Editor’s Note: Even in these go-go times it pays to keep on eye on the bottom line. Noted author and long-time appraiser Lloyd Manning takes it down a notch to revisit some business basics. Spring Cleaning: A Business Refresher Lloyd R. Manning To run a successful appraisal or home inspection practice you must do several...…
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Starting the New Year Fresh By David Roche, CRI Winter is here and with it the prospect of having more time on your hands as your inspection business slows down. It is a time of the year when you start thinking about watching TV, renting videos, eating big dinners and going to bed early with...…
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Meet a Mold Inspector Even in one of the driest spots on earth—the Las Vegas desert, there is plenty of work for mold inspector Vladimir Primaky. “It may be dry outside but inside there are plenty of opportunities for moisture intrusion that can cause mold to grow, such as roof leaks, leaky pipes, improperly adjusted...…
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Inspecting an Attic from the Inside Out By: Cliff Steelman The attic is one of the most important areas of the house to be inspected. Here’s why, along with a few tips to help ensure that your attic inspections are thorough and complete. To understand the importance of an attic inspection you must first understand…
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Understanding Arbitration Douglas A. Glass, Esq. & Kris P. Thompson, Esq. It’s mid-afternoon on a typical Thursday. There is a knock at your office door. You are not expecting anyone so you are slightly surprised as you walk to the door and open it. A young man stands in front of you, somewhat out of...…
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State of the Art Mold Test Now Available Lighthouse Laboratories is now providing state-of-the-art DNA testing for Stachybotrys Chartarum (toxic or black mold) through the collection of a simple dust sample. The test uses real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methodologies developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DNA test is considered highly...…
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Avoiding Complaints Are You Doing All You Can? The following is excerpted from the Liability Reporter, a risk management e-newsletter for real estate home inspectors and appraisers published by the Organization of Real Estate Professionals (www.OREP.org). Home Inspector Checklist* 1. Do you always obtain a signed pre-inspection agreement from the client? 2. Does your pre-inspection…
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Editor’s Note: Do you have a survival plan if the real estate market slows dramatically like it did in the early and mid 90s? Barry Lebow has been there and back and has some excellent advice for appraisers and home inspectors on how to prosper in hard times. The key is being prepared. Making the...…
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It all starts with a phone call. A prospective homebuyer/seller calls about your services and fees. The impression your firm makes over the telephone, in large part, will determine whether the caller hires you.
Bill and Jeanne Sutton run the Bay Colony Home Inspection Co. in Milton, Mass. – one of the best in the business.…
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Editor’s Note: Here is the second in an ongoing series of risk management strategies from Alan Carson designed to help inspectors insulate themselves from liability. This installment examines the value of a good contract and the importance of establishing realistic expectations in the mind of your client. Inspecting Your Contract By Alan Carson Many believe...…
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