Best Defense: Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Your Contract By Kris Thompson, Esq. Having a signature from a customer on your home inspection contract can greatly increase your ability to defend yourself if you are sued. In question and answer sessions, at round table discussions, and during consultations with home inspector clients, inspectors bring up the…
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Ending Collection Headaches Accept Payment by Check- by Fax! The best way to deal with collections is to avoid them. The best way to do that is to collect your money up front whenever possible. Easier said than done, right? Not any more. New “check writing” software makes collecting up front as easy and quick…
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How to Date a House By Alan Carson As home inspectors, we have some tricks for figuring out the age of a house. In newer subdivisions we pick up dates from manhole covers, sidewalks and curbs. This will give you an idea of when the subdivision was built. This obviously doesn’t work in older neighborhoods....…
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Investigating Forensic Inspecting According to inspector Joey Caballero, the best thing about “forensic inspecting” is the challenge. “It’s not like a typical report. These cases make you concentrate more and work harder. They make you a better inspector.” Caballero, inspecting 12 years, has handled 15-20 cases over the years where he’s been called in to…
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Editor’s Note: Many appraisers and inspectors see red when their insurance company settles a claim they feel is frivolous. Here’s the story of one inspector who had his day in court – and won. Having Your Day in Court: And Winning! By Todd F. Stevens A few months ago I defended a home inspector in...…
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Business Dos & Don’ts In an online chat room recently, a struggling new inspector asked advice from the seasoned pros: “What are the three best and worst things you did to get your business started?” Here’s how a few answered. Best Went to ASHI/CREIA chapter meetings. It’s a great way to meet other inspectors and…
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Diagnosing Structural Problems Serious structural problems in houses are not very common but when they occur they are never cheap to fix. Some can’t be fixed at all. This report won’t turn you into an expert but it does provide some of the common indicators. Uneven Floors Uneven floors are typical, particularly in older homes....…
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Risk Management Loss Prevention Checklist The following steps have proven effective at avoiding complaints and lowering the liability of home inspectors. Two points emerge: First, according to risk management experts, loss prevention is as much about communication as it is about understanding the systems of a building. They stress that expert knowledge is vital but…
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10 Step Business Tune Up By Doug Smith, IFAS Use this ten step program to reach your business and personal potential. It isn’t about finding new clients as much as is about fine-tuning your current business to maximize your potential and be all you can be. Do a reverse business plan. Knowing what you know...…
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Expert Witness Testimony: Advice from the Bench State court Judge Caroline Baker has heard just about every type of civil case from contract disputes to medical malpractice. What impresses her most about the multitudes of expert witnesses that pass through her courtroom? Experts who make themselves available to testify at trial. The judge says live…
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