill it out (including his/her member number in the referral field) scan and email it to: russelld@ashi.org or fax to 847-759-1620. Questions? Contact Russell Daniels, russelld@ashi.org.
33April 2017
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ASHI Membership FAQs By Russell K. Daniels, ASHI Assistant Executive Director and Director of Membership Services & Chapter Relations, russelld@ashi.org
You already know that ASHI provides many excellent benefits. But do you know how to find out the answers to any questions you might have about accessing those benefits? Below are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding ASHI membership. Our goal is to ensure that nothing stops you or slows you down on your path to access everything ASHI has to offer. What if I don’t have or remember my member ID number? Contact ASHI Membership Services (847-759-2820, email hq@ashi.org) so that a representative can assist you.
What are the differences among the levels of ASHI membership: Associate, Inspector and Certified Inspector? ASHI Associates Inspectors in this category have done the following:
What if I forget my password? Go to the ASHI website (www.ashi.org), click on the Member Login button in the upper-right corner of the website, enter your email address and select “forgot password.” You’ll receive a message that your password has been reset and you’ll be prompted to create a new, personalized password. If you need more guidance, call Membership Services (847-759-2820).
Where should I display my ASHI Member number? Your unique ASHI Member number appears on your ASHI badge. In addition, we suggest that you put your ASHI Member number (along with the ASHI logo) on your business cards, your website and your inspection reports.
MEMBER
• passed the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics module (found on the ASHI Online Learning Center, http://www.softconference.com/ashi/sessionDetail.asp?SID=372613) • agreed to follow the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics »» Each year, ASHI Associates are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education. »» ASHI Associates are allowed to use the ASHI black or blue logo with the word MEMBER underneath the logo.
How do I update my mailing address and contact information?
ASHI Inspectors
Visit the ASHI website, log on with your member number and password and choose the Members-Only tab. From the drop-down menu, select “My Membership” and then choose “Membership Profile” to update your information. Be sure to save your changes (using the button at the bottom of the page) when you’ve completed your updates.
• passed the National Home Inspector Examination (http://homeinspectionexam.org/) or a valid state INSPECTOR examination approved by the Membership Committee and the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics module (found on the ASHI Online Learning Center, http://www.softconference.com/ashi/sessionDetail. asp?SID=372613)
When will my membership expire?
• had inspection reports successfully verified for compliance with the ASHI Standard of Practice
Your membership will expire 12 months from the end of the month in which your membership was processed. Example: If your membership was processed 9/30/2016, then your membership will expire 9/30/2017. Here’s how to renew your membership on the ASHI website: Scroll to the bottom of the main page and select the box labeled “Click here to pay your dues.” Then, just follow the prompts.
How do I advance to the next membership level in ASHI? To learn how to advance to the next level of ASHI membership, log on to the ASHI website. Under the Members-Only tab, select and read the section “How to move up in ASHI.”
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• joined ASHI and may be new to the inspection profession or may be a seasoned inspector who has not yet completed ASHI’s requirements to move up in membership
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Inspectors in this category have done the following:
• submitted a valid list of performance of at least 75 fee-paid home inspections that meet or exceed the ASHI Standard of Practice • returned to ASHI an authorized, notarized affidavit, validating at least 75 inspections • agreed to follow the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics »» Each year, ASHI Inspectors are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education. »» ASHI Inspectors are allowed to use the ASHI black or blue logo with the word INSPECTOR underneath the logo.
ASHI Certified Inspectors Inspectors in this category have done the following: • passed the National Home Inspector Examination (http://homeinspectionexam.org/) or a valid state examination approved by the Membership Committee and the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics module (found on the ASHI Online Learning Center, http://www.softconference.com/ashi/sessionDetail.asp?SID=372613) • had inspection reports successfully verified for compliance with the ASHI Standard of Practice • submitted a valid list of performance of at least 250 fee-paid home inspections that meet or exceed the ASHI Standard of Practice • returned to ASHI an authorized, notarized affidavit, validating at least 250 inspections • agreed to follow the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics
My company paid my ASHI membership fee. What happens if I leave my job? If you were an employee of a multi-inspector firm, but have left the company, you are responsible for paying your dues to keep your ASHI membership active.
What if I lose my membership card? Send an email to hq@ashi.org to request a new membership card; it will be sent to you within five business days.
If you have any questions about your ASHI membership not listed here, please visit the ASHI website or contact Membership Services (847-759-2820 or email hq@ashi.org) so that a representative can assist you. H
»» Each year, ASHI Certified Inspectors are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education. »» ASHI Certified Inspectors are allowed to use the ASHI gold Certified logo with the word CERTIFIED INSPECTOR underneath the logo.
Bylaws Vote This Spring By Brendan Ryan, Bylaws Chair
This spring, several bylaw issues will be presented to the ASHI membership for their approval. The rules regarding bylaw changes require a high level of member responses in order to be considered valid, so be on the lookout for the ballot. The time needed to respond is just a few minutes; please take that time to respond the first time you see the ballot. The issues to be presented include the following:
1.
Bylaw Section 5.5 to update the number of directors to four, reflecting the change in the reduction of the size of the Board. (Housekeeping)
2. Bylaw Section 5.6.3 to update the means by which ASHI and the Council may perform business communication from fax to include electronic means. (Housekeeping)
3. Bylaw Section 8.2 to better reflect the current process by which Committee Chairs are selected by the President-Elect.
4. Bylaw Section 8.2.7 to change the structure of the Certification Committee to include terms of three years to provide more continuity in the completion of projects.
5. Bylaw Article 11 to clarify the process by which Bylaw Amendments may be proposed (Housekeeping). This includes the addition of General Provision 10.8, allowing housekeeping changes to be made at the Board level.
Look for your ballet via email in mid-April!
BE INVOLVED! 35April 2017
• www.ASHIReporter.org
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FREE ASHI Member access to past IW sessions.
CURRENT ASHI MEMBERSHIP
1. Go to www.ASHI.org
ASHI Certified Inspectors: 3,460
2. Under Education & Training
Inspectors/Logo: 221 Associates: 4,179 Retired Members: 102 Affiliates: 82
3. Click on:
ASHI ONLINE LEARNING CENTER
Total: 8,044 Members as of 3/3/2017
ASHI MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT PROGRAMS ASHI-ENDORSED PROGRAMS ASHI’s E&O Insurance Program: Target Professional Programs www.targetproins.com 860-899-1862 ASHI Personal Lines Insurance Program: Liberty Mutual www.libertymutual.com/ashi ASHI’s Protecting Home Inspectors From Meritless Claims Program: Joe Ferry – The Home Inspector Lawyer 855-MERITLESS (637-4853) contact@joeferry.com www.joeferry.com/ashi ASHI Service Program BuildFax Tricia Julian, 877-600-BFAX x161 TJulian@BuildFax.com www.buildfax.com http://go.buildfax.com/ASHI ASHI Customer Appreciation Program: Moverthankyou.com Brent Skidmore, 864-386-2763 www.moverthankyou.com Brent@POWRsoft.com HomeAdvisor.com Brett Symes, 913-529-2683 www.homeadvisor.com ashi@homeadvisor.com LegalShield Joan Buckner, 505-821-3971 buckner.legalshieldassociate.com buckner@legalshieldassociate.com InspectionContracts.com Dave Goldstein, 800-882-6242 www.inspectioncontracts.com david@inspectoreducation.com
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
April Anni versa ries
OneSource Solutions 877-274-8632 www.osconnects.com/ashi/ Porch.com Eliab Sisay, 206-218-3920 www.porch.com Eliab@porch.com ASHI Rebate Program Quill.com Dana Fishman, 800-634-0320 x1417 www.quill.com/ashi dana.fishman@quill.com ASHI-ENDORSED EXAMS ASHI Standard and Ethics Education Module Go to www.homeinspector.org, click on Education and Training, then click on the link for the ASHI Standard of Practice Education Module. NHIE Exam: 847-298-7750 www.homeinspectionexam.org ASHI-ENDORSED TRAINING PROGRAMS ASHI@Home Training System 800-268-7070 education@carsondunlop.com The ASHI School Bonnie Bruno, 888-884-0440 Bonnie@theashischool.com www.TheASHISchool.com PLATINUM PROVIDER Millionaire Inspector Community Mike Crow www.mikecrow.com dreamtime@mikecrow.com Mention that you are an ASHI member.
Thirty Years
Ten Years
C. Dwight Barnett Robert Becker Charles Wiersum
Terry Boring Tommy Donovan Bryan Freeman Earl Horn David Liesveld Guy McKinney Leon Vogel
Twenty-five Years Richard Graf Jerry Meisel Craig Olsen Thomas Sansone
Twenty Years Joe Arcaro Robert Case Scott Kaylor Scott Molander Bryan Rose Daren Subler John Whitehead
Fifteen Years Michael Doetsch Daniel Draime Ken Flaville, Jr. James Frascatore James Hawthorne Vince Johnson David Kaiser Patrick Knight Dennis Monk Tom Oliver David Shevel Gregory Simon Nicholas Tomasetti Jacob Troost
Five Years John Buckley Bryan Byrne Sean Corbett Kyle Greathouse Thomas Herbst Naoki Hirabayashi Forrest Kennedy Frank Kishel Wesley Mast Nicholas Minderman Thomas Mitchell Karl Neuffer Welmoed Sisson Terra Snyder Robert Stanford Jim White Steven Wisenbaugh
The ASHI Suncoast Chapter Invites you to Join us at SUNTECH 2017
The ASHI Suncoast Chapter Invites you to Join us at SUNTECH 2017
T
he ASHI Suncoast Chapter has been a fixture in the Tampa Bay market for over 25 years and Suntech has been around almost as long. The chapter has always stressed education of its members to stay ahead of our competitors, keep us informed and keep us safe. The chapter saw a need that, in addition to the chapter meetings, a larger event, Suntech, was needed to gather our local inspectors and inspectors from around the region for continuing education and AHSI commeraderee. We have drawn inspectors from all corners and coasts of Florida, some from Georgia, and we even had one fellow attend from the US Virgin Islands.
Tom Miller with Structural Engineering and Inspections: Truss Bracing and Other Truss Issues
The 2017 Suntech event will be held May 5 & 6, 2017, at the Hampton Inn, 4017 Tampa Road Oldsmar, Florida 34677 (across the street from last years event). There will be a special rate for our out-of-town guests. Details, pricing and application forms can be found at our website, www.ashisuncoast.com Sign up early; seating is limited. The event fee will include the education, morning snacks and beverages, and lunch each day. Everyone is welcome to the hospitality room after the presentations at the end of each day to continue the conversations. H
Our Suntech event is held over two days, and is packed with speakers providing participants with valuable information, cutting edge technology and the basics of various topics. One of the most valuable parts of the event is the interaction with other ASHI inspectors. You cannot get this with online education. This year, we are expecting at least 14 ASHI MRCs and 8 hours approved for the State of Florida licensing. Our anticipated lineup for this year is: Mark Cramer: Crawl Spaces, Major Foundation Failures and Low-sloped Roofing Scott DeMalteris with Lightning Restoration: Property Disaster Prevention Sean Wise with Theta Electric: Electrical Code Changes Christopher Casey with Monroe Infrared: Introduction to Infrared Testing for Home Inspectors Will Spates & Tim Toburen with Indoor Environmental Technologies: Mold During Construction 37April 2017
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Commercial Inspection: Taking Your Home Inspection Business to the Next Level
Commercial Inspection: Taking Your Home Inspection Business to the Next Level By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070
A
s the home inspection industry continues to develop, with more individuals entering this great profession, many inspectors are investigating different avenues for revenue and company growth. To make your services more diverse, expanding into commercial inspections may be the answer. What is a Commercial Inspection? A commercial inspection can cover a number of building types that are larger in scale than your typical singular multi-family home. These may include office towers, retail stores, large multi-unit condos and apartment buildings, as well as industrial and institutional structures. An inspection of these buildings will cover all of the items that are generally covered in a home inspection. At a very high level, here are some of the benefits of commercial inspections: • Commercial inspections build on your pre-existing home inspection skill set; you already have a lot of the knowledge and tools to get started in this field. • Commercial inspections can generate up to 80% more revenue than home inspections in an equivalent amount of time.
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
• A company providing home and commercial inspections may garner more respect than a company providing only home inspections; your business may look more impressive to prospective clients who are interested in both types of properties. • The emotion that is so commonly associated with home inspections involving homebuyers and sellers generally does not come into play with commercial inspections. With commercial properties, it’s all business. This significantly reduces your liability. • Scheduled inspections typically occur during business hours because that’s when commercial buildings are operating. • Many commercial building owners have portfolios of properties, which makes it easy to potentially garner more business if you perform a job well. A Team Approach One of the biggest concerns for home inspectors entering into commercial inspections is the sheer size and scope of what’s involved. They often get overwhelmed by the thought of inspecting an entire commercial building by themselves.
Fortunately, that’s not typically how a commercial inspection is done. The approach should be that of a team. You may work with other inspectors in your company or partner with other inspectors in your area to perform the job. You also will subcontract people in other trades who may be more familiar with certain aspects of the building such as the electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. Your job may be to look at the exterior, structure, insulation and roof system. If those items are too large in scope for your experience, you may subcontract the inspections of those areas to other, more specialized consultants as well. Of course, you will add a significant markup to the services of these consultants when you bill your customer—the owner of the building. The Right Training Although commercial inspection is based on many of the same technical principles as home inspection, having knowledge of the differences can be extremely valuable. That’s why it’s important to ensure that you have the right training. You will need to
Companies that provide both residential and commercial inspection services garner more respect than those doing only residential work! Commercial inspections can generate up to 80% more revenue than residential inspections in the same time. Historically, the liability related to commercial inspection is a fraction of that associated with home inspection. The benefits for your business can be substantial.
www.TheASHISchool.com
May 12-14, 2017 • Radisson Hotel Baltimore Downtown – Inner Harbor • 101 W Fayette St, Baltimore, MD 21201 Call 888-884-0440 COURSE FEES
The course fee through The ASHI School is $1,395 for ASHI members. This includes the course text, sample reports, consultants’ reports and information on quoting inspections, report writing, cost estimating and relevant business issues.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
We guarantee you will find this course both personally and professionally rewarding or your entire course fee will be cheerfully refunded. 39April 2017
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>
Commercial Inspection: Taking Your Home Inspection Business to the Next Level
Fire pump (150 HP electric)
complete a comprehensive training course that can prepare you to succeed in the world of commercial inspections. The good news is that taking an effective commercial inspection course should not take as long as taking a home inspection course. That’s because you already have a good understanding of many of the principles. The concepts for everything you learned in home inspection are simply magnified to a larger scale in commercial inspections. The ASHI School Commercial Training Course We are pleased to announce that The ASHI School has partnered with Carson Dunlop to provide a comprehensive, three-day commercial training course.
Fresh air makeup and exhaust fan for a restaurant kitchen
General electrical equipment layout in industrial building
Heat shield for an escalator at Seattle airport
Course participants will learn how to get into the commercial inspection business. The content covers everything from business practices to technical inspection, and the instructors will place a special emphasis on applying the “team approach” to commercial inspections. Participants will learn where and when consultants are required, as well as how to find and work with appropriate, qualified consultants. Additionally, participants will receive a commercial inspection textbook and a wealth of practical information, including sample inspection reports, consultants’ reports and information about quoting inspections, report writing, addressing cost issues and many other relevant business issues.
To register or learn more information, visit www.theashischool. com/ClassListings/Details/10. Register now. A world of opportunity is waiting! Upcoming Commercial Inspection Course May 12-14, 2017 – Baltimore, MD (www.theashischool.com/ ClassListings/SessionDetails/2444) H
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
ROM ST F HIP O M S THE BER GET R MEM YOU
Visit ASHI.org/MyMembership/ FindAnInspectorAndWebSettings
GOT GREAT POSTCARDS? We are running out!
Please send your 1. name 2. company 3. city 4. state 5. photos 6. headings 7. captions to postcards@ashi.org
Check out your valuable ASHI benefits by clicking on the rotating images at: www.ashi.org
1.
Update your profile.
2.
Get found by clients in your area.
3.
Review your stats.
Expand Without Risk
YOU’VE BUILT YOUR BUSINESS FROM THE GROUND UP. PROTECT IT WITH 3D.
• Keep proprietary inspection forms secure • Prevent moonlighting of employee inspectors • Protect software from being stolen • Branch out to other locales • All at NO EXTRA COST!
Learn more about Phone3D: www.3dinspection.com І 800-745-6126 41April 2017
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NEW POSTCARDS EMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: postcards@ashi.org
Never Know Who You’ll Meet in an Attic
Call the Bomb Squad!
Phone home.
This was hanging from the rafters in a garage.
Stephen Tyler STAT Home Inspections Garnerville, NY
So Much for Privacy
John Albright Home Inspections By Mr. Perfection, Inc. Lombard, IL
Kermit the Frog in His Throne The bathroom door won’t close because the ‘flipper’ put in a new, larger toilet.
Norman Bodewig Accu-Rate Home Inspections Tierra Verde, FL
Matthew Steger WIN Home Inspection Elizabethtown, PA
Flooded Basement Waiting to Happen, YIKES! The thermal expansion tank in this photo has nothing holding it up but a simple pipe connection. The tank is sagging due to it being waterlogged. One ‘snap’ and the basement gets flooded. Matthew Steger WIN Home Inspection Elizabethtown, PA
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Mouse-in-a-Box Keep those knockouts covered! Clay Ridings Preferred Inspections Arden, DE
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Sign up today for FREE at www.ahomewarranty.com 43April 2017
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NEW POSTCARDS EMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: postcards@ashi.org
Tired of Lifting the Garage Door by Hand?
Alternative Attic Insulating Materials do Egg-xist! ...But these were so light, they were blowing around in the attic. They can’t be effective as insulation.
Just drill a 4-inch hole. Nick Tomasetti Advantage Property Inspections Inc. Bozeman, MT
Michael Chambers The BrickKicker of St. Louis St. Louis, MO
Well Casing Head Slugfest Don Murphy Pillar To Post Home Inspector Metro Charlotte, NC
The small holes in the fingertips of a heavy rubber glove also act as a sprinkler for the vegetation. Terry Peirano American Pride Inspections Cincinnati, OH
ASHI Reporter • April 2017
Rick Carlberg Housedoctors NW Home Inspections Schaumburg, IL
Let’s Play Hide the Panel!
Downspout Improvisation
44
Screwy and Dangerous
Greg Wayman Foundation-2-Rooftop, Inc. Omaha, NE
45April 2017
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Developing ASHI Leaders By ASHI President, Howie Pegelow
F
rom time to time over the many years I’ve been involved within ASHI, I’ve heard questions like these: Who are the leaders of ASHI? How exactly did they become our leaders?
To answer these questions, I begin by noting that leadership usually starts at the chapter level. As soon as a new associate member joins ASHI, he or she is listed in our records within a geographical chapter area. In turn, designated chapter representatives routinely receive a New Member Listing for the purpose of making a personal contact with each new member. This contact is intended to introduce our new members to ASHI on the chapter level.
The CoR is comprised of chapter members who are selected to represent each chapter’s best interests. The CoR is made up of area group leaders, led by a speaker and an alternate. The Speaker of the CoR is an ex officio member of the ASHI Board of Directors; this person’s role is to collect information from the various chapters and present that information to the Board. At times, ASHI’s board members will request assistance from the Speaker and members of the CoR on special tasks that involve the chapters and their members.
Members of the ASHI Board of Directors are selected and elected from the CoR, and they serve a threeyear term. So, even though the ASHI Board is a diversified group of individuals, their respective roots start at the chapter level as members of the CoR. Usually, once a director completes his or her term on the national level, he or she returns to the chapter level and continues to work on various committees. Some former directors continue to serve on national committees, such as the nominating committees for directors and officers.
Once a new member has been contacted by a chapter representative, it is up to the associate member to decide what his or her involvement with the chapter’s programs will be. New associate members tend to join the chapter in closest proximity to their home and business; however, some new members join multiple chapters that cover a wider regional range. Then again, for various reasons, many new members opt to not join a chapter. Members who do join a chapter tend to attend the chapter’s meetings for education and for camaraderie. Within chapters, long-lasting friendships are made and nurtured. Words of encouragement from fellow chapter members may lead others to accept assignments within the various chapter committees. Once a person has experience on a committee, he or she is just one step away from becoming a member of the chapter’s board of directors or an officer. Each member’s involvement is limited only by the time and energy the member decides to put forth, and the level to which he or she wants to participate. In addition to leadership at the chapter level, members can start on a path to become part of the national leadership by joining one of ASHI’s national committees or the Council of Representatives (CoR).
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017
ASHI members also may decide to seek election for an officer’s position. If elected, the member then has the option to seek even higher levels within the ASHI leadership, all the way up to attaining the position of ASHI President. I hope you’ll see in this brief overview what can happen when an ASHI member wants to explore his or her options in the ladder of ASHI leadership. If you’d like to achieve one of these positions of leadership, I encourage you to reach out to your fellow chapter members or any of the members of the ASHI Board of Directors. Maybe a new associate member who is reading this article today will become ASHI President someday. Could that someone be you? Become involved in ASHI at the chapter or national level and find out just how far you can go! H
BOD CoR Leadership Training Chapter Involvement Join a Chapter
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ASHI Reporter • April 2017