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Ohio Chapt ASHI Home er of Inspec tors Expo P33

Inspection News & Views from the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc.

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Knob-and-Tube Wiring: A Revisit Smart Inspector Science: “The Painter Made It Rain!”

Problems with LP SmartSide® Installations Service Philosophy: Customer-Centric Business Get the Most out of Your ASHI Membership Benefits On My Mind: Being a Member…

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Features 8

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Vol. 34, #2

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Your ASHI Membership, Endorsed Member Programs & Anniversaries

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Postcards From the Field

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On My Mind

It’s Wacky Out There Howie Pegelow, ASHI President

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ASHI National Officers and Board of Directors Educated. Tested. Verified. Certified.

A SH I M ISSI ON S TATE M 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

Michael Conley 2017-2019 Bradenton, FL, 941-778-2385 FLinspector@outlook.com James J. Funkhouser 2017-2019 Manassas Park, VA, 703-791-2360 jfunkhousr@aol.com Bryck Guibor 2017-2019 Tucson, AZ, 520-795-5300 bryck@msn.com Ken Harrington 2015-2017 Delaware, OH, 614-507-1061 InspectorKen@kustomhi.com Richard Hart 2016-2018 Conyers, GA, 770-827-2200 Ashi1@comcast.net David Haught 2016-2018 Huntington, WV, 304-417-1247 inspector@wvchi.com

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

Keven Kossler 2015-2017 Maiden, NC, 704-875-3200 myncmini2@icloud.com Bruce LaBell 2015-2017 Scottsdale, AZ, 602-765-2140 inspect@cox.net Reuben Saltzman 2017-2019 Maple Grove, MN, 952-915-6466 reuben@structuretech1.com Tony Smith 2015-2017 Cedar Rapids, IA, 319-533-4565 inspecthathouse@netscape.net Blaine Swan 2016-2018 Columbus, Oh, 614-506-0647 goodeyeinspections@gmail.com John Wessling 2016-2018 St. Louis, MO, 314-520-1103 john@wesslinginspections.com Speaker, Council of Representatives Hollis Brown, 2017-2018 Manassas, VA, 703-754-8872 Inspectors@ThoroSpec.com

847-954-3186 Reporter calls only

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

Michele George, Director of Education & Events, 847-954-3188 micheleg@ashi.org Membership, Chapter Relations, Booth Rental, Product Orders

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

Arlene Zapata, Graphic Department Director & “ASHI Reporter” Managing Editor, 847-954-3186, arlenez@ashi.org

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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Education, CE Approval, ASHI Online Learning Center, InspectionWorld

Russell Daniels, Assistant Executive Director, Director Membership & Chapter Relations, 847-954-3185, russelld@ashi.org

Directors Bruce Barker 2015-2017 Cary, NC, 919-322-4491 bruce@dreamhomeconsultants.com

Jen Gallegos, Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator 847-954-3177, jeng@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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Already Prepping for InspectionWorld 2018?

You Bet! ÂŽ

From ASHI’s Executive Director

O

ne exciting thing I haven’t talked about in a while is all the preparation that goes into InspectionWorldŽ. Every year, leaders of the home inspection profession—including sole proprietors, multi-inspection firm members, franchisees, affiliate members and allied association members—join ASHI staff to help plan the largest, oldest, best-attended and successful conference of home inspectors in the world.

This year’s IW was no exception. I’ll give more details about all that happened at IW 2017 in next month’s issue of the ASHI Reporter, but here’s a teaser: It was, in a word, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Of course, the sheer scale of IW is what sets it head and shoulders above any other home inspection conference in North America. We achieve that scale as the result of extensive planning and through our efforts to attract a great number of attendees and exhibitors. As you may imagine, before we even open the registration desk to welcome everyone, our staff has taken myriad steps in preparation for the event.

Many aspects of IW are already in the planning stages a year or more in advance of the event. For example, Michele George, ASHI Director of Education and Events (micheleg@ashi.org), is hard at work organizing the festivities for IW 2018 in Orlando. She has already issued a call for presentations, which gives speakers the opportunity to submit the topics they would like to share at IW. If you have an idea for a session you would like to present, please send it in right away! Our Education Committee pores over more than 100 submissions and selects the topics they believe will benefit our members the most. Even though they choose 45 individual classes as well as numerous Lunch ’n Learns, there are always more folks who want to teach sessions than there are time slots available to fit them into. So, once again, if you are interested in presenting a topic at IW 2018, we invite you to please send in your submission NOW! Exhibitors who attended IW 2017 in Las Vegas already have been invited to select their booth spaces for IW 2018 in Orlando. If you’re a vendor who’d like to exhibit at IW 2018, or if you’re an inspector who knows of a company that has a product you’d like to see displayed at IW, please contact (or encourage that company’s owner to send in their information to) Dave Kogan, ASHI Marketing, Advertising, IW Expo & Business Development Manager (davek@ashi.org). Dave invites vendors to exhibit at IW, and he is a master of finding the best products and services that our members will want to know about and use.

The graphics department is radiating ideas for the look and feel of IW18 in the Sunshine State.

That’s where you want to be!

If you’ve never attended InspectionWorldŽ, you really don’t know what you’re missing. I’ve never heard anyone say that IW didn’t exceed their expectations. Whether it’s the education, the exhibits or the camaraderie, there’s something for everyone. Plan now to be a part of it in Orlando in January 2018! H Frank Lesh, Executive Director American Society of Home Inspectors Direct: 847-954-3182 'SBOLM!BTIJ PSH t XXX BTIJ PSH

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Knob-and-Tube Wiring: A Revisit

Knob-and-Tube Wiring: A Revisit

By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070

N

ot much has changed in terms of a home inspector’s approach to knob-and-tube wiring. The National Electrical Code still states that concealed knob-and-tube wiring can be installed only for extensions of existing installations. In other words, brand new installations of knob-and-tube wiring are not permitted.

original equipment ground wires anywhere in the distribution system. Often, original connections are not in junction boxes.

Connections are made by splicing, soldering and taping the wires.

Knob-and-tube wiring was no longer used by the time multiwire branch circuits were introduced.

The bigger issue, it appears, is the insurance companies’ attitude toward knob-and-tube wiring. Many of them don’t have a good understanding of it and often withdraw coverage for homes that still contain this wiring, simply because it is old. It’s important for you to stay updated about what the insurance requirements are in your area of business so that you can provide the right advice to your clients.

Ceramic tubes can be seen going through the joists and the knobs can be seen in the background. The hot and neutral wire have been damaged.

Most of the problems with respect to panels and wiring also apply to knob-and-tube systems. Some issues are more common, however, with knob-and-tube wiring.

Identifying Knob-and-Tube Wiring Knob-and-tube wiring is easy to identify. There are two separate cables running to each electrical point. There is a black cable and a white cable. Sometimes the sheathing is black on one and white on the other, although this isn’t always the case. The ceramic knobs and tubes used to support the wire also clearly identify this kind of wiring. Knob-and-tube wiring was common until 1950 and was used into the 1960s in some areas. Knob-and-tube wire was made in several gauges. Branch circuit wiring was often 12 gauge.

Remember that, with knob-and-tube wiring, there will be no

Common Conditions Related to Knob-And-Tube Wiring Problems specific to knob-and-tube wiring include the following: R5 )(( .#)(-5().5#(5 )2 R5 ,#..& 51#, 65#(-/& .#)(5),5-" ."#(!

R5 #, 5 /,# 5#(5#(-/& .#)( R5 /- 5( /., &Connections not in Boxes The original spliced connections did not have to be in junction boxes. This is acceptable as long as the connections are original because we have some confidence that the splices are appropriately made by twisting the wires together, then properly soldering and finally taping with the old, dull, black cloth tape.

Although these circuits are obsolete, the original connections that were made with the dull black cloth were correct.

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

> Modern plastic electrical tape (the black, shiny stuff) on a knoband-tube connection, or taped connections with knob-and-tube wiring joining modern two-conductor cable, are not acceptable to most authorities. The only knob-and-tube connections that don’t have to be in junction boxes are the original ones. Knob-and-tube wire should join modern two-conductor cable in a junction box.

Knob-and-Tube Wiring: A Revisit

Brittle Wire, Insulation or Sheathing Old wire. Another issue with knob-and-tube wiring is the age of the wire. Although copper does not fail under normal workloads, a house wiring system that’s been around for a long time may well have been overfused at some time in the past and the wire may have been overworked. The older it is, the more likely it is to have been abused at some point.

Old wire can easily be identified with the removal of cover plates; however, we don’t recommend pulling the outlet out of the box.

Insulation and sheathing. The rubber insulation or the cloth sheathing may deteriorate over time, become brittle and start to fall off. This is a function of age and high temperatures. The high temperatures may be high ambient temperatures or due to overfusing. In either case, watch for insulation problems on knob-andtube wiring. Resist the temptation to flex the wire to see if it’s still supple. You may get a shock or damage the wire.

Problems with the sheathing and insulation are the most common failings of knob-and-tube wiring other than amateurish modifications and extensions of the circuits.

Here is an incorrect connection with newer wiring and the shiny black tape.

This should be in a junction box.

Wire Buried in Insulation Hard to Dissipate Heat. Knob-and-tube wiring buried in attic insulation or in wall insulation is a controversial issue and different authorities have taken different positions. Some maintain that knob-and-tube wiring shouldn’t be buried in insulation because that inhibits its ability to dissipate heat.

It’s true that all wire can work Knob-and-tube wiring more comfortburied in attic insulation— ably if it’s able this is one reason why we to dissipate the advise against walking heat generated in attics. as electricity flows through it; however, there is a counterpoint position.

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Knob-and-Tube Wiring: A Revisit

Separate wires may be an advantage. Because black and white wires are usually separated by several inches in different cables, knob-and-tube wiring might be better able to dissipate heat than modern cable. Modern two-conductor cable has the black wire and white wire less than one-quarter of an inch apart inside a plastic sheathing. It is harder for modern cable to dissipate heat than for knob-and-tube wiring. This is probably only an issue in situations where several cables are bundled together and there is heavy continuous loading on each cable.

Nonetheless, you should find out what is accepted practice in your area. In some jurisdictions, knob-and-tube wiring is only permitted in insulation if the insulation is noncombustible. Find out what your authorities consider “noncombustible.� Some consider fiberglass insulation combustible (it really is at certain temperatures).

Insulations made of cellulose, wood shavings, shaved leather, most plastics and other similar materials are combustible. Insulations made from vermiculite, gypsum slag and asbestos are not combustible (although asbestos is associated with other issues).

Fused Neutrals Because knob-and-tube installations are old, they may connect to old panels. Some of these old panels have fused neutrals, which can be dangerous.

When you see knob-and-tube wiring and an old ceramic panel, look for fused neutrals. (We mentioned these earlier in this article when we described problems in panels.) If the neutral wire and hot wire are both fused, only one is likely to blow, shutting off the circuit. If the neutral fuse blows, the circuit is live through its entire length. This is dangerous for anyone working on the circuit.

Recommend the replacement of panels with fused neutrals.

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

A Final Word on Knob-and-Tube Wiring

It’s important to remember that knob-and-tube wiring itself is not inherently dangerous. Indeed, there is no grounding, but there are many other types of wiring without grounding as well, such as many multiwire circuits used from the 1940s through the 1960s. In many jurisdictions, there are solutions to the grounding issue, such as adding GFCI outlets for each circuit, without having to rewire the entire system.

The real issue of knob-and-tube wiring simply comes down to age. This type of wiring hasn’t been used in new construction for a long time in North America, and any existing installations may have been overfused and overworked, as mentioned earlier. Again, you should find out what is acceptable in your area, both in terms of the electrical authority and home insurers.

In some other countries, the use of knob-and-tube wiring is still an acceptable practice, and proper installations are not a problem when completed according to local building codes.

Here’s a knob-and-tube installation (fewer than 10 years old) for a lighting fixture in a home in Japan.

5IF JOGPSNBUJPO QSPWJEFE IFSF XBT FYDFSQUFE GSPN UIF "4)*!)0.& training program. The training program gives home inspectors the PQQPSUVOJUZ UP PCUBJO NPSF EFUBJMFE JOGPSNBUJPO PO LOPC BOE UVCF XJSJOH and other electrical systems. H

“The Painter Made It Rain!”

Smart Inspector Science

By Tom Feiza, Mr. Fix-It, Inc. HowToOperateYourHome.com

I

inspected a home near Milwaukee during the summer about 10 years ago. My client called recently, clearly upset. “We’re having some painting done in the rear bedroom. I’m sure the ceiling was dry when the painter started. He claims it got wet while he was painting. I’ve talked to insulation and roofing contractors about this, but they’re no help. I don’t know who else to call. Contractors always try to sell me something!”

quite damp, even foggy. As usual, evenings were cooler.

I talked the owner through a series of questions and tried to calm her down. It sounded like an unusual case of leaks, condensation or both that had nothing to do with the condition of the home when I’d inspected this property (Photo 1).

This sounded to me like condensation on a cool surface. (One of many free articles on my website, HowToOperateYourHome. com, discusses window condensation problems.) I told the homeowner to run a fan in the room and turn on the furnace to a reasonable 72-degree setting. Also, I said it might help to open the windows whenever the outdoor air was dry. I assured her that she could call me if the problem continued.

Photo 1. Exterior of home

A First Look at the Problem Naturally, leaks or water intrusion with no logical explanation make homeowners uneasy. I checked my old report—the house was a well-maintained, mid-century ranch—and talked with the owner in greater depth about what was going on.

She explained that, when the painter had finished applying latex paint to the walls and ceiling, water and paint began dripping in two places where the ceiling met the exterior wall. It wasn’t raining that day, nor had it rained in the past few days. In fact, the home never had leaks related to rain.

Our autumn weather that year had been

no roof penetrations or flashing issues above the areas of the leaks.

The home’s roof and gutters were relatively new, and 17 inches of fiberglass insulation had been added in the attic a few years previously. Windows had been replaced recently with vinyl sash/thermally insulated glass, and the homeowner said that she’d had no condensation on the glass or anywhere else in the home, for that matter.

The Second Visit—An In-Depth Examination When the homeowner called again, her household was still off-kilter. The painting wasn’t finished because condensation still occurred at times. The family’s plans to go up north during deer-hunting season were on hold. They needed an answer about this issue so that they could finish painting and put the house back together.

We scheduled an early morning visit. I wanted to inspect the home at the time of day when the outdoor temperature was below 30 degrees. But because we continued to have an unseasonably warm fall, when I visited the second time, the overnight low had been about 50 degrees.

Checking Exterior Walls The exterior of the small ranch home was well maintained. The wide overhangs had aluminum trim and vented soffits. The “leaks” were occurring near the vents in the soffits (Photo 2). The roof looked fine, with

Photo 2. Vents in overhang

The home had recently undergone an energy audit, blower door test and infrared camera inspection. Following the audit recommendations, the homeowners had cellulose insulation blown into all exterior wall cavities.

We discussed the newer windows and the recently insulated attic. They were really tightening up their home.

About 10 years previously, the owners had replaced their old 60% naturally drafted furnace with a 90%-plus furnace that vented through two plastic pipes.

I observed small water spots on the ceiling of the bedroom near the exterior wall. The owner told me that water was dripping along the outside wall, ruining the fresh paint before it could dry. There were no leaks when I was there (Photo 3).

Photo 3. Water spots on ceiling

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American Disabilities Act Inspections

American Disabilities Act Inspections

By Rick Bunzel, ACI

More than 50 million Americans—18% of our population—have disabilities. In addition, approximately 71.5 million baby boomers will be over age 65 by the year 2030 and will be demanding products, services and environments that meet their age-related physical needs.

When many people think of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they automatically think of handicapped parking. ADA actually covers far more, including accommodations for people with sight, hearing and mental disabilities. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

As commercial and home inspectors, we should know about compliance and what is needed to ensure that a property meets ADA standards. Obviously, this exceeds the ASHI Standard of Practice and, if requested to inspect for ADA compliance, one can charge for the extra service.

I stumbled into doing ADA inspections when the owner of a restaurant I had previously inspected was being sued because the restaurant was not compliant with ADA regulations. What I did not know at the time was that the government does not have an enforcement group for ADA compliance. Building departments only enforce ADA requirements in new construction. Existing buildings—even when they are being updated—are not required to install ADA-compliant accommodations. The only way ADA accommodations are added to buildings is when the owners or tenants add them voluntarily or when they are forced to add them as the result of a lawsuit.

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American Disabilities Act Inspections

ADA lawsuits are a cottage industry in California, Arizona, Florida and Texas. In some cases, it’s been reported that lawyers will hire individuals with disabilities to visit a targeted business, buy an item and uncover an ADA-related issue that can be called out. The lawyer will then file a lawsuit and encourage a settlement.

In other cases, the lawyers will do “drive-by lawsuits.” Examples of this were reported recently in a “60 Minutes” news segment. The lawyers will file a suit for ADA compliance and attempt a quick settlement for under $100,000. In most cases, it’s cheaper for the business to settle rather than bear the cost of a legal defense when they know they will lose.

In the case of the restaurant I inspected, the owners wanted to know what they needed to do to become compliant. I did some research, identified the areas that needed changes and worked with the shopping center to bring the exterior area under compliance as well. Once the work was done, I did a re-inspection and provided a report that went to the courts, showing that the restaurant was now compliant with the current ADA requirements.

Looking at the ADA environment, I realized that these specialty inspections were complicated, but that the criteria was pass/fail.

With the ADA requirements listed in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAStandards_prt.pdf), it is easy to determine whether a property is in compliance or not. The challenge is matching up the area that you are inspecting with the relevant section of the ADA Standard. The ADA requirements are 275 pages long, so until you are familiar with them, you will be doing a lot of paging or scrolling through them.

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

(

As I did these initial inspections, I spent a lot of prep time identifying relevant areas, and I took a hard copy and an online version of the ADA standards with me. Breaking a property inspection into chunks made completing these inspections more efficient, and the resulting reports were easier to create.

Once you are familiar with the inspection components, the physical inspection will go smoothly. The ADA Standards are specific and there are no gray areas; the components are either in compliance or not. For example, with parking, there must be at least one van-accessible parking slot for every 25 parking spaces. The space must be 96 inches wide with a 96-inch aisle. There must be a sign that is at least 60 inches high marking the space. If the aisle is only 92 inches wide, then it’s not in compliance. It’s not up to the inspector to consider the owner’s explanation of why it’s not compliant; instead, the inspector can make suggestions on how the area can be made compliant.

In the case of the restaurant I inspected, the men’s room was clearly too small to be an ADA-compliant bathroom, but the women’s room was oversized. I suggested that they do away with the men’s and women’s room markings and make the women’s room the restroom for people with disabilities. This saved the owners from having to move around walls to make both bathrooms compliant.

With other clients, it’s not always that easy. I worked with the owner of another restaurant that had concrete steps to get to the bathrooms. For that restaurant, there was no easy solution but to reconfigure the floor plan of the restaurant.

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© 2017 Target Professional Programs is a division of and operates under the licenses of CRC Insurance Services, Inc., CRC Insurance Services of CA, Lic No 0778135. No claim to any

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American Disabilities Act Inspections

Many business owners are not familiar with the need for ADA compliance. There are two areas of compliance: Title I and Title III. Title I regulations pertain to employees. The purpose is to ensure that employers do not discriminate against an employee on the basis of his or her disabilities, and ADA regulations require companies to provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the duties of the position. This basically means that, even if a business does not have a storefront or showroom, it still needs to have ADA accommodations for its employees. Title III compliance is targeted toward businesses that are open to the public, such as a store, gym or restaurant. Title III calls for businesses to make “reasonable efforts� to accommodate people with disabilities. This sounds like a gray area for the inspector, but it’s not. As ADA inspectors, we inspect for compliance to the current standard. It’s not up to the inspector to judge what’s “reasonable.�

If you are an inspector who does commercial inspections, consider making the ADA portion an add-on.

Once a client is educated on the need to be compliant, they will typically request the inspection with the additional ADA component. If you advertise that you can perform ADA inspections, expect to get the occasional call from a business owner when he or she is hit with a compliance lawsuit. H

16

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

3JDL #VO[FM JT UIF QSJODJQBM JOTQFDUPS XJUI 1BDJĂĽD $SFTU *OTQFDUJPOT BOE "4)* $FSUJĂĽFE *OTQFDUPS )F IPMET B # " JO #VTJOFTT .BSLFUJOH BOE JO UIF QBTU IF DIBJSFE UIF marketing and public relations committees for a national home inspection organization. Locally, he is active in the North 1VHFU 4PVOE #PBSE PG 3FBMUPST BOE JT BO PGĂĽDFS XJUI UIF .U &SJF 'JSF %FQBSUNFOU JO "OBDPSUFT 8" 'JOE IJN POMJOF BU IUUQ XXX paccrestinspections.com.

Sources Consulted R55 (.)-5 65 #&& '),5 85 . -.5 &# ),(# 5 5 1-/#.5 ),'5 .. '*.95 “Watered Down Solution.� Posted on Seyfarth Shaw, ADA Title III. News and Insights, May 25,2016. http://www.adatitleiii.com/2016/05/latestcalifornia-ada-lawsuit-reform-attempt-watered-down-solution/.

R555 #- ) #(!5 85 *),. ,]-5 ). ))%95Äť 5& . -.5#(5 gk]-5 5& 1-/#.5 investigation. Posted on ABC15 Arizona. October 4, 2016; updated December 19, 2016. http://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/ reporters-notebook-the-latest-in-abc15s-ada-lawsuit-investigation.

R55^lf5 #(/. -8_5 " .]-5 5^ ,#0 7 35& 1-/#._>5 )-. 5 ' ,5j65hfgl65)(51118 CBSnews.com. Correspondent, Anderson Cooper; producers, Katherine Davis and Sam Hornblower. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-americans-with-disabilities-act-lawsuits-anderson-cooper/.

R55 8 85 * ,.' (.5) 5 /-.# 85hfgf5 5 . ( , -5 ),5 --# & 5 -#!(85 September 15, 2010. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADA Standards/2010ADAStandards_prt.pdf.

Problems with LP SmartSideÂŽ Installations

Problems with LP SmartSideÂŽ Installations

By Reuben Saltzman, ACI, Structure Tech Home Inspections

Based on a blog post by Reuben Saltzman, September 29, 2015 (http://structuretech1.com/problems-with-lp-smartsideinstallations/)

Overdriven Nails This is another common defect. Here’s a small collage of overdriven nails.

LP SmartSideÂŽ products are some of the fastest growing siding , ( -5#(5." 5 (#. 5 . . -651#."5$/-.5'), 5." (5o5 #&&#)(5 .5-)& 5 since their launch in 2007. This is also one of the most popular choices for siding and trim by builders in Minnesota, where I live.

This product looks similar to fiber cement siding, but actually falls under the category of wood composite siding. This is how we as home inspectors should identify this product in our inspection reports.

LP SmartSideÂŽ siding and trim seem to be great products and I have yet to find a single failure with either product.

Nevertheless, I suspect I’ll be seeing failures soon enough because I find installation errors on nearly every home I inspect.

When inspecting homes that have this type of wall covering, look out for the installation defects described below. These are the most common mistakes being made by installers today.

Missing Paint Without a doubt, the most common installation error that I find with LP SmartSideÂŽ products is missing paint at the cut edges. The manufacturer requires all exposed surfaces to be primed and painted.

The image to the right also shows missing sealant at the joint.

The diagram below shows the appropriate repair methods for overdriven nails.

Insufficient Clearance The manufacturer requires 6 inches of clearance from the siding to the finished grade. It seems that almost every home has one or two areas where this clearance requirement isn’t met.

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Problems with LP SmartSide® Installations

The manufacturer also requires 1-inch clearance to shingles.

This is usually done right, but not always.

Improper Spacing at Ends The manufacturer requires a 3/16-inch gap at the end of each piece of siding. This includes butt joints and places where the siding terminates vertically against windows, doors and other fixtures.

The manufacturer requires a 3/8-inch gap above windows and other similar penetrations.

A 3/16-inch gap is a pretty large gap. Here’s what a proper 3/16-inch gap looks like:

A 3/8-inch gap is a BIG gap. Even when a gap is left here, it’s usually not what the manufacturer requires.

3/16” gap (proper detail)

This is rarely done.

18

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

Insufficient Kickout Flashing Kickout flashing is a piece of metal at a roof end that prevents water from leaking into the wall. For more information about this issue, refer to my related blog post (http://structuretech1.com/kickout-flashing/) and the diagram below, courtesy of the fine folks at Code Check. Please see next page...

SM

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Problems with LP SmartSideÂŽ Installations

The manufacturer requires flashing to have a 4-inch upper leg. This means the kickout flashing needs to be 4 inches high. This usually isn’t done.

The third option is to have flashing at least 4 inches wide installed at the joints, as long as the ends of the siding are factory finished and the siding is prefinished by an approved or preferred prefinisher. That means no cut edges at the butt joints. When field-cut edges are present, flashing at the joints is not an appropriate installation method.

But hey, look, the proper clearence was maintained above the shingles.

Joint Treatments There are three options for keeping water out of the butt joints. The first and second options are to have the joints caulked or have joint molding installed.

20

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

Conclusion That wraps up my list of the most common installation defects seen with LP SmartSideŽ products. Again, this is not a full list of defects. For the full list of installation instructions and for more information on these products, visit the LP SmartsideŽ website (http://lpcorp.com/products/siding/lp-smartside-trim-siding/). H Reuben Saltzman is a second-generation home inspector, a representative on ASHI’s Council of Representatives (CoR) and the President of the ASHI Heartland Chapter. Reuben presented an educational session at InspectionWorldŽ 2017 JO -BT 7FHBT $IFDL PVU 3FVCFO T XFFLMZ CMPH QPTUT BU XXX structuretech1.com/blog/.

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Visit OREP.org today! (888) 347-5273 OREPâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Organization of Real Estate Professionals Insurance Services, LLC. Calif. Lic. #0K99465 | 6760 University Ave. #250, San Diego, CA

Service Philosophy: Customer-Centric Business

Service Philosophy: Customer-Centric Business

By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070

I

n our recent article â&#x20AC;&#x153;Service Philosophy: Strategizing Excellent Serviceâ&#x20AC;? (ASHI Reporter, December 2016), we discussed developing a customer service blueprint by creating a point of contact and strategic investing. In this article, we will describe building a customer-centric business by thinking from the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve previously encouraged you to describe benefits, rather than features, in your marketing pieces. Benefits highlight your service from the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective. This perspective should pervade all that you do, ensuring that the big picture encompasses a customer-centric philosophy.

Remember that the customer may include real estate professionals of all descriptions, as well as anyone else who might send business your way.

You should evaluate everything you do with the following thought process: R55 " .]-5." 5 ( Ĺ&#x20AC;.65),5* , #0 5 ( Ĺ&#x20AC;.65.)5." 5 /-.)' ,> R55 " .5 (5 5 )5.)5' % 5." 5 ( Ĺ&#x20AC;.65),5* , #0 5 ( Ĺ&#x20AC;.65'), 5 0#-# & > R55 ) -5."#-5 ( Ĺ&#x20AC;.5, -/&.5#(5 5-#!(#Ĺ&#x20AC; (.5' ,% .#(!5 0 (. ! 5 .)5' >

Perceived Benefits Have Greater Impact

Before we continue, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s define the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;perceived benefitâ&#x20AC;? because it goes to the root of a customercentric business. A perceived benefit is something that may or may not be a real benefit to your client, but is something that the client thinks it is important.

For example, take the idea of uploading the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report to a secure website with lots of bells and whistles. Is this a benefit to the &# (.>5 -(].5#.5-#'*& ,5 ),5." 5 &# (.5$/-.5.)5! .5 (5 ' #& 5, *),.>5 An email does the job and saves the client the added step of going to a website. But the client may perceive the web based system as being superior.

What Does Your Client Want? )15 (53)/5%()151" .53)/,5 &# (.5* , #0 -5 -5 5 ( Ĺ&#x20AC;.>5 .)*5 thinking like an expert and start thinking like your client. If you 24

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what your client is thinking, ask. We will look more closely at how to obtain clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; thoughts and opinions later in the article.

An Example Our report-writing system is a 400-page binder. When we do a sellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspection, the report and the book are supposed to be left in the home for the person who ultimately buys the home. But we have found that many sellers want to take the book with them to their next house, even though the reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contents are about the home they are leaving! Although our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perceptions are not what we expected, we have to respect them.

Four Levels of Service The figure below summarizes four aspects of service for which you should strive.

Create Superior Value

Create Distinctive Service

Give the Customer What They Want

Give Your Clients More Than They Expected

Create Superior Service The idea here is to impress your customers in such a way that they will come back to you over and over and also refer you to others.

A good home inspector does his or her job well and consistently.

A good home inspector arrives on time and delivers a professional report. Believe it or not, many home inspection companies canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even deliver on these basic services. If you deliver a consistently good performance, you will be a contender. But a contender is not what you want to be. You want to be in the top-selling group of building inspectors.

A Little Effort Goes a Long Way. The fact is, to become part of the elite 20 percent requires being only a little better than the crowd. If you can analyze your service and figure out how to do it just a little bit better, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go far.

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Service Philosophy: Customer-Centric Business

Do you know how much faster the winning time in an Olympic gff7' . ,5-*,#(.5#-5." (5." 5 )/,."7*& 5.#' >5 )/& 53)/5!/ --5 hf5* , (.>5gk5* , (.>5gf5* , (.>5 .]-5 ./ &&35 )/.5h5* , (.85 Yet, the person in fourth place receives no medal, gets no parade or endorsements, and may be remembered for this achievement only by family and friends.

This example plays out even more dramatically in business. The most impressive home inspection company gets the order with 100 percent of the rewards and there is not even a silver medal for the second-place finisher, who gets nothing. " .5 (53)/5 )>5 ," *-5#(-. 5) 5 #(!5-#'*&35^)(5.#' _5 ),5 an inspection, you could arrive 10 minutes early. That way you can inspect the roof before your client and the agent arrive. ) -5 (3)( 5, &&35().# >5 /,#(!5 5*, - (. .#)(5.)5 5, &5 -. . 5 office, an agent commented, â&#x20AC;&#x153;One thing I love about Carson Dunlop is I know when I arrive at the house with the client, the home inspector will have already finished inspecting the roof. The first time Carson Dunlop did an inspection for a client of mine, I was concerned when I got to the house at 9 a.m., and the inspector was not there. I called the Carson Dunlop office and they told me to look up. Sure enough, I saw the inspector finishing up on the roof.â&#x20AC;?

You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy that kind of advertising. Special touches that make your service consistently better are enough to put you into the elite 2 percent. And what does it cost you to arrive a few minutes ,&3>5 )."#(!< Give Customers What They Want )15 )53)/5%()151" .53)/,5 /-.)' ,-51 (.>5 -%5." '85 " .]-5 ." 5 -.51 35.)5 -%5." '>5Äť , 5 , 5&).-5) 51 3-65 /.51 5" 0 5 )/( 5 that surveys are the most effective. And if you survey your client on site during the inspection, you get a 100 percent response rate. You can provide a clipboard with a pencil attached, along with a simple questionnaire.

Tips to create a good questionnaire: R5 *5#.5-"),.5B.1)5.)5 )/,5+/ -.#)(-5)(&3C8 R5 *5#.5-#'*& 8 R5 )(].5 -%5+/ -.#)(-5.)51"# "53)/5%()15." 5 (-1 ,8 R5 )(].5 -%5* ,-)( &5+/ -.#)(-8 R55 -%5)(&35+/ -.#)(-5." .5 (5 5., (-& . 5 #, .&35#(.)5 5 /-#( --5 decision. (In other words, ask yourself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What am I going to do 1#."5." 5#( ),' .#)(>_C R55 )(].5 -%53 -I()5+/ -.#)(-85B )/51 (.5* )*& 5.)5!#0 53)/5 5 .. ,5 idea of how they feel about your question than a â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;? or a â&#x20AC;&#x153;no.â&#x20AC;?)

Create a Distinctive Service Creating a distinctive service is often the result of how well you do at the other three levels of service. Over time, if you stay consistent in your good service, high-quality service will become your trademark.

Another way to help create a point of distinction for your service is to come up with unusual offerings, such as the following: 26

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

R55 ,)0# 5 "5 &# (.51#."5." 5/- 5) 5 5 #!#. &5 ' , 5 /,#(!5." 5 inspection, and offer to email them the photos they took after the inspection.

R55 &#0 ,5 ))%# -5.)5 5, &5 -. . 5)Ĺ&#x192; 5)( 5 5')(."5 ( 51"#& 5 youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there, offer to do an educational seminar.

R55 /,#(!5." 5#(-* .#)(65Ĺ&#x20AC;( 5)/.5." 5 &)-#(!5 . 5 ),5." 5., (- tion. Send a welcome letter to your client that will arrive on the day they move in. The letter should invite them to call you if they are unsure about how to operate any aspect of the home.

Give Your Clients More Than They Expected You can achieve customer satisfaction simply by delivering what the client was expecting. However, if you deliver more than they were expecting, you not only have a satisfied customer, you also have someone who will comment to others about your great service.

Many home inspectors take this to mean they should show off their technical expertise during the inspection. But what you do technically during your inspection is lost on most customers. They probably wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand it and they have no way of knowing whether another inspector would have done the same thing or something more.

Good Service Needs Creative Thinking )651" .5 ) -5#.5. % 5.)5)Äż ,5 5- ,0# 5 3)( 5 2* . .#)(->5 .5 takes imagination. And if you think it also takes a lot of money, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wrong.

Here are a few examples of things we do at Carson Dunlop that cost little to no money at all: R55 ( 5 /-.)' ,-5 5 )&&)17/*5 ' #&5 -%#(!5# 5." 351 , 5" **351#."5 the inspection.

R55 ( 5, &5 -. . 5 ! (.-5 5." (%73)/5 , 5B ,)'5." 5")' 5 inspector) for referring our service.

R55 &&5)/,5 &# (.-5." .5." 35 (5 &&5/-5 (35.#' 5 )/.5+/ -.#)(-5." 35 may have about the house.

Courtesy Is Invaluable Acts of courtesy, such as follow-up calls, cost nothing at all. The difference between you and the next inspector could hinge on something as simple as returning customer calls within three hours of receiving them. That kind of service has a tremendous impact on the customer and it costs you nothing.

Lest We Forget Once again, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s review that good service is not defined by the home inspector; rather, it is defined by the customer. Earlier in this article, we talked about giving your customer a survey, but we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t focus on what questions to ask. We suggest that you consider asking this one important question:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What could we do to make the home inspection experience better for you?â&#x20AC;?

Or, if you are really bold:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What else could we do to help you?â&#x20AC;?

That is the essence of a customer-centric business. H

ASHI Council of Representatives Speakers and Group Leaders SPEAKER: Hollis Brown St. Louis, MO 703-856-7567 JHollis@thorospec. com SECRETARY: Brendan Ryan 724-898-1414 brendan@csahomeinspection.com GROUP LEADERS

New England/ Canada Mike Atwell 617-630-5629 mike@jmhi.com

New York/ New Jersey Kevin Vargo 732-271-1887 kpvargo@comcast.net

Mid-Atlantic Hollis Brown 703-856-7567 Hollis@thorospec. com

South Atlantic Ray Baird 615-371-5888 bairdr@comcast.net

Gulf Jim Dickey 972-907-0202 jim@jjdickey.com

South Midwest Joe Pangborn 573-228-4509 Joe@Pangborn Inspections.com

North Central George Basista 330-565-3760 GeorgeBasista@ yahoo.com

Mountain Bryck Guibor 520-419-1313 bryck@msn.com

Pacific Darrell Hay 206-226-3205 darrellhay@aol.com

Midwest Eric Barker 847-408-7238 ebarker@morainewoods.com

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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.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.ohioashi.com Howard Snyder, 330-929-5239 ohashi@neo.rr.com

www.ashikentuckiana.org Allan Davis, 502-648-9294 elitehomeinspections@ insightbb.com

North Central Ohio

Mid-Missouri

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, 215-8527319, 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, 402-6606935 jon@hsinspections.com

28

Heartland (IA, MN, ND, SD, WI)

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

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 Bobbi Wilson, 573-881-8585 Bobbi@wilsonhomeinspectors.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

SOUTH MIDWEST

MOUNTAIN Arizona

www.azashi.org Bryck Guibor, 520-419-1313 bryck@msn.com Quarterly education on azashi.org

New Mexico

www.ashinm.org Every other month, Second Saturday, (Jan., May., Sept.)

Mimi’s Cafe Albuquerque - 9:15 am 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

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

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 Felix A. Pena, 510-573-0367 homesavvyinspections@comcast.net

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 Seminars offered www.ashiww.com Michael Brisbin, 425-742-1735 seaviewinspections@comcast.net

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, 7:00pm 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 Hyundai of Wesley Chapel 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, 5:30 pm, Eldorado West Restaurant-Diner, Tarrytown 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, Keegans 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

29February 2017

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29

TO SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS FOR MOVING UP, PLEASE CONTACT JANET GEORGE AT 847-954-3180 OR JANETG@ASHI.ORG

New ASHI Associates As of December 1, 2016

Denotes graduate of The ASHI School

Philip Romero

Christopher Vought

Hargrove Inspection Services Inc. Evans, GA

Ideal Home Inspections Olathe, KS

Alvin Davie

Ralph Vosters

Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Wasting Home Inspection Services Manchester, NH

Douglasville, GA

Vosters Home Inspections, LLC Olathe, KS

Anthony Dimeglio

Matthew Grigg

Bryan McClure

Arkansas HomeTech Inspections, Inc. Springdale, AR

.D$MVSF *OTQFDUJPO Services, LLC Broomfield, CO

Frank Yakopec

Andrew Schweizer

Journeymen Inspection Services Bella Vista, AR

A-T Home Inspections Rocky Ford, CO

Matthew King

Don Alonzo

Timothy Wiggins

Robert Miller

Alonzo Inspections South San Francisco, CA

$PMPSBEP 4QSJOHT $0

Sarah Brown

Sound Home Inspection, LLC East Lyme, CT

Marietta, GA

Papa Mbow

Stephen Sheldon

Star Inspection Group Berkeley, CA

David Diaz Just Inspections Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Dan Eskew Preferred Home Inspections Bonita, CA

Ernest Everett Everett Inspections Lake Elsinore, CA

April Hunt

John Marshall North Bay Inspection Vallejo, CA

Brett Sanders National Property Inspections Camarillo, CA

Abe Simantob L.A. Private Eyes Engineers Los Angeles, CA

James Steffenson III

The Tradesman Home Inspection Company Silt, CO

Brian LeClair Pillar to Post Home Inspections Aurora, CO

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

Louis Qualtiere

Julious Lindsay

iPro Home Inspections Holmdel, NJ

Richard Leonard R L Home Inspection Services, LLC Albuquerque, NM

Kevin Bestler Clarksville, NY

North East Home Inspection, LLC Severn, MD

Scott Mack

Heidi Richards

Frank Ruccolo

H.R. Inspection Services South Portland, ME

Detail Home Inspector, LLC Scarsdale, NY

.BDL 1SPQFSUZ *OTQFDUJPOT --$ Buffalo, NY

Eric Goodwell

Robert Varieur

Micheal Hauer

Hargrove Inspection Services Inc. Evans, GA

.JE .JDIJHBO )PNF Inspection Services, LLC Big Rapids, MI

D.I. Home Inspections, Inc. Congers, NY

Travis Mori

Gilbert Guzman

PE & RA Home Inspectors, LLC Rosedale, NY

.4) )PNF *OTQFDUJPOT --$ Naples, FL

Mark Hughes

Bentley Harvard, LLC Honolulu, HI

Kamahele Rojo

Pillar to Post Plymouth, MI

Justin Paddock

Coconut Creek, FL

Hilo, HI

Big Rapids, MI

Phu Nguyen

Steven Young

Jac Kelvie

&EXBSE 1/ Seffner, FL

0O4JUF )PNF *OTQFDUJPOT --$ Hilo, HI

Your Inspection Connection Minneapolis, MN

David Parker

Gregory Livelsberger

Roderick Combs

Home Inspection by DGP, LLC Wesley Chapel, FL

G.T. Livelsberger Hawthorn Woods, IL

Independene, MO

Juan Santos

Stephen Worthington

Smart Choice Home Inspections Ballwin, MO

Deland, FL

John Shishilla Honor Services Melbourne, FL

Robert Surginer Tampa, FL

Robert Van Cour Cape Coral, FL

Richard Williams

Arlyle Realty, Inc. & Property Inspections Cherry Log, GA

Ryan Erpestad

Andrew Dorney

.BZýPXFS )PNF *OTQFDUJPO Hargrove Inspection Services, Inc. Wakefield, MA Evans, GA

Gary Ragusa

Charles (Buddy) Watson

Zachary Barger

Check It Calhan, CO

E L Inspections, LLC Opelousas, LA

Aggressive Inspections Clifton, NJ

Atlanta, GA

Ruskin, FL

Jay Culver

Newnan, GA

Mary Loose

Joseph Milovitz

+JHTBX )PNF *OTQFDUJPOT *OD Sarasota, FL

HomeGuard, Inc. San Jose, CA Greeley, CO

Home Inspectors of Columbus Cataula, GA

Dirk Stephenson

Garth King

Eagle Inspections Toluca Lake, CA

Xcite Property Solutions, LLC Olathe, KS

Carolyn Arbogast

Brooksville, FL

Scott Markel

Joshua Webb

Richard Harris

Probe Home Inspections, LLC Roswell, GA

Jamieson Property Inspections Huntington Beach, CA Dual Ladders Property Inspections, LLC Aliso Viejo, CA

Atlanta, GA

Pana Home Inspection, LLC Washington, D.C.

Aaron Jamieson

Owen Lockwood

30

MEMBER

Randall Atchison

Todd Arline

Logan Arline Arlyle Realty, Inc. & Property Inspections Cherry Log, GA

Robert Arnold Insight Property Inspection Services, LLC Dallas, GA

Worthingtons Building Consultancy Cronulla NSW, IL

Ralph (Bud) Brockman Home Industries, LLC Francesville, IN

Bill Woods

Morris McDonald .P.BD )PNF *OTQFDUJPO Services, LLC Louisville, MS

Ted Clack

John DeBusk

Belgrade, MT

Accurate Home Inspection Lafayette, IN

Gregory Perrier

James Horton HyTek Home Inspections Kokomo, IN

Eddie Stidd

Vital Signs Home Inspection, LLC Great Falls, MT

Ronald Pogany

Edgar Zephyrine

Greg Bryant Top Flight Home Inspections, LLC Circleville, OH

Andrew Chege Cornerstone Residential & Commercial Inspections Solon, OH

Daniel Gibson Garfield Heights, OH

Dennis Gray Gray Home Inspectors, LLC Lewis Center, OH

Jacob Hardbarger King Inspection Westerville, OH

Steven Reckner 3FDLOFS $FSUJÃ¥FE )PNF Inspections Copley, OH

Rick Weyandt .BUSJY )PNF *OTQFDUJPO Tallmadge, OH

Hide and Seek Inspections Ellettsville, IN

3+1 $FSUJÃ¥FE )PNF Inspection Services Great Falls, MT

Austin MacDonald

Rod Russell

James Hecker

)BXLFZF )PNF Inspection NE, LLC Bayard, NE

)JHI.BSL *OTQFDUJPO 4FSWJDFT The Dalles, OR

Douglas Greco

Insight Property Inspection, LLC Fairview, OR

Overland Park, KS

Zachary Nash $SPXO )PNF *OTQFDUJPOT Olathe, KS

Jennifer Ohmes Five Star Home Inspections, Inc. DeSoto, KS

WIN Home Inspection Nashua Derry, NH

Phillip Wikette Ameila, OH

Aric Outlaw

Aaron Taghon A.T. Home Inspections Canby, OR

SEE PAGE 32 FOR CHAPTER EDUCATION.

Vlad Atamanenko

Thomas Lyons

Southampton, PA

#SPBEWJFX )PNF Inspections, LLC Chesapeake, VA

George Fedela George Fedela Home Inspection Clairton, PA

Arlington, VA

Wolfgang Tatschl

AdCon Building Services Gibsonia, PA

Excel Inspections, LLC Sterling, VA

Gary Ashley

A+J Home Inspections, LLC Chambersburg, PA

Renton, WA

Michael Mayo

Durall, WA

Beaver, PA

Alexander Parashos #POBåEF *OTQFDUPST Darby, PA

Thomas (Skip) Sanders #SJDL .PSUBS *OTQFDUJPOT Pittsburgh, PA

Mark Sylvester Inspection Professionals Philadelphia, PA

James Wright Lanchester Home Services Atglen, PA

Robert Goldt I Inspect, LLC Simpsonville, SC

Ron Griffin Distinctive Home Inspections Lexington, SC

Jeffrey Triphahn Trips Home Inspections, LLC Daniel Island, SC

As of December1, 2016

James Sigmund

Peter Heisler

Ernest Lucas

New ASHI Inspectors

Allan Buchan Tim Cheetham Snohomish, WA

John Dahlberg Dahlberg Inspections Sultan, WA

Mark Daughtry Cascade West Home Inspections, LLC Bellevue, WA

INSPECTOR

Joshua Melstrom

Jessica Roberts

Robert Leiby

#F $POåEFOU )PNF Inspection Services, LLC Scottsdale, AZ

+3 $FSUJåFE )PNF *OTQFDUJPOT Rantoul, KS

RAL Home Inspections, LLC Perkasie, PA

Monty Hill

Michael Stahler

Shannon Lewis

Stahler Inspection Service Pine Island, MN

ABI Home Inspections Lively, VA

Residential Inspector of America Covington, GA

Thomas Kruger AAlert Home Inspections Grayslake, IL

Jesse Mills 4USBJHIUGPSXBSE )PNF Inspections, LLC Chicago, IL

Michael Schallenberger American Property Inspections Billings, MT

Justin Collins Allied Inspection Services Bethlehem, PA

Jonathan Klum Snoqualmie, WA

James Lagergren 3BJOTIBEPX *OTQFDUJPO 4FSWJDFT Port Townsend, WA

New ASHI Certified Home Inspectors As of December 1, 2016

Douglas Lauffer Spokane, WA

Jason Lewis Kent, WA

Bill Scott Everett, WA

Eric Erickson

Rodney Nissley

Jared Schmidlin

Proline Inspection Chino Valley, AZ

Brick & Beam Home Inspections, LLC Pierceton, IN

Seagate Inspections, Inc. Holland, OH

F. Nash Strudwick All Point Inspections, LLC Nantucket, MA

Fort Pitt Home Inspection Service Pittsburgh, PA

Steven Howland

Dan Horvath

Rob Gardner

Maple Valley, WA

A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections Greeley, CO

Gardner Home Inspections, LLC Santa Fe, TN

Mark Cashin

Michael Guadagna

Scott Chinnock

Steve Robinson

.( (FOVJOF )PNF Inspections, LLC Longwood, FL

Castle Home Inspections, LLC Fridley, MN

Peach Inspections Coatesville, PA

Jeff Kinton

Tyler Scott

Cornerstone Inspection Group Atlanta, GA

0BLT )PNF Inspection, LLC O’Fallon, MO

ValueGuard Home Inspections Philadelphia, PA

Kevin Marler

Paul Smith

Boise Home Inspections Star, ID

General Inspections, LLC Florissant, MO

Don Fischer

John Smith

6QPO 'VSUIFS 3FWJFX Granbury, TX

Extra Eyez Inspections Woodstock, IL

Lawrence Pfeifer

Dale Kopp

0BLT )PNF *OTQFDUJPO LLC Warrenton, MO

Jason Lee Sunnyside Property Inspections Columbia, TN

Conner Larkin Allen, TX

Jeremy Lovelady .BHOPMJB )PNF *OTQFDUJPO Services Hockley, TX

Lloyd Martin

Pfeifer Professional Home Inspection McKinney, TX

Leonard Barnhart Home Inspections of VA + WV, LLC Front Royal, VA

Mark Fjeldheim Honey Do Enterprises, LLC Winchester, VA

Brad Shaffer

0O UIF .BSL *OTQFDUJPOT --$ Superior, WI

Carol Lindsey CB Lindsey Home Inspections, LLC Washburn, WI

John Overholser Top to Bottom Services Hedgesville, WV

Home Inspections By Kopp Plainfield, IL

George Meegan Preferred Property Consultants, Inc. Park Ridge, IL

Kevin Raugstad Dynamic Home Inspection Services, LLC Arlington Heights, IL

Adam Smith

Roger Weaver

Walt Fick ,OPX :PVS )PNF Inspections and Services, LLC Kearney, NE

Robert Ayling

A1 Home Inspection, LLC White Haven, PA

David Weikel US Inspect Chantilly, VA

Marc Jones Jones Brothers Home Inspections, LLC Kennewick, WA

Christopher Jones Jones Brothers Home Inspections, LLC Richland, WA

Home Inspection Connection, LLC Glassboro, NJ

Mark Kidwell Herndon, VA

31February 2017

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31

ASHI Chapter Education 2017 OAHI/CAHPI-ON Education Conference When: Where:

March 3-5, 2017 Holiday Inn, Burlington Hotel & Conference Center, 3063 South Service Rd., Burlington, ON Contact: ericajp@rogers.com

Central PA ASHI Chapter Education Conference When: Where:

March 4, 2017 Park Inn by Radisson (Harrisburg West).

5401 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 CEUs 8 ASHI CEs Contact: Patrick Reilly, pwreilly@comcast.net

North Central Ohio ASHI When: Where: Parma, Topic: Speaker:

Thursday March 9, 6pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9pm Parma Library at 6996 Powers Blvd Ohio 44129 Report Writingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;group class Paul Wancata & Bill Stone

When: Where:

March 18, 2017 Waterford at Fair Oaks, 12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA Topics: Manufactured Home Inspection, Updates in the 2014 National Electrical Code, Built-in Appliances, New Plumbing Rules and Components Speaker: Michael Casey CEUs 8 ASHI CEs Contact: Dave Rushton, ableinspections@

Western Washington Chapter Spring Seminar When: Where:

March 18, 2017 LeMay-Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Car Museum Tacoma, WA 98421 Topics: Stucco, Adhered Masonry Veneer, Roofing, Gas and Legal issues Speakers: Bruce Barker CEUs 7 ASHI CEs Contact: Brad Albin, inspectorbrad@frontier.com

North Central Ohio ASHI

When: CEUs

March 9-10, 2017 March 9 - NADRA Deck Inspection Certificate Class 4 ASHI CEs March 10 - Education Seminar 8 ASHI CEs Where: St. Louis Association of Realtors Conference Center 12777 Olive Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63141 Contact: Mark Goodman mark@home inspectstl.com

When: Where:

Ohio ASHI Chapter March Expo

The Reporter is produced 6-8 weeks ahead of the week it arrives in your mailbox.

March 10-12, 2017 Quest Center, Columbus, OH Infrared, International Gas Code Structural Defects, Legal Report Writing and Plumbing Speakers: Bryck and Harris Guibor, Don McBride, Joe Denneler, Bill Fabian, Forrest Lines CEUs 8 Friday, 14 Saturday/Sunday Contact: georgebasista@yahoo.com 330-565-3760, ohioashi.com/events

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

ASHIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Recruit-aMember Program

centurylink.net

St. Louis Spring Seminar

When: Where: Topics:

32

Nova ASHI Seminar

Thursday April 13, 6pm-9pm Independence Library at 6361 Selig Blvd, Independence, Ohio 44131

IMPORTANT REPORTER DEADLINES: t "13*- *446& t .": *446& t +6/& *446& t +6-: *446& t "6(645 *446& t 4&15&.#&3 *446&

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.

Ohio Chapter of ASHI Home Inspectors Expo

Ohio Chapter of ASHI Home Inspectors Expo Submitted by Tim Buell, ACI; Forrest Lines, ACI; and Howard Snyder, Ohio Chapter Executive Director

T

he first Ohio Chapter multiday conference was held in 1996. During the first three years, the conference was held in ." 5 & 0 & ( 5 , 85Äť 5 )/,."5 )( , ( 65#(5gooo651 -5" & 5 .5." 5 "#)5 . . 5 (#0 ,-#.3]-5 1 ..5 (. ,65 ( 5 0 ,35 conference since that year has been held in the Columbus area. The event started out as a two-day conference held in early March, but because of the growth of the industry and the chapter, it quickly outgrew a number of facilities.

James Jagger Juknialis, President, moved the location to the center of the state to make it more convenient for the majority of members. The upcoming conference in March 2017 will be Ohio Chapterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21st conference.

Following ASHIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission statement, â&#x20AC;&#x153;to provide educationâ&#x20AC;Ś,â&#x20AC;? members attending have increased their knowledge by hearing from educators including Don Norman, Mike Casey, Bruce Barker, Bryck & Harris, Steve Verssen and Kenny Hart, to name a few.

Several years ago, chapter leaders identified a need to help new members achieve ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI) status.

Consequently, we added a third day (Friday) to the conference to focus on that goal. In addition, the extended conference includes peer reviews that have been led by notables such as ASHI Executive Director Frank Lesh.

In 2008, the Ohio Chapters of ASHI and NAHI joined forces and renamed the conference â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Ohio Home Inspectors Expo,â&#x20AC;? inviting all inspectors no matter their affiliation. Leveraging the resources of both organizations allowed us to spread fixed costs over more attendees, thus keeping costs low. More importantly, it created camaraderie by building new and re-establishing relationships with our fellow inspectors.

In addition to educational sessions, products and services are available from over 30 participating vendors. GEM Marketing, Tom Feiza, Joe Denneler and a host of others help our attendees improve their business through marketing merchandise and by offering ancillary services.

This business is all about relationships. Those relationships with our clients, real estate agents and especially with our colleagues are very important. Attending local chapter seminars and the national conference, InspectionWorldÂŽ, improves us as inspectors.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Expo will be held March 10-12 at the Quest Center in Columbus. All home inspectors are invited and encouraged to attend. The conference lineup will feature Bryck & Harris, presenting electrical and structural; Forrest Lines, professional reporting; Don MacBride, all about natural gas; Bill Fabian, infrared material; and Joseph Denneler, attorney, home inspection litigation. For further information, contact Howard Snyder at OHASHI@neo.rr.com, call 330-929-5239 or visit the website www.ohioashi.com/store (select Education/Dues to register). H 33February 2017

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33

Get the Most out of Your Membership Benefits: Access ASHIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Online Resources Today!

By Russell K. Daniels, ASHI Assistant Executive Director and Director of Membership Services & Chapter Relations, russelld@ashi.org

ASHI members are eligible for so many benefits, many of which are easily accessible online! If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tried the benefits listed below, what are you waiting for? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the chance to get ahead by leveraging all of these great resources.

1. Network. ASHI has an online forum that allows you to connect with others on your schedule. Taking part in this online community can be a great asset to you because you can ask technical questions or just post unusual things you come across in the field and find out how others would report on them.

2. Update your business profile in real time. Via the ASHI website, you can easily update your business profile on your own at any time. Now that so many businesses have a website and a social media presence, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a necessity for members to be aware how easy it is to increase their own Internet presence by using ASHIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online resources.

3. Promote your business. Engaging with an online community allows members to promote the additional services they provide in their business and potentially receive more financial gain with each inspection. Consider achieving the needed expertise to offer and perform mold, radon, termite and other add-on services to increase your bottom line per inspection.

34

ASHI Reporter t February 2017

4. Educate yourself. With more than 90 modules available to members on the ASHI website, you can keep sharp and stay knowledgeable about all aspects of home inspection. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let your competitors outlearn you. Log on to the ASHI website, put the mouse on the Education tab, click on the Online Learning Center and start learning, reviewing or updating your knowledge now!

5. Consider expanding your business to include commercial inspections.

Adding commercial inspections to your realm of expertise can become a great source of extra income. Go to The ASHI School website at www.theashischool. com to find out when and where the next commercial training course near you will be held.

6. Distribute survey cards to your clients. Are you giving each of your &# (.-5 5-/,0 35 , 5 . ,5." 5#(-* .#)(>5 You should! ASHI provides survey cards for you that allow your clients to assess and describe how you performed the inspection. Then, each quarter, ASHI holds a raffle for all those who completed a survey during those three months. One of your clients could be a winner of a $250 Home Depot gift card. In addition,

if it is your client who is selected as the winner that quarter, you also will receive a $50 Visa gift card!

7. Promote ASHI along with your business. Be sure to tell your client that ASHI is the only association for home inspectors that has a third-party accredited certification by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies.

Your membership in ASHI as the leading professional organization for home inspectors is a positive selling point.

You can also benefit in many ways from volunterring for ASHI Committees, Council of Representatives, mentoring, chapter events, writing articles for the Reporter. Working with other members helps your network and builds your business!

To fill out a volunteer form, please visit: http://www.homeinspector.org/ files/membersonly/docs/call_for_ volunteers.pdf. H

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

FREE ASHI Member access to past IW sessions.

CURRENT ASHI MEMBERSHIP

1. Go to www.ASHI.org

ASHI Certified Inspectors: 3,350

2. Under Education & Training

Inspectors/Logo: 211 Associates: 3,851 Retired Members: 101 Affiliates: 77

3. Click on:

ASHI ONLINE LEARNING CENTER

Total: 7,590 Members as of 1/6/2017

Febru ary Anni versa ries

Forty Years Jules Falcone

Thirty Years Lyle Plumhoff

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

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

Twenty-five Years Carlos Ceballos Maurice (Maury) Drummey Steve Gorman Rob Hopkin Girvan Kroesing Kenneth Lloyd Paul Lyman Kerry Parham Don Randazzo Charles Roskovensky Paul Signore John Spoehr William Stephens

Twenty Years John Becker Stan Edmunds Edward Green Bill Loden James Logan Edward Massart Robert Wood

Fifteen Years

Ten Years Chester Allen Michael Von Gunten Mike Lauby Ron Gerome Lou Voss Robert Allender Joe Mahurter Gregory Martins Neil Morris Scott Spindler Darryl Chandler Winfield (Chuck) Burnum Gary Howell Bob Krause Robert Marley Darryl Willoughby

Five Years Steve Anderson Jason David Dave Johnson Dustin Herron John Medina Patrick Erb Gary Otten Barry Lancaster M. Victor Sedinger Chris Lucke Patrick Burger Jerrod Turnbow

Timothy Bunch Norman Ellis Richard Glodowski Charlie Gutridge Ed Miehlke Chuck Mitchell Randy Navarro Ron Self

PLATINUM PROVIDER Millionaire Inspector Community Mike Crow www.mikecrow.com dreamtime@mikecrow.com Mention that you are an ASHI member.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Painter Made it Rain!â&#x20AC;?

Continued from Page 11

I measured the interior relative humidity (RH) at 47% to 51% in the kitchen and 55% to 57% in the bedroom with the problem. The interior temperature was about 65 degrees F. I always test with three electronic meters, and each one gives a little different RH reading. (I gave up on my sling psychrometer years ago because it took too much time to get an RH reading, but this is an impressive tool to use.)

The problem walls, ceilings and visible stains tested dry with a moisture meter.

The edges of the exterior walls and the stained areas measured 61 to 64 degrees F. The exterior temperature was about 50 degrees F and 50% relative humidity.

-#(!5 5 )"& ,5 , ( 5 5 3!,). '*5hj65 I determined that the problem wall areas were just 10 degrees F above the dew point temperature. The Wohler meter reads relative humidity, dew point temperature and surface temperature, and the results of the readings determine the temperature

difference between the dew point and the surface temperature. Other manufacturers, including Protimeter, offer similar instruments.

The owner set the interior temperature to be 63 degrees while she was away at work and 68 degrees while she was at home. The owner loved to open windows to ventilate the home, even when the outdoors was humid and the temperature was below 60 degrees.

Photo 4. White and blue air baffles and insulation

The white air baffles were installed correctly against the roof deck, allowing ventilation air to flow past the insulation (Photo 5).

Checking the Attic Throughout the attic, I saw relatively new fiberglass insulation that was about 20 inches thickâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;providing insulation value of about R50. There were no signs of condensation, and the attic was wellventilated with soffit and roof vents.

Air baffles were in place to keep ventilation airflow above the insulation. With the lights off, it was easy to see light in the soffits through the air baffles (Photo 4).

Photo 5. White air baffle gap

The blue air baffles looked a little strange.

They were stapled on the lower edge of the roof joists, creating a large space for ventilation air. In fact, two blue air baffles (double-wide) were stapled to the rafters (Photo 6).

1-800-NO-RADON www.Swat-Radon.com Photo 6. Blue air baffle large gap

RRRRR RRRRRRRRR SSSRRSS SWAT CM TM TT ASHI ACCCACTMC Your clients can now get $100 off a new Radon Mitigation System.

Spare blue baffles were stored in the attic, and it appeared that they should have been split in two and installed tight to the roof deck, not on the lower edge of the roof rafters (Photo 7).

Photo 7. Spare blue air baffles

SCCSCTS 35 SMTMCM CMTMM MM CMTMM MMMM CCCMCCCCC TCTTTCTCTTM CT TTC ITCIMMCI OSCC 150,000 SITTCMMCIA ITMMTAATMCMTM *Mennon this ad to receive $100 discount | Call for more details on our Inspector Referral Program.

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

Continues on Page 38

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Painter Made it Rain!â&#x20AC;?

Thinking It Through I narrowed down everything to these relevant facts: R555Äť 5")' )1( ,-5" 5-#!(#Ĺ&#x20AC; (.&35.#!".ened up their home with new windows, attic insulation and insulation blown into the walls. The mid-century home no longer leaked air and moisture to the outdoors as it did before they made the improvements.

R55Äť 5ofz5 /,( 5()5&)(! ,50 (. 5 ( 5 dried the home. A naturally drafted furnace vented air up the chimney 24/7.

R55Äť 5#( ),, .&35#(-. && 5 &/ 5 Ĺ&#x201E; -5" 5 created a great space for ventilation air, but also limited insulation at the edge of the ceiling to about a two-inch depth. Cool exterior air was flowing past and possibly into this thin insulation.

R55Äť 5* #(. ,5 ( 5"#-5& . 25* #(.5 5 about two gallons of water to the roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air within a few hours.

R55Äť 5)1( ,5% *.5." 5")' 5 .5li5 !, -5 much of the time, which meant that the wall and ceiling surfaces were cool. The ceiling dipped below the dew point temperature as the paint added moisture to the air.

Conclusion: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leakâ&#x20AC;? Caused

by Condensation The low interior temperature of 63 degrees allowed exterior wall surfaces to cool.

Because the blue baffles had been installed incorrectly, there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough insulation along the exterior wall.

Increased air flow and lower exterior temperatures cooled the outer edge of the drywall ceiling.

Once the homeowners took measures to decrease air movement in and out of the house, indoor humidity greatly increased.

The newly applied paint added even more moisture to the bedroom air and raised the airâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dew point temperature.

Autumn brought cooler temperatures so that the drywallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temperature dropped below the interior dew point temperature.

Water condensed only on the coolest area of drywall in the bedroom, where water in the paint caused condensation. The rest of the drywall and windows were still above the dew point temperature.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Fix Remove the air baffles with a very large gap and place the baffles on the roof deck.

Thicken the insulation below the baffles to the ceiling. The best step would be to use closed-cell expanding foam from the lower edge of the baffle to the ceiling; this would stop air movement into the insulation and provide excellent insulation value.

Remember, when you see water stains or even water droplets forming on a surface, think about the dew point. Always remember that if water is condensing on a surface, the surface temperature must be below the dew point temperature. And then go from there.

Like this information? Catch Tom Feizaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new presentation on dew point and moisture science at an ASHI meeting near you. H Tom Feiza has been a professional home inspector since 1992 and has a degree in engineering. Through HowToOperateYourHome.com, he provides high-quality marketing materials that help professional home inspectors boost their business. Copyright Š 2017 by Tom Feiza, .S 'JY *U *OD 3FQSPEVDFE XJUI QFSNJTTJPO Visit HowToOperateYourHome.com (or htoyh.com) for more information about building science, books, articles, marketing and illustrations for home inspectors. Email Tom (Tom@misterfix-it.com) XJUI RVFTUJPOT BOE comments, or phone 262-303-4884.

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Locate the form under Education tab on:

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

Deadline for submissions is 3/15/17.

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.

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39February 2017

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ASHI has a TRUCKLO AD of Benefit s for Every Inspector!

To help you “Keep on Truckin,” use ASHI’s benefit resources to drive your success down the road.

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

Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors

NHIE Study Guide

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Check out your valuable ASHI benefits by clicking on the rotating images at: www.ashi.org

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The NHIE Study Guide and the NHIE Home Inspection Manual together contain over 750 pages of technical and administrative information and are produced by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors.

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NEW POSTCARDS EMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: postcards@ashi.org

Inspectors Can’t Help but Inspect Before

Honey, Have you Seen my Cookie pan?

Asbestos torn off and thrown into an “ironic” dumpster.

Joshua Westlund Westlund Inspection Team Chicago, IL

Not quite the pan I was looking for.

Chris Stichter Bill’s Home Inspections (SFFO 7BMMFZ ";

After

Somebody Wanted to Peek Under This Classic ASHI Reporter Fan I was just told by my wife that someone was reading my ASHI Reporter even more intently and passionaetly than I.

Jim Young HomePro Professional Home Inspection Cleveland, OH

Joshua Westlund Westlund Inspection Team Chicago, IL

Inspector Said Replace Sink Drain to a “P” Trap

Chimney With Nothing to Hide This is the first seethrough chimney I have seen. Makes it easy to determine if maintenance is needed.

Jim Sipe Heartland Home Inspection Training Indianapolis, IN

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

I guess they took it literally.

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NEW POSTCARDS EMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: postcards@ashi.org

How Does That Beatles Song Go?

Didn’t Expect to go Splunking Don’t eat the icicle!

I’m not fixing a hole in the roof where the rain gets in.

Jeff Walsh Long River Inspections New Haven County, CT

Tim Hemm Tim Hemm Inspections :VDBJQB $"

Snakes on the Roof!

The drain snake that has been laying on the roof (apparently for some time) may be the indication of an ongoing problem & the short vent pipe termination is also creating another one.

As I Walked up to the House... ...this sign reminded me of times gone by.

Jay Womack American Building Inspections Mentor, OH

Tim Hemm Tim Hemm Inspections :VDBJQB $"

“Vent to Vent”

How Would you Report This?

The bathroom vent fan below terminates into the plumbing vent piping.

Brian Cogley Cogley Property Inspections, LLC Oakland, CA

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

What is not seen is the bird’s nest in the exhaust, which will help with the fire.

Clay Ridings Preferred Home Inspections Delaware & Pennsylvania

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Being a Member…

More Importantly, Being a Welcoming Member I

n 2016, ASHI enacted the “Year of the Chapter,” a program highlighting the benefits of chapter membership, and especially geared toward those who may not yet belong to a chapter. We spotlighted how ASHI provides development opportunities, offers tools to assist with daily business operations and emphasizes educational opportunities for all chapters. This assistance can be especially valuable to chapters with limited funds or capabilities. All ASHI members can benefit from chapter membership, whether it be with an established chapter or one of our new “virtual” chapters.

In 2017, we’ll expand this program to recognize those new ASHI members who attend a chapter meeting or InspectionWorld® to pursue personal education and expand their knowledge about tools and ideas that can assist them in their inspection business. All of this personal enrichment is enhanced by the benefits that come from simply meeting fellow inspectors who can offer support and camaraderie.

As ASHI’s new President, let me tell you how I came to home inspection. Back in 1987, while working in the underwriting section of a major financial institution, I was continually asked if I could do home inspections. Because of a potential conflict of interest, I had to decline. Then, on a Friday in April 1996, I (along with 286 other field underwriters) was dismissed. The following Monday, my former coworkers and I were all retained as independent contractors. I completed my first home inspection two days later and have been working in the great profession of home inspection ever since.

I enrolled in a home inspection class at a local technical college and the instructor informed the class about an organization known as “ASHI.” Another student added that ASHI had chapters and there was one in my area known as “Great Lakes.” Soon after, I joined both ASHI and the Great Lakes Chapter (GLC). That was back in 1998, and in the years since, I’ve sincerely enjoyed my relationship with ASHI, at both national and chapter levels.

However, I’ll admit that it didn’t start off so smoothly. When I attended my first GLC meeting, a daylong educational session in Cincinnati, I entered the classroom not knowing anyone. I sat in a corner of the room, watching and learning, and I remember I didn’t feel comfortable and sort of decided that this ASHI and GLC thing may not be best for me. Before lunch, I’d made up my mind to stick it out for the day, return to Wisconsin and not attend any more conferences, and maybe not even renew my membership.

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ASHI Reporter t February 2017

By ASHI President, Howie Pegelow

Then something happened. Another inspector walked up to me and said “hello.” A simple greeting and a handshake. The inspector who greeted me was the President of the chapter at that time, Frank Lesh (ASHI’s current executive director). Frank escorted me around, introducing me to other inspectors and officers within GLC. I remember their sincere greetings and exchanges.

As the day went on, the conference was simply great—very informative and clearly a benefit for all in attendance. I left the conference thinking that ASHI may be the real thing after all and I should give it a chance. I went on to attend future chapter conferences with enjoyment. In 2000, I had a similar experience when I attended my first InspectionWorld® in San Diego.

There I met fellow inspectors from the ASHI community and the experience was very rewarding.

As you see from my story, ASHI probably would have lost a member as a result of my initial experience at the first chapter event I attended. Not because ASHI and the chapter produced educational programs that were lacking or because I expected a big fanfare to welcome me. But that simple “hello” from an ASHI member and the sincere “how can I help you” made me feel at ease.

I’m sure many of you have similar stories of when you first became involved with ASHI. I believe it’s important to welcome everyone to our chapter and national activities. Let’s give our members a chance to express their wants and desires while they enjoy the benefits that ASHI and its chapters offer. There are many opportunities to join national or chapter committees or the Council of Representatives. Our chapters’ directors and officers need your experiences. I believe ASHI is a family, and a family works together for the benefit of all.

So, what do we ask of you? Nothing more than a simple gesture of welcome to new members whenever you can. Yes, a simple handshake and “how can I help you” is all that’s needed. You’ll find that not only is this meaningful for that member, but it will be rewarding to you as well. I’m hopeful that ASHI can build bridges from our many established chapters that extend out to our newer virtual ones, and that through this outreach ASHI will have many new members for life. H

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