April 2016 Reporter

REPORTERASHI

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

4.16 APRIL is National Home Inspection Month

EXAMINING MORALS AND ETHICS P24

8 Exterior Steps and Landings

14 Nontraditional HVAC Systems

18 AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 1

20 How a Simple Head Bump can Cause an Insidious Brain Injury

38 Insider Tips: Switches and Caulking40 Postcards From the Field42 Stories From the Field

2 ASHI Reporter • April 2016 3April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 3

Departments 6 Being Frank From ASHI’s Executive Director

12 Around the CoRner Jim Funkhouser, Speaker of the CoR

26 Affiliate Spotlight The ASHI School 28 ASHI Community Chapter lising, New Inspector Status, Chapter Events, Council News and Education

33 Your ASHI Membership News, Event Calendar, Endorsed Member Programs & Anniversaries

38 Insider Tips Tom Fezia, Mr. Fix-It, Inc.

40 Postcards From the Field It’s Wacky Out There

42 On My Mind Randy Sipe, ASHI President

Features 8 Exterior Steps and Landings Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop

14 Nontraditional HVAC Systems Mike Collignon, Green Builder® Coalition, and Carol Dikelsky, ASHI Reporter

18 AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 1 Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop

20 Your Health: How a Simple Bump can Cause an Insidious Brain Injury Danial Zwerdling, © 2016 National Public Radio, Inc.

24 April is National Home Inspection Month Examining Ethics and Morals Don Lovering, ACI

April 2016 Vol . 33, #4REPORTERASHI 4.16

THE FUTURE IS ON®

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Palm-Tech 11 palm-tech.com

Wagner 11 wagnermeters.com

Fort Reports 13 fortreports.com

US Inspect 13 844-268-2677

RTCA 17 RTCA.com

How To Operate Your Home 17 HowToOperateYourHome.com

3D Inspection System 19 3Dinspection.com

America’s Call Center 19 AmericasCallCenter.com

BusinessRisk Partners 21 inspectorinsurance.com

OREP 25 OREP.org

The ASHI School 26 theASHIschool.com

Allen Insurance Group 27 allenins.com

ASHI Online Learning Center 32 ASHI.org

American Home Warranty Co. 35 ahomewarranty.com

InspectIT 37 InspectIT.com

NHIES Study Guide 39 NHIEStudyGuide.org

Sun Nuclear Corporation 43 sunradon.com

HomeGauge 44 HomeGauge.com

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ASHI Reporter • April 2016 5April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 54 5ASHI Reporter • April 2016 5April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org

ASHI MISSION STATEMENTTo 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 National Officers and Board of DirectorsEducated. Tested. Verified. Certified.

Publisher: Frank Lesh

Editor: Carol Dikelsky

Art Director: Arlene Zapata, Jr. Designer: Kate Laurent

American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc.

932 Lee Street, Suite 101

Des Plaines, IL 60016

847-954-3186 Reporter calls only

847-299-2505 (fax) Reporter only

E-mail: [email protected]

Advertising: Dave Kogan Phone: 847-954-3187, E-mail: [email protected]

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© 2016, 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.

Randy Sipe, PresidentSpring Hill, KS, [email protected]

Howard Pegelow, President-Elect Gilbert, AZ, [email protected]

Robert Walstead, Vice President Sun City Arizona, 623 695 4789 [email protected]

Tim Buell, TreasurerMarysville, OH, 614-746-7485 [email protected]

Scott Patterson, SecretarySpring Hill, TN, 615-302-1113 [email protected]

Alden Gibson, Immediate Past-President Breslau, ON, [email protected]

Officers

Bruce Barker 2015-2017 Cary, NC, [email protected]

Ken Harrington 2015-2017

Delaware, OH, [email protected]

Richard Hart 2016-2018 Conyers, GA, [email protected]

David Haught 2016-2018 Huntington, WV, [email protected]

C. Blaine Illingworth III 2015-2017

Harleysville, PA, [email protected]

Keven Kossler 2015-2017

Huntersville, NC, [email protected]

Bruce Labell 2015-2017

Scottsdale, AZ, [email protected]

Mark Londner 2014-2016 Purcellville, VA, 540-668-6339 [email protected]

Donald Lovering 2015-2016 Auburndale, MA, 617-928-1942 [email protected]

Blaine Swan 2016-2018 Columbus, OH614 [email protected]

Tony Smith 2015-2017 Cedar Rapids, IA, 319-533-4565 [email protected]

Mike Wagner 2014-2016 Westfield, IN, 317-867-7688 [email protected]

John Wessling 2016-2018 St. Louis, MO, [email protected]

Kevin Westendorf 2014-2016

Mt. Pleasant, SC, 843-881-7842kevinw@lowcountryhome inspection.com

Speaker, Council of Representatives: James Funkhouser 2015-2016 Manassas Park, VA, 703-791-2360 [email protected]

Directors

ASHI STAFFMain Phone: 847-759-2820, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Mon. - Fri., CST

Executive Director

Frank Lesh, Executive Director, 847-954-3182, [email protected] Bruno, Executive Assistant, 847-954-3177 [email protected]

Education, CE Approval, Smart Track, InspectionWorld

Michele George, Director of Education & Events, 847-954-3188 [email protected]

Membership, Chapter Relations, Booth Rental, Product Orders

Russell Daniels, Assistant Executive Director, Director Membership and Chapter Relations, 847-954-3185, [email protected] Lester, Membership Services Coordinator, 847-954-3176 [email protected] George, Membership Services Supervisor, 847-954-3180 [email protected] Gallegos, Membership Administrator, 847-954-3175 [email protected] Laurent, Administratove Assistant, 847-954-3179 [email protected] Accounting

Toni Fanizza, Bookkeeper, 847-954-3190, [email protected] Canham, Financial Assistant, 847-954-3184 [email protected]

Website, Information Systems, Database

Mike Rostescu, Director IT & Internet Communications 847-954-3189, [email protected] Publications, Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations

Dave Kogan, Manager of Marketing & Business Development 847-954-3187, [email protected] Arlene Zapata, Graphic Design Manager, 847-954-3186 [email protected]

The ASHI School

Kendra Eiermann, Manager, 888-884-0440 or 847-954-3178 [email protected] Steve Reilly, Senior Sales Representative, 888-884-0440 or 847-954-3181, [email protected] McGraw, Administrative Assistant, 847-954-3198 [email protected]

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While modern roof shingles often offer a lifetime warranty,these rubber gaskets usually deteriorate in as little as 3 to 5 years.As a result, water begins to flow into the home causing damage to roof shething, insulation, ceilings, interior walls and carpet.

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It Never Rains in California – It Pours, Man, It Pours

From ASHI’s Executive Director

You’ve seen a lot written about InspectionWorld® 2016 in past issues of the ASHI Reporter. There’s good reason for that, at

least from my perspective. IW 2016 was the 27th consecutive ASHI annual conference I’ve attended. At each one, I learned valuable in-formation that helped my business immensely. Although this IW was no exception in that regard, I don’t think that any of them were as much fun as the one in San Diego.

Maybe part of the enjoyment was the mild climate. Having temperatures in the 60s is a real treat for someone like me, traveling from Chicago in January. Perhaps another reason was the open-air venue, which allowed walking through the pool area and fountains between meetings and catching a light breeze and warm sunshine on my face.

But I think the most fun I had was at the InspectPac fundraiser/ reception.

Eating, drinking and having a genuinely good time reviving friend-ships while collecting money for our lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., was an “immersion” in fundraising I’ll never forget. Nor will President Randy Sipe or Directors Scott Patterson, Bob Peterson and Shannon Cory.

Why? Well, let me say that if you ever have the opportunity to volunteer to be a target for a dunk tank, there’s no doubt you’ll ex-perience a physical cleansing that’s unforgettable. It’s great to know that—whether fully clothed or wearing nothing but a Speedo—some of ASHI’s elected officials weren’t afraid to drown their pride in ice-cold water. Not to be outdone, ASHI staff members Jen “Cheese Cake” Gallegos and Bonnie “I can do anything the boys can do…only prettier” Bruno were, for most attendees, the main event. Longtime inspector Brian Murphy gave an encore presentation in the tank and helped raise even more money.

Realizing that no one would even consider dunking me, I happily agreed to sit on the collapsing chair. To my surprise, a few future former ASHI staff members were reluctantly talked into lobbing a few balls at the target while I was on the “hot seat.” Thanks to James Allen for donating his throws to any staff members who were willing to risk new employment.

Not that I was taking names, but Russell “Southpaw” Daniels purposely missed the target with a fastball clocked at 96 mph. Janet “Bulldog” George tossed a couple of under-hand balls with such finesse that they bounced right off the target. Bonnie and Jen just wanted me to enjoy the cool, refreshing pool, while Michele “InspectionWorld” George, who must not have known that I was the one on the seat, threw a couple of mean pitches that narrowly missed the target.

But, as we all know, accidents happen. Kim “Michelin Man” McGraw was on the mound when apparently an equipment malfunction occurred, causing the chair to collapse and my toes to get a little wet. No hard feelings. Kim was a great employee who, I’m sure, will find happiness in whatever line of work she finds.

All in all, between the raffles, dunk tank and contributions from Mike Crow (the Millionaire Inspection Community), InspectPac raised $16,000. That will go a long way to ensure that ASHI is well represented on the Hill.

A great time with great fun at a great conference…InspectionWorld

2016! H

Left to Right: Jen Gallegos, Scott Patterson, Shannon Cory,

Robert Peterson, Randy Sipe, Bonnie Bruno, and Frank Lesh

Top: Bonnie Bruno

Right: Frank Lesh

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8 9ASHI Reporter • April 2016 9April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org

Exterior Steps and Landings

Exterior Steps and LandingsBy Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070

The floor level of most homes is higher than the exterior grade level. Usually, steps are needed to get up to the door. Landings

at the top of steps should be large enough to open the door without having to step down off the landing.

Concrete steps and landings can be built in several ways:• supported by the building foundation• have their own foundation (pier or continuous)• be allowed to float• poured in place or precast

Settling or heaving problems are common.

Wood steps and landings should be looked at the same way as interior stairs (with respect to dimension and stability) and the same as exterior woodwork (with respect to wood or soil contact). Wood steps in contact with soil is a condition that is frequently found and can lead to rot and step settlement.

The following are common problems with exterior steps and landings:• Rise, run, tread width (depth) and slope problems• Missing or undersized landings• Settlement or heaving• Spalling masonry or concrete• Rot, wood or soil contact or insect damage• Springy, loose or sagging steps• Carpeting over wood

Rise, Run, Tread Width and Slope ProblemsA successful staircase is one that is easy to walk up and down. The rise, run and tread width (depth) have to be within certain guidelines, often dictated by your local jurisdiction. Because this is a safety issue, you don’t have much room for latitude or interpre-tation. The uniformity of the steps is as important as their rise and run. It is not unusual for the top or bottom step to have a different rise than the rest. This can be a trip hazard and is most serious if it’s the top step. Stairs that have settled or heaved may have a slope. Generally speaking, any slope is dangerous.

The standards for rise, run and tread width vary slightly from area to area. You should learn what is acceptable in your area. Rise is usually 8 inches maximum, and runs are typically 8 to 10 inches minimum. The tread width is usually 1-inch more than the run. In some areas, this is called tread depth; in others, it is head width. This is accomplished by adding a 1-inch nosing to the tread.

Problems with rise, run, tread width, uniformity and slope may be because of the way the stairs were built or because of settlement or heaving. This is a safety issue. People may fall on stairs that are improperly arranged. Although it is not your role to insist that changes be made, it is your role to point out that the steps are not conventional and that people may fall. Most home inspectors do not measure these dimensions on every set of stairs on every home. With very little practice, one can detect stairs that are outside normal ranges and can pick up irregularities in rise and slope of treads, visually and by walking on them. If it feels awkward, it’s probably wrong.

Missing or Undersized LandingsWhere the steps come up to an exterior door, there is often a storm door that opens outward. Good building practice dictates that someone coming up the steps should not be knocked down by someone opening the door from the inside. There should be room for the door to swing out over a landing without knocking a person off. Minimum dimensions for landings often are described as three feet by three feet.

Whether the door to the building opens in or out, there should be a landing. Some jurisdictions will allow a landing to be omitted in situations where there are three or fewer risers serving a secondary entrance. Three risers serving the main entrance would require a landing, even if the door opens inward. Check your local rules.

A missing or undersized landing is an original construction issue. This is a safety issue. People may fall down the stairs. Advise clients of the benefits of a proper landing and point out where they are not present.

Look for a step going up into the house from the landing or top step. The landing should not be flush with the threshold. Water and snow are likely to get in around the bottom of the door unless there is a step up. The step up into the house should be no more than a typical rise on any step (for example, 8 inches).

Settled or Heaved StepsSettled steps may be dangerous because of the tread slope and lack of uniformity that results. They also may indicate movement of the entire structure. Repairing steps that do not have a proper foundation or are not properly supported by the building is expensive. This is especially true of concrete or masonry steps.

Settling or heaving may be caused by a failure to provide a proper foundation and footing system on undisturbed soil below the frost line. In situations where the steps are supported by the building, settlement is usually the result of inadequate attachment. In rare cases, the building walls may yield, causing settlement of the con-crete or masonry steps and other more serious structural problems.

The trip hazard that is created is the first implication. An expensive repair is the result. In severe cases, structural problems can develop. Look carefully at the junction between the steps or landing and the building itself. Where there is settlement, there is often a gap. Where the gap is wider at the top than at the bottom, the steps may be settling down away from the building. Pay attention to the step uniformity and the slope of the treads, both side to side and front to back, as you walk up the steps. Pay attention to the slope of the landing, bearing in mind that landings should slope a little to drain water away from the building.

In some cases, frost or expansive soils will cause the steps to heave rather than to settle. The resulting problems are similar. It may be safer to describe “movement” rather than mistake heaving for set-tling or vice versa. Because the movement is often rotational, this is an easy mistake to make.

Severely settled steps against a retaining wall.

Rise is too high and tread is

too short on these steps—

a trip hazard.

Rise is too high on these

porch steps.

> Exterior Steps and Landings


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Settling and deterioration on a masonry landing

Spalling Concrete or MasonrySpalling refers to the crumbling or flaking of the surface of the material. Causes include the following:

• de-icing salts• poor quality concrete or masonry• water accumulation and freezing in the masonry or concrete

Spalling is often the result of the using of de-icing salts or the freeze/thaw cycles. Spalling also can be the result of an improper concrete mix or masonry that is not suitable for use as a paver. In some cases, the implications are only cosmetic. In severe cases, the safety of the stairs may be compromised. Repairs are usually expen-sive and often involve sandblasting the concrete prior to refinishing. Check horizontal surfaces and edges, in particular, for spalling or, in some cases, chipping. Look for loose material on the steps or landing. Even in the early stages, this should be documented. Don’t mistake a textured nonskid surface for spalling. Many recommend urea-based de-icing agents rather than salts. Salts are harder on concrete because they crystallize and expand below the surface, causing spalling.

Spalling is very common on concrete and masonry steps.

Carpeting on WoodCarpeting on wood prevents a close inspection and may hold water against the wood. This is a red-flag situation. Often, carpeting is added for esthetic reasons or to provide a nonskid surface. Carpet on wood steps and decks will hold moisture, inhibit drying and lead to rot. Premature failure of the wood should be anticipated. Wood covered with carpeting cannot be repainted or stained on a regular basis and cannot be readily inspected for damage.

Explain the disadvantage of having the carpeting and recommend its removal for functional reasons. Some people will keep the carpet because of the advantages. Make sure you report your concern about the condition of the wood below the carpeting and your inability to fully inspect it.

Carpeting on wood steps promotes rot and limits inspection.

Summary

In this article, we have briefly discussed exterior steps and landings typically attached to porches and decks. We outlined some of the common conditions. In the ASHI@HOME Training Program, we explain the details of other common conditions and their associated causes and implications, along with strategies for inspection. H

> Exterior Steps and Landings

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12 13ASHI Reporter • April 2016 13April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 12 ASHI Reporter • April 2016 13April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org

Speaker: Jim Funkhouser 571-214-4039 [email protected]

Alternate Speaker:John Wessling St. Louis, MO [email protected]

Secretary:Brendan Ryan 724-898-1414 [email protected]

Group LeadersNew England/CanadaMike Atwell 617-630-5629 [email protected]

New York/ New JerseyKevin Vargo 732-271-1887 [email protected]

Mid-AtlanticHollis [email protected]

MidwestMichael J. Von Gunten 262-945-2446 [email protected]

South AtlanticRichard Hart 770-827-2200 [email protected]

GulfJohn Knudsen 334-221-0876 [email protected]

South Midwest John Wessling 314-520-1103 [email protected]

North CentralDave Haught 304-417-1247 [email protected]

MountainKurt Salomon801-523-6060 [email protected]

PacificDarrell Hay 206-226-3205 [email protected]

ASHI Council of Representatives Speakers and Group Leaders

From the Speaker of the CoRAround the CoRner

I found a frog in a crawlspace. Not really the sort of thing one normally gloats over or immediately takes to the

phone and Facebook to share. A passing remark is about all you would expect, right? However, when you change the context, the story has a reward you didn’t anticipate. I found a frog in a crawlspace in February in Northern Virginia with the outdoor temperature being 31 degrees, and the frog was ALIVE! Now, THAT’s unusual.

Here’s another “frog in a crawlspace” story, chapter membership. What’s the big deal? Lots of folks belong to a chapter… So what? Actually, chapter membership is now held by only 40% of ASHI members, which means that 60% of ASHI members do not belong to any chapter. “Ribbit.”

Had I not been part of a chapter, I wouldn’t have had the personal support, one-on-one educational opportunities and amazing experiences that I’ve had. The chapter is where you build your local market for ASHI inspectors, where you get help from and give help to each other. Where you make those friends you will have for the rest of your life—the guys and gals who understand exactly what you’re talking about. I want those things for every one of you because you deserve it.

Here’s a new way that we in the Northern Virginia (NOVA) chapter of ASHI are trying to build our membership: On February 23, 2016, NOVA ASHI held the first experimental webcast of our monthly chapter meeting. By way of GoTo-Meeting.com, we sent out an interactive video link so that people could join the meeting online. Our Chapter Relations Committee Chairman, B.K. Thompson, and I monitored and critiqued the technical aspects (as the NOVA ASHI Webcast Committee fumbled with the newly purchased equipment… me, worst of all) and we learned a lot. Soon, we’ll be sending out widespread invitations for next month’s meeting. There will be a special membership classification for those who are “Satellite Members” of NOVA ASHI, with a reduced member-ship fee and the ability to receive continuing education cred-its and discounts on chapter seminars. The NOVA ASHI Board of Directors is working out the complete list of requirements. Once the details are finalized, we will export a “How To” manual, along with CRC and CoR support, to other chapters. Eventually, everyone in ASHI will have an easy way to par-ticipate in a chapter. And even though those of you who’ll be participating in your local meetings from home can wear “comfortable clothing,” those who attend chapter meetings in person must still wear pants. Just sayin’.

Now, What’s YOUR Great Idea? Write me at [email protected] and share your ideas with the CoR.

~ Jim

James Funkhouser, Speaker, ASHI Council of Representatives, [email protected] H FORTREPORTS.COM

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C. Blaine Illingworth III (ASHI Board Member)4/17/1950 - 3/3/2016

“Blaine was a great friend, mentor and lighthouse to us all, with his wisdom and insight. Blaine is no longer in pain but we all feel the pain of his loss and we will keep his family in our prayer for God’s guidance.” –Shannon Cory

“When I think of courage it is Blaine who comes to mind first. He will be missed.” –Blaine Swan

“A good man of faith and an asset to our profession. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to his family.” –Mike Wagner

“Blaine will always be one of the people who made me a better person just for knowing him.” –Bob Walstead

“Blaine was one of the really good guys. He’ll be sorely missed by his ASHI family and his real family. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this trying time.” –Kevin Westendorff

“The ASHI Board of Directors will miss his to-the-point attitude and experience that he brought with him.” –Randy Sipe

“Blaine was the kind of guy who could disagree with me 100%...then turn the corner of his mouth up with that smile of his and make me forget what the argument was about. A great thinker and an even better human.” –Frank Lesh H

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Nontraditional HVAC Systems: What Should You Know?

> Nontraditional HVAC Systems: What Should You Know?

Nontraditional HVAC Systems: What Should You Know?

By Mike Collignon, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Green Builder® Coalition, and Carol Dikelsky, Editor, ASHI Reporter

HRVs, ERVs, high-velocity systems and ductless mini-splits…

…the use of these modern HVAC systems is growing exponentially in homes across the country. It’s important that air ventila-tion systems work correctly to ensure good air quality. Do you know the basics about these systems, including what to look for and point out to clients when you encounter them?

We asked three experts to put themselves in a home inspector’s shoes and describe important aspects of these mechanical systems that are becoming more and more common in energy- efficient homes.

Heat-Recovery and Energy-Recovery VentilatorsA conversation with Paul Raymer, Chief Investigator, Heyoka Solu-tions, Falmouth, MA (email [email protected], www.heyokasolutions.com)

Paul Raymer specializes in HRVs/ERVs and authored the book Residential Ventila-tion Handbook: Ventilation to Improve Indoor Air Quality. He emphasized the idea that a house is a system in which every part relates to every other part.

HRVs use the heat in outgoing stale air to warm the fresh air coming into a home. Typically, HRVs use one fan with two wheels (one removes household air and one brings in fresh air) and a heat- exchange core that transfers heat from

the outgoing to the incoming airstream. The core’s narrow alternating passages for the airstreams allow it to transfer heat from the warm side of each passage to the cold, without mixing them.1

“HRVs are ideal for tight, moisture-prone homes because, in the heating season, they replace the humid air with dry, fresh air. In climates with excessive outdoor humidity, an energy-recovery ventilator is more suit-able. This device is similar to an HRV, but dehumidifies the incoming fresh airstream.”1

Raymer said, “With newer, superinsulated homes, internal comfort may be achieved through effective ventilation systems.” He suggested that, when inspectors see a home’s mechanicals, they should note whether the BTUs of the furnace are lower than what is considered normal. And if an ERV is in place, ask this question: “Are these systems working in tandem?” ERVs can often reduce the necessary tonnage of the furnace by lowering the moisture that might be drawn into the home.

Raymer said, “Balance is the key factor of HRVs/ERVs. I see more oversized than undersized A/Cs. Oversized A/Cs often have an excessive electric load. For exam-ple, if there’s a window A/C unit installed in the master bedroom, this tells me that the home may have an oversized A/C unit that’s short-cycling, which means that it’s not running long enough to effectively dehumidify the air. Sometimes you’ll see a 5-ton A/C in a house that should have a 2-ton A/C.”

Codes and resources. Look for documen-tation on the HRV/ERV unit (or ask for it if it is not clearly marked on the unit). The International Energy Conservation Code

(the model energy code) requires whole-house mechanical ventilation, in addition to bathroom ventilation. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.2 is the ventilation standard for low-rise residential buildings in the United States that requires ventilation performance to be tested. (Refer to www.ashrae.org for more information.)

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (www.acca.org) provides various quality-related resources about HRV/ERV standards, installation, maintenance and restoration that could be useful for home inspectors and their clients.

Duct systems. Ventilation—not cooling or heating—is the purpose of an HRV/ERV. These systems ideally have a dedicated duct system, so in addition to the ducts used for heating and cooling, there should be an-other set of ducts for ventilation. If an HRV has its own duct system, it can be balanced, but if it’s connected to an air handler, it can

be unbalanced when the air handler is op-erating. Raymer cautioned inspectors to be aware that an HRV/ERV can tap into either input or output ducts, but if the HRV/ERV is tapped into both of these, the perfor-mance of the HRV may be useless.

The goal is to achieve efficiency and balance. An unbalanced HRV/ERV is either bringing in or putting out unequal amounts of air. An HRV/ERV can’t be balanced if it’s using both supply and return. HRVs are, by design, balanced systems, but they do not add air to the house—an HRV only brings in an equal amount to what is expelled.

Indoor units. Accessible placement of the HRV/ERV unit is critical. If it’s difficult to reach the unit, it will be difficult for the homeowner to check and maintain it. In-spectors can check the flow tabs on the sides of the HRV unit; these can help with bal-ancing the system for HERS ratings and/or energy audits.

An unbalanced HRV/ERV can put the house under negative pressure, causing an atmospherically vented combustion appli-ance to spill exhaust gases into the house.

Raymer has seen HRVs/ERVs in which the filters had never been replaced. To address this, open the unit to check that the filter is inside and note the state of the filter as well as the condition of the exchanger core.

Open the HRV/ERV cabinet to see if it has been maintained. If the core is not clean or if the cabinet is full of leaves, nests or other debris, then the core is drawing in unclean air and distributing that throughout the home.

HRVs have defrost cycles to melt ice on their cores. The internal drain pan should be clear of debris.

Outdoor units (exterior hoods). Inspectors can do a simple test with a garbage bag to determine how well the HRV outdoor unit is working. Check out the online factsheet2 for step-by-step instructions.

Exterior hoods should be 10 feet apart so that air doesn’t mix and contribute to cross-contamination.

Appliances. Check whether the intake and exhaust vents of range hoods or clothes dryers are clear and appear to have been installed and maintained properly. If an HRV or ERV has not been properly balanced, it can cause problems with appliances that use the chimney flue.

High-Velocity SystemsA conversation with Shawn Intagliata, Sustainable Business Development, Unico, Inc., St. Louis, MO (email [email protected], www.unicosystem.com)

Shawn Intagliata is a great source of in-formation about small-duct, high-velocity systems. Unico, his family’s business, produces an architecturally friendly, sustainable HVAC system.

Intagliata emphasized that home inspectors should understand the basic principles and the history of building science. He said, “The green industry is pushing the under-standing of the building concept and the science behind it. The more knowledge that home inspectors have, the better they can help their clients understand details about their significant purchase.”

This primer of high-velocity systems is based on the Unico system: Unico’s ductwork is one-quarter the size of conventional ducts and is virtually leak-free. The system can be designed to work with multiple levels or ceiling heights and produces optimum indoor moisture man-agement, which is critical in tight thermal envelopes. Its motor technology is software-

driven, which guarantees delivered CFM of air to all space, and the system delivers an even temperature (within 2 degrees) throughout the space.

Unico systems have been installed in one of the largest affordable LEED platinum projects in the nation: Make It Right Foun-dation’s redevelopment project in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, LA. This part-nership has provided cooling and heating for 1,440-square-feet homes for an average cost of $0.68 per day.

High-velocity systems may become more prevalent in homes, owing to their optimum heat transfer and affordability. Because the ducts are much smaller than standard op-tions, high-velocity systems can be found in metropolitan areas, custom homes and high-performance buildings. In the North-east, they pop up in retrofits. They are also prevalent in Texas and in cities like Denver and New Orleans.

Intagliata said, “It’s a myth that a house can be ‘too tight.’ I’d argue that the house is mechanically mismanaged. If mechani-cal systems are working properly, then the house should not be too tight.” Having high-quality indoor air reduces the risk for mold and allergens.

“Selling agents may hope that an inspector’s report will indicate that everything’s perfect about a house,” Intagliata said, “but home inspectors know they have a responsibility to give accurate information that can affect the cost and value of the home. When reporting about HVAC systems, inspectors could make an effort to provide their clients with information that could increase their knowledge base about their purchase and to reach for better outcomes.”

Intagliata recommends that inspectors use these strategies with high-velocity systems:

• Detect whether there’s an even comfort level of conditioned air; in other words, it should be hot and cold in appropriate places.

• Check whether the outdoor unit is work-ing properly; pay attention to the amount of leaves or debris and the way the unit sits on its base.


• Turn on the high-velocity unit to be sure it flows hot and cold. Check the filter placement and status.

• Turn on the fan and listen. A noisy fan could indicate an undersized system that lacks appropriate air flow or it could indicate that the system was not installed properly.

• If the house has an attic that sits above a living space, determine whether it appears to be reasonably sealed. Check whether there is a secondary drain pan under the unit and that the drain line slopes out.

• Check the indoor coil; it should be clean.• Pull out the blower wheel; it should be

clean. Blower wheels can become dusty; even 1/8 inch of dust can denigrate the motor’s efficiency by up to 20%.

• Look at the coil from the outside. If there is a top discharge, check inside the cabinet to make sure there’s no buildup of debris and dust. On the condensing unit, the compressor—the copper coil—dissipates heat outdoors. The copper coil, which can be cleaned with water, should be free of debris and dirt.

• Check whether air is flowing from every outlet. For example, if there are three out-lets in one room but only two are blowing air, this could signal a shoddy duct split.

• Understand Energy Star levels. (Look for an article addressing this topic in the May issue of the ASHI Reporter.)

• Empower your clients by sharing infor-mation. For example, when inspecting an older home that lacks modern me-chanicals, consider suggesting that the buyer invest in a high-velocity, small-duct system to better manage indoor relative humidity.

Ductless Mini-SplitsA conversation with Ken Nelson, Northwest Regional Manager, Panasonic Eco Solutions – North America, Olympia, WA (email [email protected], www.business.panasonic.com/products-hvac- ventilationproducts)

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),3 ductless, mini-split system heat pumps and air conditioners (often

simply referred to as “mini-splits”) are becoming more common in multifamily housing. These units can be good retrofit add-ons to houses with “non-ducted” heat-ing systems, such as hydronic (hot water heat), radiant panels and space heaters (wood, kerosene or propane). Mini-splits might be found in additions where extend-ing or installing distribution ductwork isn’t feasible and in efficiently built new homes requiring only a small space condition-ing system. The DOE recommends using Energy Star-compliant units and getting an experienced technician to install the system.

When describing the affordability and efficiency of ductless systems Ken Nelson explained that in a 2,000-square-foot house, for example, you could feasibly add a ductless mini-split heat pump as a supplement to a gas furnace and during the winter months, the home’s combined energy costs could drop by approximately $100 per month. This overall savings likely would involve a decrease in gas costs and an increase in electric costs.

Nelson noted that, although many builders typically install traditional HVAC systems, many buyers are looking for a more efficient zonal approach to heating and cooling indoor air, and this is particularly true where he lives in the Pacific Northwest. Ductless systems fit nicely with this choice. He said, “In my own home, I have two ductless mini-split register heads—one in the great room and the other in the master bedroom. The units bookend the house, pointing toward each other, and by provid-ing heat zonally, they require less than 2 tons of heating/cooling energy on even our coldest days.”

He explained that ductless systems work to continually rotate the air. Nelson said, “Overall, operational costs are low. In some

Did you Miss This?With Spring here, along with the wet weather that often engulfs it, we need to pay special attention to one of the pro-fession’s least popular areas…the dreaded crawl space!

The ASHI Reporter has printed many great articles about how to inspect them (March 2015 and November 2011); have you overlooked when you can’t inspect one?

You may want to check out a past issue of theASHI Reporter written Michael Casey and Robert Pearson, about Lessons in Risk Management: The Inaccessible Crawl Space. It’s in the September 2010 ASHI Reporter.

Copy the link below and paste it to your browser: http://www.ashireporter.org/HomeInspection/Articles/Lessons-in-Risk-Management- The-Inaccessible-Crawl-Space/1954 H

cases, for about $1 of energy costs put in, a system might put out about $5 worth of heat. Ductless systems are remarkably efficient, with the primary reason being that the heating and cooling functions only occur inside the conditioned space of the home.”

Ductless heat pumps consist of an outdoor condensing unit connected to an indoor wall (or ceiling) register head. Outdoor and indoor units are connected by a line set (a gas line and a fluid line), control wiring and a small condensate hose that drains potential moisture from the indoor unit outside the house. Condensation can occur when the ductless heat pump is in the air-conditioning mode.

Nelson described that, ideally, a ductless wall unit should be placed on an exterior wall mount with a condensate drain line at one end; in this way, gravity helps pull the moisture down and away. Ductless units can be placed on interior walls, but there is a risk that condensation could become an issue so these units may need a condensate pump. Some ductless units are designed in a “cassette” style and have their own condensate pumps.

Concealed short-run ducts also are beginning to be installed in some new construction. Functioning like forced-air units, these systems can be “hidden” in the upper sections of compact spaces such as closets or bathrooms.

Nelson offered these suggestions for inspec-tors who encounter ductless mini-splits:

• Open the register head and observe the status of the filters. Filters should be cleaned periodically to enhance the unit’s efficiency and ensure clean air, and more often if there are instances of heavy pollen or other indoor air-quality issues.

• Find the condensate tray, which should be unclogged and free of bugs and debris. Trays should be routinely cleaned. The tubing should lead to a drain hose.

• On the indoor unit, turn on the fan and listen. The fan should run smoothly and without unnatural noises.

• Try out the remote control to be sure it works properly with the system.

Continues on Page 39


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AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 1

AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 1

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

AIDA is an acronym for Attention – Interest – Desire – Action. Focusing on these words can help guide

you when writing material designed to persuade potential clients to act in a certain way. Whether you’re creating an advertisement, blog post, video, brochure, direct mail piece (such as a postcard) or a newsletter for real estate agents or homebuyers, you should be “thinking AIDA” when you write.

This article is not meant to be a college-level course in writing ad copy, of course, but here are a few tips you can try.

ATTENTIONImmediately grab the reader’s attention with a headline and subhead. Because advertising fills our daily lives—ads cover almost every conceivable surface and fill the airwaves—most people are desensitized to them. We look, but we don’t see. Successful advertising finds a way to break through our desensitization.

Some ads use shock tactics to get your attention. It doesn’t matter if the shock has nothing do to with the product or service. The goal is to jar you into paying attention and to create a memorable connection to the product or service. Humor is another tool of the advertising world. If the advertiser can make you laugh, you might remember the product or service with fondness. Another time- honored strategy is using sex to sell. Again, the goal is to make a connection in the consumer’s mind between something pleasant and the product or service.

Although sex is used in many ad campaigns, not surprisingly, we don’t believe it works well for home inspection advertising. On the other hand, we’ve seen both shock value and humor used effectively. Using an image—in addition to or instead of words—also can help grab your audience’s attention.

INTERESTKeep your headline short to make sure it will generate immediate interest. For example, don’t say, “Get a Home Inspection to Protect Your Investment.” The “Get a Home Inspection” part makes the headline long and it’s unnecessary because the reader will realize they need a home inspection when they read the next part of your ad.

Here are some better headline ideas:• How to Avoid a Money Pit• Don’t Gamble When Buying a Home• Reduce the Risks in Buying a Home• How to Avoid Buying a Lemon• Will Your Dream Home Become Your Nightmare?• Invest $400, Save Over $10,000!• Knowledge is Power—Let us Empower you• Protect Your Investment• Make the Right Decision• Don’t Get Burned

You’ll notice that many of these titles create a problem and suggest a solution in just a few words. The idea is to grab readers’ attention by telling them that buying a home can be a big financial risk and then keeping their interest by reminding them that a home inspec-tion can dramatically reduce that risk.

Next, you must continue to develop your readers’ interest. There should be a seamless flow from reading the headline to discovering important or interesting information. Posing a question can be a good way to follow up on a headline. For example: “Did you know that 40 percent of homes in the Chicago area have a problem with wet basements?”

Also, the word “free” usually makes people look twice. If it doesn’t work in the headline, try including it in another part of your ad. You’d think that with so many companies offering free things, people would become desensitized to these claims, but it hasn’t happened yet!

So, what can be “free” about a $450 home inspection? Perhaps you could offer one of the following:

• FREE home encyclopedia for every client• FREE checklist of things to look for in a home during the

home-buying process• FREE telephone consultations with you for as long as the client

owns the home• FREE seminar for first-time homebuyers

DESIREAfter you’ve captured the readers’ interest, you should increase their desire for your product or service. State the benefits from a reader’s perspective. For example: “You have enough tough decisions to make when buying your new home. Our professional evaluation gives you one less thing to worry about.”

Remember, prospective clients will find the benefits of your service more valuable than the features of your service. (Refer to recent issues of the ASHI Reporter for more infor-mation about benefits and features.)

Coming soon: ACTION!This introduction to AIDA marketing covered Attention, Interest and Desire. Next month’s column will give you tips for Action and outline strategies for writing great headlines in your advertising. Stay tuned! H

http://www.3dinspection.com

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© 2016 National Public Radio, Inc. NPR news report titled “How a Simple Bump can Cause an Insidious Brain Injury” by Daniel Zwerdling was originally published on NPR.org January 6, 2016, and is used with the permission of NPR. Any unauthorized duplication is strictly prohibited.

Updated January 7, 2016, 5:07 PM ET. Published January 6, 2016, 12:46 PM ET.

It’s not just football players or troops who fought in the wars who suffer from brain injuries. Researchers estimate that hundreds

of thousands of ordinary people in the U.S. get potentially serious brain injuries every year, too. Yet they and even their doctors often don’t know it.

One such doctor is Bryan Arling, an internist in Washington, D.C. His peers often vote to put him on those lists of “top doctors,” pub-lished by glossy magazines.

So it’s ironic that the brain injury he failed to diagnose was his own. And he could have died from it.

Last spring, Arling went looking for some files in his walk-up attic. It was jammed with boxes of Christmas tree ornaments, old clothes and other odds and ends that define decades of family life. After an hour of searching, he found the files in a box, grabbed the folders and stood up. He then felt a shooting pain in the center of his back.

“It’s a pain I’ve had before,” says Arling, who has battled back prob-lems for years. “But it was more intense than I’ve ever had it before.”He took painkillers and went back to work. Weeks went by, and his back was still hurting him.

“Then I began noticing that I was shuffling. I was so weak I couldn’t carry my plate out to the back deck. I would just drop things. And everybody commented on how I seemed different,” he says.

And gradually, Arling says, his thinking seemed different, too.

“I could make sense of things, I could get things done, I could make decisions,” he says. “But I was slower at what I did.”

Arling thought he was having trouble focusing because his back

pain was so intense. So a neurosurgeon, who had treated Arling’s back problems before, ordered an MRI of Arling’s spine — and also his brain. When the MRI technician saw Arling’s pictures taking shape on his screen, he called the radiologist and said, “You need to see this right away.”

The images showed a big, white, lake-like shape where Arling’s brain should have been, inside the top right side of his skull. It was a pool of blood that was pushing down on the brain, causing it to shift from right to left.

They sent Arling straight from the MRI to the emergency room at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He says as they started prepping him for open brain surgery, the medical staff kept asking about his fall.

“And I said, ‘I haven’t fallen,’ ” Arling says.

Then, just as they were wheeling him into the oper-ating room, Arling remembered: The day he stood up in the attic and threw out his back, he had forgot-ten he was under the eaves, and had knocked the top of his head against a wood beam. But he didn’t even get a cut, so he forgot about it.

Everybody knows you can get hurt if you fall off a ladder, or slip and bash your head on the ice. But Arling got a kind of brain injury that’s usually more insidious — a subdural hematoma.

Your Health How a Simple Head Bump can Cause an Insidious Brain Injury

Your Health

How a Simple Bump can Cause an Insidious Brain Injuryby Daniel Zwerdling

An MRI scan shows Bryan Arling’s

brain from above. The white-looking

fluid is a subdural hematoma, or a

collection of blood, that pushed part

of his brain away from the skull,

causing headaches and slowing

his decision-making. Courtesy of

Dr. Ingrid Ott, Washington

Radiology Associates

http://www.inspectorinsurance.com

22 23ASHI Reporter • April 2016 23April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 22 23ASHI Reporter • April 2016 23April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org

> Your Health How a Simple Head Bump can Cause an Insidious Brain Injury > Your Health How a Simple Head Bump can Cause an Insidious Brain Injury

A subdural hematoma is different from the typical blast injuries that affected hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In those cases, shock waves rattled their brains and caused microscopic damage that’s hard or impossible to detect. It’s also different from the usual football concussions, in which blows to the head damage the brain’s electrical wiring.

The main population at risk for a subdural hematoma is the elderly. To understand why, it helps to picture an aging brain. The brain is wrapped and protected by a membrane called the dura mater. Inside the dura, there’s a network of veins that connect it to the surface of the brain.

How To Detect A Possible Injury

Brain specialists say you should see a doctor if you develop these symptoms:

• A headache, even a low-grade headache, that doesn’t go away

• Weakness in the legs or arms

• Any cognitive changes: You feel, or people say you seem, “different.”

Studies suggest that as you get older, your brain shrinks and pulls away from the dura, especially after you’re 60 or 70 years old. But the veins keep holding on to both the dura and the brain. So as your brain pulls away, some of those veins become more exposed and more vulnerable.

Researchers say if you simply bump your head on the eaves of your attic, as Arling did, or if you simply start to fall and then catch yourself — so your head doesn’t strike anything, but it jerks in the air — that can be enough force to jostle your shrinking brain.

“And those veins stretch, and you’ll get tearing in those veins,” says Dr. David Cifu, who runs a joint research project studying brain injuries for the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

And because blood from veins tends to ooze, instead of pump as it does from arteries, Cifu says, “when the veins tear, we get a very low-pressure ribbon of blood that’s layering on top of the surface of the brain.”

As that blood starts to pool over days or weeks, it irritates the brain cells. And if the pool’s big enough, it presses on the brain and damages it, much like a tumor.

Researchers studied the problem a few years ago at a sample of 20 percent of the nation’s hospitals. As they reported in the Journal of Neurosurgery, those hospitals alone diagnosed almost 44,000 subdural hematomas in one year. So the researchers estimate there could be more than 200,000 subdural hematoma injuries diagnosed annually at all the hospitals across the country.

The Mid Missouri ASHI Chapter participated in a panel discussion for the Columbia Women’s Council of Realtors in February. The Chapter members presented the realtors with helpful tips to get their seller’s home ready for a home inspection. The event was a huge success with questions and interaction with the realtors after the presentation.

(left to right) Bobbi Wilson, Scott Wilson, Mike Rawlings, Mario Trevino,

Stuart Spradling, Randall Smith, John Watkins, Melanie Spradling and Mark

Kelsey. H

They say an unknown additional number of subdural hematomas are misdiagnosed, or simply missed: Half the patients studied have trouble remembering they hit their heads at all.

Like Arling. And like Tom Feild, a retired computer systems analyst who used to work for the VA.

Feild says his own medical mystery began with headaches.

“It wasn’t a constant headache — it was a low-grade headache. But it wouldn’t go away,” he says.

Then he was driving his wife on an errand, and he kept drifting across the yellow line.

“I said, ‘Tom, you’re going on their side of the road.’ He said, ‘I know...I can’t seem to help it,’ ” Jody Feild says.

Tom Feild made an appointment with his local doctor. And the next thing he knew, a helicopter was rushing him to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond. Neurosurgeon Bill Broaddus drilled three holes into Field’s skull and vacuumed out roughly 8 ounces of blood that had pooled since he developed a subdural hematoma.

Broaddus says before the surgery, he asked Feild what type of accident had injured his head. It took awhile before Feild could remember. He had put a sprinkler away under his porch two months earlier and bumped his head against the floorboards when he stood up before backing out all the way.

“We may see 50 to 100 [similar subdural hematomas] here at this institution every year,” says Broaddus.

Brain specialists say it’s important to view these injuries in perspective: Most people who get a subdural hematoma will never know it. The brain will reabsorb the blood, the victim’s symptoms will disappear, and life will go on as normal. But for tens of thou-sands of others, it’s serious. Doctors say they often see families who think loved ones are getting dementia, and it turns out they hit their heads and have a bleed. Some victims die.

Researchers like Cifu say you don’t need to consult a doctor the second you get a headache. But they say it’s sensible, and responsi-ble, to follow some simple guidelines: Consult a physician as soon as possible if the headaches don’t go away, or if you begin to have trouble with your balance or feel weakness in your legs or arms. Also, if the way you think starts to seem “different,” Cifu says.

Internist Arling says even if it turns out that you do have a bleed, he’s living proof that these brain injuries can be cured if you catch them in time.

Tom Feild looks at a brain scan with his doctor at Virginia Commonwealth

University Medical Center in Richmond, Va. Feild had brain surgery after

experiencing a low-grade headache that wouldn’t go away and difficulty

driving. Matailong Du for NPR

“It’s so easy to come away from a story like mine, and to feel fragile, and so to worry unnecessarily,” Arling says. “The body is phenome-nally well-designed, and it has a phenomenal ability to heal itself.”

Correction Jan. 7, 2016In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we incorrectly say Bryan Arling was sent to Georgetown University Medical Center after his MRI. He was actually taken to another part of the same complex, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. H

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Are we home inspectors who are in business or are we businesspeople who happen to be home inspec-tors? Do we represent an industry or a profession? Professional groups and organizations like ASHI have created and affirmed codes of ethics to which professionals who belong to these groups are expected to follow. Accord-ing to the Boone and Crockett Club, the definition of ethics is “when you do the right thing when nobody is looking.” Simple, direct and to the point, just the way I like it.

One definition of a profession is a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification. And one definition of industry is an economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and the manufacturing of goods in factories. So, I’d say that we are professionals working within the home inspection profession.

With that established, let me review the elements that should guide inspectors in both ethical and moral determinations on a daily basis. By adhering to the guidelines listed below, each one of us can help elevate the home inspection profession as a whole and raise up ASHI in particular as the go-to organization for buyers and sellers of housing stock.

• Personal competence. Your competence improves by gaining continuing education and by playing an active role within the home inspection profession.

• Self-awareness. Be the beacon (not the foghorn) in any situation. Shine and keep shining, realizing that many people are watching your actions and your delivery.

• Self-confidence. As you continue to climb the ladder of success, bring your knowledge to every event, function, meeting and inspection. There’s no need to be argumentative; simply state your case and move on.

• Know your strengths and weaknesses. When attempting to find a solution to an inspection dilemma, issue or unknown, refrain from seeking advice on chat rooms and social media. Instead, buy a relevant book, go to the manufacturer’s website, call the man-ufacturer’s tech department or take a class on the topic the next time you see one being offered. If you don’t know something, say, “I don’t know, but I can try to find the answer.”

• Emotional awareness. Staying in control of your emotions can be difficult when someone firmly disagrees with you, especially when you are certain that you are right. Say “thank you” and move on, and remember that the pen is mightier than the sword. Your well-worded report can solidify your position on the issue, whereas any hasty words or emotional actions can destroy your position.

• Self-control. I remember a time when I heard some inspectors comment about the abilities (or lack thereof) of another inspector. During their conversation, they named two other inspectors who they believed also agreed with their assessment. Bad-mouthing your fellow inspectors is bad business, and it is the sort of behavior that’s likely to come back to bite you when you least expect it. Attempt to work from these premises: “I am confident that I offer a better product. I charge what I am worth; others can charge what they believe they are worth.”

• Motivation. Take classes, go to InspectionWorld,® attend chapter meetings and seminars. Definitely spread the word that you are part of ASHI, the organization that has been the pinnacle of the home inspection profession for over 40 years. Seek out your chapter’s “go-to members”—nine times out of 10, they will have answers to your questions and the experience to back it up. But also remember that you have to make an effort to get to know these and any other members—don’t expect anyone to call you every week to ask how you are doing.

April is National Home Inspection Month

Examining Ethics and MoralsBy Don Lovering, ACI

Examining Ethics and Morals

Continues on Page 36

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26 27ASHI Reporter • April 2016 27April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 26 ASHI Reporter • April 2016 27April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org

News From the ASHI SchoolBy The ASHI School Staff

The ASHI School offers a full range of high-quality educational programs to

anyone affiliated with or interested in the home inspection field and related profes-sions. Getting your home inspection training with The ASHI School is your best opportuni-ty for succeeding in this growing profession. Pre-license home inspection courses are our specialty; however, we also offer several supplemental classes that can advance or enhance your home inspection career.

Our pre-license courses are designed to include an intelligent blend of pre-class study materials, live classroom lectures and hands-on home inspection training. At The ASHI School, you will receive more live field training than at any other school for home inspection. Most successful home inspectors agree that hands-on training is the best way to learn the trade, so we put you in the field nearly every day! We want you to experience actual home inspections on real houses so that you can learn from knowledgeable, practicing home inspectors who will guide you through the process.

In addition, when you take our home inspec-tion class, you will receive a first-year asso-ciate membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors. This membership allows you to join your local ASHI chapter, and there are ASHI chapters located across the country. Being a member of your local ASHI chapter will increase your ability to secure “ride-along” field training with seasoned inspectors, provide you with numerous networking opportunities and help you continue to increase and refine your knowl-edge about the home inspection business from the best resources…ASHI Inspectors.

The ASHI School currently holds pre-license classes in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington state.

At all locations, courses are taught by ASHI Certified Inspectors who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. We believe that

our educational program is the best because of these instructors and the highly regarded curriculum we offer through Carson Dunlop.

The ASHI School has recently added three new sites: In Columbus, OH, and Baltimore, MD, you can attend two-week courses in Home Inspection, and in Brentwood, TN, you can take our “Fast Track” program, which provides 40 hours of online instruction, followed by six days of classroom and field events.

In January 2016, the students at our site in Brentwood, TN, met a special guest, Ms. N. Avers, Executive Director of Regulatory Board, Commerce and Insurance, State of TN, Director of the Home Inspection Board.

We have made some significant additions to our curriculum, and we look forward to incorporating many more updates and additions in the future. The ASHI School has expanded its ancillary classes as well. We now offer a four-point inspection and wind mitigation class in Florida, a two-day live webinar on residential radon measurement and a three-day commercial class. In the past, we have offered mold identification/reme-diation and infrared imaging, and we hope to include these topics in our schedule later this year.

In addition, The ASHI School soon will launch a new 60-hour online Home Inspection Course. Stay tuned for details on this upcoming class.

The ASHI School provides a free set of the National Home Inspector Examination Man-ual and Study Guide to each student. These resources are must-haves to prepare for and pass the National Home Inspector Examina-tion (NHIE). By providing these resources to each student, The ASHI School ensures that each student is fully equipped to study for the NHIE, which is required by many states. H

Upcoming Pre-License Classes

April 18-29, 2016 • Tampa, FL• Cumming, GA

April 25-May 6, 2016 • Cincinnati State Technical Community

College (CSTCC) – Cincinnati, OH

May 2-13, 2016

• Cypress, CA

May 16-21, 2016

• Nashville, TN

June 6-17, 2016 • Des Plaines, IL• Bellevue, WA• Baltimore, MD

June 13-24, 2016 • Lakewood, CO

July 18-29, 2016 • Columbus, OH

July 11-22, 2016 • Leesburg, VA

Upcoming Ancillary Classes

May 23-24, 2016 • Residential Radon Measurement –

Live Webinar

June 8-10, 2016 • Three-Day Commercial Class – Stamford, CT

I WANT TO TRAIN

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Calling all U.S. Veterans! Use your qualif ied G.I . benefits at our I ll inois Location.The ASHI School has been approved by the I l l inois State Approving Agency for the enrol lment of quali f ied veterans to receive G. I . Bi l l Educat ional Benef i t s .

InsuringHomeInspectorsSince1992

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NORTH CENTRAL

ASHI Central PA www.ashicentralpa.comSecond Monday, 6 pm, except Jan. & July, Bonanza Steak House, Walnut Bottom Rd., CarlisleWilliam Weitzel, [email protected]

Keystone (PA)www.keystoneashi.orgFirst Monday, 5:30 pmThe Crowne Plaza, ReadingDavid Artigliere, [email protected]

Ohiowww.ohioashi.comHoward Snyder, [email protected]

North Central Ohiowww.ncohioashi.comWilliam Stone, [email protected]

Pocono-Lehigh (PA)www.pocono-lehighashi.orgThird Tuesday, Tannersville Inn, TannersvilleRonald Crescente, [email protected]

PRO ASHI (PA)www.proashi.comSecond Wednesday of Jan., March, May, July & Nov.John Fleenor, 412-862-1443 [email protected]

Tri-State (DE, NJ, PA)www.tristateashi.orgSecond Tuesday except April, Aug. & Dec., Dave & Buster's Plymouth Meeting, PAVince Tecca 215-527-5710 [email protected]

MIDWEST

Central Illinoiswww.cicashi.comSecond Monday, 6 pmKevan Zinn, [email protected]

Great Lakes (IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, OH, WI)For monthly meetings:www.greatinspectors.com/ schedule-of-events/Carol Case, 734-284-4501 [email protected]

Greater Omaha (NE)www.ashiomaha.comRick Crnkovich, [email protected]

Heartland (IA, MN, ND, SD, WI)www.ashiheartland.comReuben Saltzman, [email protected]

Indiana ASHIwww.inashi.comQuarterlyDanny Maynard, [email protected]

Iowa ASHIwww.iowaashichapter.orgFourth Tuesday, 5:30 pm Clarion Inn, Cedar RapidsCraig Chmelicek, [email protected]

Kentuckiana (IN, KY)www.ashikentuckiana.orgAllan Davis, 502-648-9294elitehomeinspections@ insightbb.com

Mid-Missouriwww.midmoashi.comSecond Thursday, 12:00 pm, Even months of the year; Columbia Board of Realtors office. 2309 I-70 Drive NW, Columbia, MOStuart Spradling, 573-874-9797 [email protected]

Northern Illinoiswww.nicashi.comSecond Wednesday (except Dec.) 5:30 pm - 9:00 pmCrazypour, 105 E. North Ave.,Villa Park, ILJeremy Meek, [email protected]

SOUTH MIDWEST

ArkansasLonnie Moore, [email protected]

Great Plains (KS, MO)www.ashikc.orgSecond Wednesday of even months The Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas CityMiki Mertz, [email protected]

Midwest PRO ASHI (KS)Jack Koelling, [email protected]

St. Louis (MO)www.stlashi.orgSecond Tuesday, 6:30 pm Spazio’s at WestportFrank Copanas, [email protected]

MOUNTAIN

Arizonawww.azashi.orgTony Hecht, [email protected]

New Mexico www.ashinm.orgEvery other month, Second Sat-urday, (Jan., May., Sept.), Mimi’s Cafe, Albuquerque - 9:15 am Bodega Burger Co., (March, July) Socorro - 11 am Lance Ellis, [email protected]

Northern Rockies (ID, MT) Lamar Rase, [email protected]

Rocky MountainFourth Tuesday, 6:30 pmKathleen Barbee, [email protected]

Southern Coloradowww.ashi-southerncolorado.orgSecond Thursday, 6:30 pm Valley Hi Golf Club, Colo. SpringsMike Meyer, [email protected]

Utahwww.ashiutah.comFirst Tuesday, 7 pm Marie Callender’s, MidvaleFred Larsen, [email protected]

PACIFIC

AlaskaSecond Thursday, Jitters Coffee House, Eagle RiverJim Foss, [email protected]

ASHI Hawaiiwww.ashihawaii.comAlex Woodbury, [email protected]

CaliforniaRandy Pierson, [email protected]

Central Valley CREIA-ASHIPeter Boyd, [email protected]

Golden Gate (CA)www.ggashi.comJohn Fryer, [email protected]

Inland Northwest (ID, WA)Chris Munro, [email protected]

Orange County CREIA-ASHI (CA)Third Monday, 5:30 pm Hometown Buffet, 2321 S. Bristol, Santa AnaRalph Bertke, [email protected]

Oregonwww.oahi.orgFourth Tuesday, 6:30 pm 4534 SE McLoughlin Blvd., PortlandKen Meyer, [email protected]

San Diego CREIA-ASHIFirst Tuesday each month Dave and Buster's, San DiegoSean Blasius, [email protected]

San Joaquin Valley (CA)Third Tuesday, 6 pm Rice Bowl, Bakersfield, CARaymond Beasley, [email protected]: 3305 Colony Oak St. Bakersfield, CA 93311

Silicon Valley ASHI-CREIA (CA)www.siliconvalleyinspector.comFelix A. Pena, [email protected]

Southwestern IdahoSecond MondayDavid Reish, [email protected]

Los Angeles-Greater San Gabriel ValleySecond Tuesday, 6 pm Old Spaghetti Factory, DuarteLarry Habben, [email protected]

Los Angeles-Ventura County ASHI-CREIAFirst Thursday, 5 pm Holiday Inn, Woodland HillsBob Guyer, [email protected]

South Bay (CA)Webinar meetingsRandy Pierson, [email protected]

Western Washingtonwww.ashiww.comMichael Brisbin, [email protected]

NEW ENGLAND/CANADA

British Columbiawww.cahpi.bc.caGary Poirer, [email protected]

CAHPI Atlantic www.cahpi-alt.comBlaine Swan, [email protected]

CAHPI Ontariowww.oahi.comDonald Beneteau, [email protected]

Coastal Connecticutwww.coastalctashi.orgThird Thursday, 6 pm, Westport VFW Lodge, 465 Riverside Avenue, WestportGene Autore, [email protected]

New England (ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)www.ashinewengland.orgFourth Thursday, 5 pmThe Lantana, Randoph, MAMichael Atwell, [email protected]

Northern New England (ME, MA, NH, VT)www.nnec-ashi.orgBob McDonald, [email protected]

Prairies (Alberta) (CAHI)www.cahpi-ab.caBert Bruinsma, [email protected]

Quebec AIBQwww.aibq.qc.caGermain Frechette, [email protected]

Southern New England (CT)www.snecashi.orgFirst Tuesdays, 6:30 pmBilly T’s, 150 Sebethe Dr.,Cromwell, CTRichard W. Hall, [email protected]

NEW YORK/JERSEY/ DELAWARE

Capitol Region (NY)www.goashi.com Third Thursday, 7 pm, Doratos Steakhouse and Pub, Guilderland Robert Davis, [email protected]

Central New Yorkwww.cnyashi.comSecond Wednesday, 6 pm, Tony’s Family Restaurant, SyracusePeter Apgar, [email protected]

First State (DE)www.firststateashi.orgThird Wednesday, 7 pm The Buzz Ware Center, 2121 The Highway, ArdenMark Desmond, [email protected]

Garden State (NJ)www.gardenstateashi.comSecond Thursday, The Westwood, GarwoodBret Kaufmann, [email protected]

Greater Rochester (NY)www.ashirochester.comSecond Tuesday, 6 pm, Murph’s Irondequoit Pub, IrondequoitJohn White, [email protected]

Hudson Valley (NY)Second Tuesday, 6 pm Daddy O’s Restaurant,3 Turner Street,Hopewell Junction, NY 12533Michael Skok, 845-592-1442 [email protected]

Long Island (NY)www.liashi.comThird Monday, 6 pm, Domenico’s Restaurant, LevittownSteven Rosenbaum [email protected]

New York Metro www.nyashi.comLast Thursday, Eldorado West Restaurant-Diner, TarrytownRaymond Perron, 914-329-2584 [email protected]

Southern New Jersey (NJ)www.southernnjashi.comThird Wednesday, 6:30 pm Ramada Inn, BordentownRick Lobley, [email protected]

Western New YorkSecond Thursday, 6:30 pm Tony Rome’s, West SenecaAndy Utnik, [email protected]

MID-ATLANTIC

Central Virginiawww.cvashi.orgFirst Thursday, 6:30 pm, Capital Ale House, Midlothian, VABronsoson Anderson 540-932-7557 [email protected]

Greater Baltimore (MD)www.greaterbaltimoreashi.orgThird Thursday except July & Aug., 6:30 pm, Maritime Institute Conference Center, 5700 N. Hammonds Ferry Rd., Linthicum Heights, MD George Fair, [email protected]

Hampton Roads (VA)Second Thursday, 7 pm, Cypress Point Country Club, Virginia BeachGuillermo Hunt, [email protected]

MAC-ASHI (MD, VA)www.mac-ashi.comSecond Wednesday, Rockville Senior Center, RockvilleJohn Vaughn, [email protected]

NOVA-ASHI (MD, VA)www.novaashi.comFourth Tuesday, Associate hour 6-7 pm, Membership meeting 7-9 pm Northern Virginia Resources Center, FairfaxFerando [email protected]

Piedmont ASHI (VA)Robert Huntley, [email protected]

SOUTH ATLANTIC

ASHI Georgiawww.ashigeorgia.comGregg Allen, 770-745-7574gregg@totalhomeinspections atlanta.com

East Tennesseewww.etashi.orgThird Saturday of Feb., May, Aug. and Nov.Paul Perry, [email protected]

Mid-TennesseeRay Baird, [email protected]

Mid-South (TN)Steven Campbell, [email protected]

North Carolinawww.ncashi.comThird Wednesday, 3 pm, Quality Inn at Guilford Convention Center, GreensboroLarry Conway, [email protected]

South CarolinaFirst Saturday of Feb., May, Aug. & Nov., 8 amRoger Herdt, [email protected]

GULF

ASHI South (AL)www.ashisouth.orgQuarterly, Homewood Library, HomewoodDerl Nelson, [email protected]

Central Floridawww.centralfloridaashi.orgSecond Tuesday, 6:30 pmBill Labita, [email protected]

FLASHI (FL)First Tuesday except July, 6 pm Golden China, 11112 San Jose Blvd., JacksonvilleDavid Sorge, [email protected]

Florida Wiregrasswww.ashiwiregrass.orgSecond Wednesday, 6:30 pm Hyundai of Wesley ChapelNancy Janosz, [email protected]

Gulfcoast (FL)First Thursday, 7 pm, The Forest Country Club, Fort MyersLen Gluckstal, [email protected]

Gulfstream (FL)Ralph Cabal, [email protected]

Lone Star (TX)www.ashitexas.orgCraig Lemmon, [email protected]

LouisianaQuarterlyMichael Burroughs [email protected]

Suncoast (FL)www.ashisuncoast.comFirst Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Please see our website for meeting locations.Steve Acker, [email protected]

Southwest Floridawww.swashi.comSecond Wednesday, 6 pm Holiday Inn, Lakewood Ranch6321 Lake Osprey Drive, Sarasota Michael Meesit, [email protected]


SEE PAGE 32 FOR CHAPTER EDUCATION.TO SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS FOR MOVING UP, PLEASE CONTACT JANET GEORGE AT 847-954-3180 OR [email protected]

Earn $50 in gift cards for every new member you recruit.

Download the membership application form, have the new member fill it out (including your member number in the

referral field), scan and email it to:

[email protected] or fax to 847-759-1620. Questions? Contact Russell Daniels,

[email protected].

HELP ASHI GROW & Earn $50 in

Gift Cards

ASHI’s Recruit-a- Member Program

(Who knows best how to sell ASHI membership?

YOU!

Who deserves to be rewarded for helping ASHI grow?

YOU!

H Denotes graduate of The ASHI School

New ASHI Associates As of February 1, 2016

Todd PlumhoffBest Inspection, Inc.Anchorage, AK

Tony SpanoJones-Warren Home InspectionBirmingham, AL

Christopher CookPeerless Home Inspections LLCMonticello, AR

Eric EricksonProline InspectionChino Valley, AZ

Dave MoonReality Check Inspections LLCHoliday Island, AZ

Gunnar AlquistFull Circle Inspection Inc.Santa Rosa, CA

Justin BarshawPremier House InspectionsSimi Valley, CA

Rick Duchin Rick Duchin InspectionsOakland, CA

Brandon ErtmanErtman Property InspectionsSan Marcos, CA

Ron ErtmanErtman Property InspectionsSan Marcos, CA

Steven FlowersFresno, CA

Terrence HundleyHundspec Inspection ServicesMurrieta, CA

David JonesApple Inspection Services, Inc.Aliso Viejo, CA

Kevin KapinKeystone Inspection ServicesOjai, CA

H Blake MathewsMathews Inspection GroupCorona, CA

David PacePace Inspection ServicesBrentwood, CA

Jau PuJP Home InspectionHacienda Heights, CA

John PughJohn Pugh Home InspectionsSun City, CA

Barry RodgersGolden State Home InspectionCathedral City, CA

Carrie CasselFront Range Complete Home InspectionThornton, CO

Darrell JacksonELM InspectionsAurora, CO

Austin LoydGreat West Inspections LLC.Montrose, CO

Ricardo AvilaD’avila and Associates ServicesMiami Lakes, FL

D. Brant CottermanJacksonville, FL

Gerard StuckartNational Property InspectionsLoxahatchee, FL

Robert HartResidential Inspectors of GeorgiaMarietta, GA

Ian BenderShip to Shore Custom Builders, LLCKihei, HI

Alma ChancoWest Des Moines, IA

Robert CaulfieldCaulfield Krivanek Architecture PTY LTDCamberwell, VIC, AU

David DeeringEpoch Property Inspections, Inc.Ingleside, IL

H Mark ManzoCrystal Lake, IL

Ross NeagChicago Building InspectionsChicago, IL

H James StuckmannLakewood, IL

Harold BakerFive Star Home InspectionsLeavenworth, KS

H Rebecca HuangWest Rexbury, MA

Armand PaladinoHomeinex CorporationLunenburg, MA

Sylvia DellamulaTop to Bottom ServicesPoolesville, MD

Steve LawheadCross Country Home InspectionsHagerstown, MD

Jeffrey PaceAsk the Inspector, LLCRockville, MD

Reese PerkinsPerkins Home Services, LLCBangor, ME

Douglas AtherholtBurnsville, MN

H Richard CusickRaytown, MO

Patrick FeldmannWashington, MO

John NeffJ Neff Inspections & Consulting LLCSaint Clair, MO

Michael DuncanAdvantage Inspections ServiceMissoula, MT

H Steven JohnsonLakeside, MT

Eric CoatesDetailed Home Inspections, Inc.Fuquay-Varina, NC

Emily LautererNational Property InspectionsDenver, NC

Chuck LoignonHappy Home Inspections LLCYadkinville, NC

DC RileyZ & H EnterprisesLincoln, NE

Alex SequenziaHome Buyers Protection CompanyOmaha, NE

Sean CordreyHomePro Home Inspections, LLCPalmyra, NJ

Tim Kreppel Ogdensburg, NJ

Donald PiersonAll NJ Home Inspections, LLCChester, NJ

Eugene ReaganHome Stat Inspections Inc.South Amboy, NJ

Richard RuffYardville, NJ

William SilvermanEmbudo, NM

Robert AldiAldi Home Inspections Inc.New Hartford, NY

Adam LynchLyTRE Home Inspections Group LLCBreezy Point, NY

Steven RicherPrimo Home InspectionsRoselyn Heights, NY

Gary FeenstraNorth Coast Residential Inspections, LLCMentor, OH

Craig GrossmanOhio Certified Inspections, LLCDayton, OH

H Melvin HicksOregon, OH

H Timothy HicksOregon, OH

Tim DavisDavis Consulting Services dba Pillar to PostMississauga, ON

Branden BrainardDowningtown, PA

Matthew HorvathHorvath Home Inspection, LLCQuakertown, PA

H Christopher LucciPittsburgh, PA

H Kevin SchusterMcKeesport, PA

Michael RogersMichael RogersTiverton, RI

Douglas MoorerCommon Ground Home Inspections, LLCSummerville, SC

Joseph DensfordAdvanced Home InspectionsMillington, TN

Lee LauderdaleDouble L Inspections DBA Pillar to PostLubbock, TX

Ken LichtenbergDenton, TX

Karl BowlingTrained 2 Train Consulting, LLCFredericksburg, VA

Kevin BurnsCW Burns LLCGlen Allen, VA

Warrick CromerPremier Property InspectionsAlexandria, VA

H Andrew JenkinsQuality Home Team LLCFalls Church, VA

H Robert KinneyLeesburg, VA

Clinton SaladaMarshall, VA

H Pablo SardinasGreenwood , VA

H Jay WhiteQuality Home Team LLC.Falls Church, VA

H Roman ZelenchukSterling, VA

H Douglas TollesVergennes, VT

Todd ClarkHomeQuest Inspection LLCSpokane, WA

Joe PruittThe House ReporterGreenbank, WA

Greg SeeligsonPractical InspectionsBellingham, WA

New ASHI Certified Home InspectorsAs of February 1, 2016

INSPECTOR

New ASHI Inspectors As of February 1, 2016

Joe DeMarsJ. DeMars Enerprises, Inc. DBA HouseMasterLa Mesa, CA

Timothy RohrbeckRoyal Inspection ServicesEscondido, CA

Josef HorstLewes, DE

George MeeganPreferred Property Consultants, Inc.Park Ridge, IL

Perry KnowltonHomeGuard IncorporatedSan Jose, CA

David FrechetteJax House Doctor Home Inspections Inc.Orange Park, FL

Jeremy DillardResidential Inspector of AmericaCanton, GA

Jeffrey GunterRIACumming, GA

John HartResidential Inspections of AmericaMarietta, GA

Seth Catron HouseMaster Home InspectionsCarmel, IN

Tim JamesPillar to Post Professional Home InspectionsCrown Point, IN

Shane PetersonPHI, dba HouseMasterCarmel, IN

Mark GoodmanBrewer Inspection ServicesArnold, MO

Dustin HagarApple Inspections LLCSt. Louis, MO

Gary HaggardComplete Inspections LLCPearl, MS

Nicholas JettePremier Home Inspection Services, LLCBrookline, NH

Jay BrzezinskiGeneral Home InspectionGarfield Heights, OH

J. HershbergerPillar to Post Home InspectorsWadsworth, OH

Kevin RaugstadDynamic Home Inspection Services, LLCArlington Heights, IL

Anthony WalkerWalker Property Inspection, LLCMartinsville, IN

Noel NasonWIN Home Inspection BedfordPembroke, NH

Jeff HuntPillar to PostKennett Square, PA

David WilliamsReal Estate InspectionsGarnet Valley, PA

Adam DonaldsonUS InspectChantilly, VA

Rebecca LairdAmeriSpec MadisonMadison, WI


ASHI Event Calendar

� April 21-23, 2016 AEI, Finance Committee, ASHI Foundation and ASHI Board Meeting Des Plaines, IL

� July 21-23, 2016 AEI, Finance Committee, ASHI Foundation and ASHI Board Meeting Des Plaines, IL

� October 22 , 2016 ASHI Foundation and ASHI Board Meeting Des Plaines, IL

Word-of-Mouth Marketing Statistics to Help you Better Market Your Business

Great Lakes ChapterWhen: July 22-23

Where: Holiday Inn - Mt. Prospect, IL

(near Chicago O’Hare Airport)

Subjects: Friday: Peer Review, Board Meeting,

Hospitality Suite

Saturday: Vendors, Asphalt Shingle

Roofs/Attics – Proper Inspection and

Reporting/Tom Feiza, Business &

Marketing/Toby Adamson, IL CE-

Approved Course/Speaker TBD

Contact: 734-284-4501

www.greatinspectors.com

Great Lakes ChapterWhen: September 23-24

Where: Grand Rapids, MI


Hospitality Suite

Saturday: Vendors, Furnace Inspections/

John McAuliffe, Infrared Technology/Bill

Fabian, Exploring the Metal Roof/

Mike Griffin

Contact: 734-284-4501

www.greatinspectors.com

To have your chapter seminar listed in this section, email all information about your chapter seminar to: [email protected].

BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL INFORMATION: seminar subject, when, where, CEUs & a link for more information or contact information.

ASHI Chapter Education

1. Go to www.ASHI.org2. Under Education &

Training3. Click on:

ASHI ONLINE

LEARNING

CENTER

Continue learning at the click of

a button!

FREE ASHI Member access to past IW

sessions.

For centuries, people have made big deci-sions and developed everyday preferences

using the simple, yet resounding, power of word-of-mouth. It’s no coincidence that you and your best friend share a few of the same favorite things. Who doesn’t love hearing about a great product or service from a trustworthy source?

As more brands work to boost their lead acquisition process using organic networks, there’s much to gain from developing a killer word-of-mouth marketing strategy. But before you start using a new referral marketing strat-egy to up your revenue using the remarkable power of recommendations and referrals, you need to fully grasp why word-of-mouth is valuable and how your brand can influence it. Here’s a comprehensive list of word-of-mouth marketing statistics to help you get started.

84% of consumers say they either completely or somewhat trust recommendations from family, colleagues and friends about products–making these recommendations the informa-tion source ranked highest for trustworthiness. [Source: Nielsen]

74% of consumers identify word-of-mouth as a key influencer in their purchasing decision. [Source: Ogilvy/Google/TNS]

68% trust online opinions from other consum-ers, which is up 7% from 2007 and places on-line opinions as the third-most trusted source of product information. [Source: Nielsen]

88% of people trust online reviews written by other consumers as much as they trust recommendations from personal contacts. [Source: BrightLocal]

72% say reading a positive customer reviews increased their trust in a business; it takes, on average, two-six reviews to get 56% of them to this point. [Source: BrightLocal]

On social media, 58% of consumers share their positive experiences with a company and ask family, colleagues and friends for their opinions about brands. [Source: SDL]

91% of B2B buyers are influenced by word-of-mouth when making their buying decision. [Source: USM]

56% of B2B purchasers look to offline word-of-mouth as a source of information and advice, and this number jumps to 88% when online word-of-mouth sources are included. [Source: BaseOne]

Word-of-mouth has been shown to improve marketing effectiveness by up to 54%. [Source: MarketShare]

84% of consumers reported always or sometimes taking action based on personal recommendations. 70% said they did the same with online consumer opinions. [Source: Nielsen]

The average value of a Facebook fan in certain consumer categories is $174. [Source: Syncapse]

43% of social media users report buying a product after sharing or favoriting it on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Over half of purchases inspired by social media sharing occur within one week of sharing or favor-iting, and 80% of purchases resulting from social media shares occur within three weeks of sharing. [Source: VisionCritical]

Millennials ranked word-of-mouth as the No.1 influencer in their purchasing decisions about clothes, packaged goods, big-ticket items (like travel and electronics), profes-sional services and financial products. Baby Boomers also ranked word-of-mouth as being most influential in their purchasing decisions about big-ticket items, financial products and professional services. [Source: Radius Global]

77% of brand conversations on social media are people looking for advice, information or help. 18% were positive reviews of the brand. [Source: Mention]

79% of people say their primary reason for “liking” a company’s Facebook page is to get discounts. 81% also said they’re influenced by what their friends share on social media. [Source: Market Force] H

Great Lakes ChapterWhen: April 8-9

Where: Holiday Inn-Southgate, MI

(near Detroit Metro Airport)


Hospitality Suite

Saturday: Vendors, Wet Basements/Craig

Ceccarelli, Chimney Safety/Thomas

Rhines, MI Builders Renewal Course +

Code Updates/Frank Bayer

Contact: 734-284-4501, www.greatinspectors.com

Los Angeles-Ventura County ASHI Chapter – Special Michael Casey PresentationWhen: April 21, 2016

When: Knights of Columbus Hall #3601

Canoga Park, CA

Subject: 7-hr Workshop - Commercial Inspections

and Expert Witness Protocols for

Home Inspectors

Contact: Bob Guyer, guyerinspections@

roadrunner.com

Northern New England ChapterWhen: April 21, 2016

Where: The Alpine Club, 175 Putnam St.

Manchester, NH

Subject: Healthy Home Seminar

CEUs: 7 ASHI CEs

Contact: Tim Rooney, nnecashi.gmail.com

PRO ASHI Educational EventWhen: April 30, 2016

Where: Murrysville Community Center

3091 Carson Avenue

Murrysville, PA 15668

Subject: House and Building Engineering

CEUs: 4 ASHI CEs

Contact: [email protected]

ASHI Suncoast Suntech ConferenceWhen: May 6-7, 2016

CEUs: 16 ASHI CEs

Subject: Trusses/Crawl Spaces/Wind Mitigation/

Fireplaces & Chimneys/Plumbing/Tie-downs

& Anchors/Foundations and more

Where: Hampton Inn, Oldsmar, FL

4017 Tampa Road, Oldsmar, FL

Contact: Kevin Koplar, [email protected]

MAC-ASHI Technical SeminarWhen: May 14, 2016

Where: John’s Hopkins University

9601 Medical Center Drive

Rockville, MD 20850

CEUs: 4 ASHI CEs - Understanding and Applying

the MD Home Inspector SOP

4 ASHI CEs - Inspecting Old Houses

Contact: www.mac-ashi.org

South Carolina ASHI Chapter EventWhen: May 15, 2016

Where: Holiday Inn, Columbia, SC

Subject: Moisture Intrusion in

Cladding Systems

Speaker: Tim Thigpen

CEUs: 2 ASHI CEs

Contact: Brad Johnson 864-580-3547

[email protected]

IMPORTANT REPORTER DEADLINES: • JUNE ISSUE - 4/20/16 • JULY ISSUE - 5/23/16• AUGUST ISSUE - 6/20/16• SEPTEMBER ISSUE - 7/20/16• OCTOBER ISSUE - 8/19/16

http://www.ashi.org


CURRENT ASHI

MEMBERSHIP

ASHI Certified Inspectors: 3,253

Inspectors/Logo: 106

Associates: 2,576

Retired Members: 111

Affiliates: 68

Total: 6,326 Members as of 3/1/2016

ASHI-ENDORSED PROGRAMSASHI’s E&O Insurance Program: Target Professional Programs www.targetproins.com 860-899-1862

ASHI Personal Lines Insurance Program: Liberty Mutualwww.libertymutual.com/ashi

ASHI Service Program BuildFaxTricia Julian, 877-600-BFAX [email protected]://go.buildfax.com/ASHI

ASHI Customer Appreciation Program: Moverthankyou.comBrent Skidmore, [email protected]

HomeAdvisor.comBrett Symes, 913-529-2683www.homeadvisor.com [email protected]

LegalShieldJoan Buckner, 505-821-3971buckner.legalshieldassociate.combuckner@legalshieldassociate.com

InspectionContracts.comDave Goldstein, 800-882-6242www.inspectioncontracts.comdavid@inspectoreducation.com

OneSource Solutions877-274-8632www.osconnects.com/ashi/

Porch.comEliab Sisay, [email protected]

ASHI Rebate ProgramQuill.comDana Fishman, 800-634-0320 x1417www.quill.com/[email protected]

ASHI-ENDORSED EXAMSASHI Standard and Ethics Education ModuleGo 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 [email protected]

The ASHI SchoolKendra Eiermann, 888-884-0440 [email protected] www.TheASHISchool.com

PLATINUM PROVIDER Millionaire Inspector CommunityMike [email protected] that you are an ASHI member

ASHI MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT PROGRAMS

Thirty-five YearsJohn GhentJames Nemastil

Thirty Years Alan CarsonJay Tauber

Twenty-five Years Paul BuggeMark Felion

Twenty Years Mathew AdamsJay de WolfClifford GroheJim HemsellMichael HerforthWilliam HirschTimothy HullRobert JenningsDavid MarshallRobert MatthewsMichael MoirMark MustolaDell OyeRandy PayneRobert PetersonDavid RushtonDaniel SchuermanWarren SchultzSkys SykesFrank TurnerJohn Vaughn

Fifteen Years John BertoneHenry BlauDave DarpinianJohn GibsonGeorge HartDwayne HoffmanKevin MartelonDavid MartinMichael McKinneyMatt SieversMark SorokaDon StaffordBrad Strange

Ten Years Kit BeuretMark CassidyJim ClementsJoseph DunlapDavid FletcherTimothy HemmKami KarimlooGreg KolarEdward LamplRobert LawrenceAaron LoreKristian MeyersBarry SiglerDouglas SmithWilliam VicaireJames Willis

Five Years Brett AllendorfMatthew BaileyJoseph BelleKathleen ClintonDarcy HermanWalter LindbergChristopher LongWayne PetersonGreg PetruskaCraig RussellChuck RyanJeff ThorsenJoseph Trimble

April Anniversaries

Education–ASHI Online Learning CenterNow available: unlimited free continuing education hours for your ASHI CE requi-rements. Just log on to the ASHI website, put the mouse on the Education tab, click on the ASHI Online Learning Center, log on to the Learning Center with your member number and the word “password” and begin taking these exciting education modules. You earn two CEs upon successful completion of each module. You can also view a list of state-approved online education under each of the past IW course descriptions. A certificate of completion will be available to print out. H

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ASHI Reporter • April 2016 37April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 3736 37ASHI Reporter • April 2016 37April 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org ASHI Ad.indd 6 3/25/15 10:33 AM

• Optimism. For those starting out, it can be a big deal to get three, four or five inspections in a single week. But sometimes, even after a strong series of busy weeks, the phone might stop ringing. Be patient. After 36 years working as a home inspector, I can tell you that the phone will ring again. (And when you become successful, you might find that the phone sometimes rings a little too often!)

• Achievement and drive. Be the best you can be and be humble when you learn of a downfall. Keep sharpening your skill set every day so that you can be successful.

• Initiative. Hone your ability to take charge before others do. Maintain control of your inspection and the events surrounding it. Having a clear understanding of the contract and the scope of work can be paramount to your success.

• Commitment. Every day, commit to do the best you can for your family, your profession and your clients. Show people that they can rely on you to be at your best and to meet your commitments.

• Regulate yourself. Do you think that your skill set improves after you perform your third 4,000-square-foot, single-family home inspection of the day? If you have difficulty saying no, try raising your rates. Be the trendsetter in your area. Work half as hard and make the same income. Don’t think it will work? Try it and see. You are a professional—charge professional rates. And as mentioned previously, let others charge what they believe they are worth.

• Innovation. Drones, cameras, roof walking, IR scans, radon, EMR surveys, lead paint…the list goes on and on. Making follow-up phone calls and thanking clients can lead to great rewards. Set yourself apart by showing your good judgment, business practices and responsibility.

• Adaptability. Home inspection is a fluid profession. Failing to adapt will leave you behind. I suspect that you don’t make it a practice to cancel inspections when it is raining or snowing or if it’s too hot, too cold or too foggy. Instead, you make adjustments and proceed with the task at hand. You are a self-starter who is motivated to succeed.

• Take responsibility. Not all inspections go well. Generally, if a problem exists in a home, it manifests within the first year after the inspection. If you are notified or implicated, put on your business hat and determine the best way to take care of the problem. But do it wisely. A lawsuit against a home inspector in my region, for example, can go on for three to four years. Consider whether you want this issue eating at you for the next four years. Then get out in front of it and don’t get trampled.

• Maintain standards of honesty and integrity. All too often in the quest for the buck, folks get sloppy. What might seem like a simple act can be interpreted in many different ways. Two cases in point: explaining the home’s issues to the sales professional before explaining the issues to the client. Or not engaging the client in the process during the inspection. It can benefit your practice to be familiar with the ASHI Standard of Practice, which has been and will continue to be used as the bedrock for state agencies to develop local standards. It is a living document that gets evaluated on a regular basis.

With April being National Home Inspection Month, it’s a good time to reflect on these key components of practicing ethical and moral behavior and actions. Remember that each of us has a duty to provide an unbiased, objective inspection and to report our findings to the best of our ability. When your market is slow, take some time to think about what type of changes you may need to make to provide your clients with a better product and to ensure that you have fewer sleepless nights. H

Don Lovering is an ASHI Board Member and the Chief Inspector at Advantage Home Inspection, Inc., in Auburndale, MA. He still has a hard-line telephone 617-928-1942 and has been an active member of ASHI locally and nationally. Don has been a Chapter President and National Committee Chair, as well as a college professor. He is also a past-president of the

Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). He has been published in the ASHI Reporter and testified on home inspector licensing in six states. Don’s leisure activities rotate around his farm and working with Vermont Fish and Wildlife as a volunteer instructor.

> Examining Ethics and Morals

Continued from Page 24

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This NHIE Home Inspection Manual is based on the most recent Role Delineation Study (RDS). This study surveys thousands of home inspectors in order to determine the ser-vices they provide, and the components they inspect. The questions in the NHIE are derived directly from this survey, and constitute the knowledge base for an entry level home in-spector. This manual is the first of its kind to follow this format. It also informs the candidate about the knowledge base behind the current examination questions, and pro-vides a technical reference for the experienced home inspec-tor.

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The NHIE Home Inspection Manual addresses the technical aspects of the NHIE. This NHIE Study Guide addresses the non-technical aspects. Many come to the home in-spection profession as a second or a third career, and may not have taken a professional entrance exam for many years, if ever. This study guide helps to familiarize the candidate with the examination itself, and with the asso-ciated administrative procedures. It also includes helpful insights into the types of questions the exam contains, and techniques for success.

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Continued from Page 16

• Consider using a thermometer to document the range of hot and cold temperatures that occurs when tempera-ture adjustments are selected. Reduced temperature ranges can be an indicator of low refrigerant levels.

• Take note of temperature differences between rooms and communicate expectations to the client if they are unfamiliar with this type of system.

• Determine whether the outdoor condenser is raised above the ground and check that the area around the condenser is free of overgrown shrubs, pests and debris.

• Look for ice or damage to the condenser unit or blades; this could be a the result of ice buildup and may indicate a low refrigerant situation preventing the condenser from completing a proper defrost cycle. H

1. Klenk T. How it works: heat recovery ventilator. Popular Mechanics. July 31, 2000. www.popular-mechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/a149/1275121/. Accessed February 22, 2016.

2. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. About your house: maintaining your heat recovery ventilator. Revised 2010. www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/62043.pdf?lang=en%29. Accessed Feb-ruary 22, 2016.

3. U.S. Department of Energy. Ductless, mini-split heat pumps. (http://energy.gov/energysaver/duct-less-mini-split-heat-pumps.) Ductless, mini-split air conditioners. (http://energy.gov/energysaver/ductless-mini-split-air-conditioners.) Accessed February 24, 2016.

Mike Collignon is the Executive Director of the Green Builder® Coalition, an organization he co-founded in 2010. He engages in national and state-level advocacy, co-produces quarterly research reports, and publishes a monthly member publication and a monthly

feature in Green Builder® Magazine. He has presented at EEBA, RESNET, the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, Better Buildings: Better Business (Wisconsin), Green Building Focus, StormCon and the Sustainable Disaster Recovery Conference. Mike has also delivered testimony at the IECC and IgCC final action hearings. He also has served as the moderator for Green Builder® Media’s Impact Series webinars from 2012 to 2014, and became the host in 2015.

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

So you filled that wide gap in the exterior trim with the best caulk you could buy and the next year it had pulled away from one

surface, leaving a large gap. Or you tried to fill a wider gap and the caulk just fell in the hole. What went wrong? No backer rod.

Before professionals fill a large gap with caulk, they bridge the wide opening with a stiff foam backer rod. The backer rod is wide enough so friction holds it just below the gap’s surface. The rod supports the caulk applied in an hourglass shape with a height-to-width ratio of about 1:2.

Why? Caulk needs to expand and contract as surfaces move. The hourglass shape allows the caulk to bond to only two surfaces; the narrower section easily expands and contracts with movement. Caulk should never completely fill a space. It should never be applied to three sides or an unbridgeable wide gap or it will quickly fail. Caulk can’t expand and contract when it is pulled in three directions or when the cross section is too thick.

You will find backer rods in larger paint and hardware stores. It is sold in lengths like rope and it comes in various diameters. Choose a diameter that is wider than the gap to be filled and force the rod into place with a blunt tool or putty knife. H

Home systems have some strange terminology. Why are the two light switches that control one light fixture called a three-way

switch? You know–the kind with a switch at both the top and the bottom of the stairs. Sometimes it’s up/switch off and sometimes up/switch on.

The name relates to switching the power line back and forth and having an extra wire and connector. Electricians call this a three-way switch, and it takes a smart electrician to wire this properly.

You may not care about the details, but you should care about the switches and what they control. Here is the quick tip: You can identify the type of switch by looking at the marking on it.

Single-pole switches, with one switch controlling one light, are marked with an “on” and “off ” position.

A three-way switch has no marking because there is no consistent on or off position. The on-off can change depending on the position of the second three-way switch. Take a look at the switches in your home. You may be surprised with what you have overlooked. H

Tip #17 Caulking the Wide-Open Spaces

Tip #16 Three-Way, Two-Way or One-Way Switch?

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Stories from the Field

Well, it’s me again. Last month, I mentioned the seriousness of our profession, so this month I’d like to cover the lighter

side of our job.

If you’ve been doing inspections for a while, you know that there are some stories we can tell to anyone and there are some stories we can tell only to our closest friends. Each month, we check the back pages of the ASHI Reporter to see “Photos From the Field”— pictures that blow us away and conditions that might even match what we’ve seen ourselves at some time. And there are some really bizarre photos.

It occurred to me that maybe the Reporter should have a “Stories From the Field” section to share the serious, the funny and the bizarre. So, let me give it a try. I’ll start with the category “Did they really say that?”

A previous client referred a friend to me to do an inspection, but I’d never worked with this new buyer’s agent before. Well, you know how that can go. Both of you wonder how you’ll get along with each other and whether you’ll become known as the notorious deal- killer. As the inspection progressed with the usual twists and turns, the agent eventually pulled me to the side and said, “I know you are doing a good job, but it appears to me that you are just looking for things that are wrong.” Seriously? I guess the agent was under the impression that if you don’t have something good to say, you shouldn’t say anything all.

Then there’s the category “I brought my friend along to help.”

I think we’ve all been to inspections when the buyer brings along a friend who “knows all about houses” and will be acting as the buyer’s personal advisor. One such incident happened to me not long ago and I’m still chuckling about it.

Once again, this buyer was referred to me by a previous client and I didn’t know any of the parties involved. Here’s how the buyer introduced her friend: “This is my friend, William. He’s here to help me and to ask the right questions since he has bought and sold homes before and is very knowledgeable. He has a Ph.D. and teaches at the local community college.”

Well, you can guess where this is going. During the inspection, William asked me the same questions about everything in any way that he could think of to rephrase them, making the inspection drag on and on. Toward the end of the inspection, I’d had enough, so I politely shut down his questioning. I could tell that the agent was sympathetic and also annoyed with William’s unending ques-tions about nothing.

Finally, we made it to the basement to complete the inspection. As I inspected the furnace with William at my side, I heard the toilet flush several times upstairs. I didn’t give it a thought until water started running through the floor right in front of William and me. William looked at me and said, “I thought you checked the toilets.” I thought to myself, “Yes, I did, William. You were there at my side the whole time I’ve been inspecting, making sure I didn’t miss something.”

I suggested that we investigate what happened and when we arrived upstairs, William’s girlfriend was walking away from the bathroom. When I asked if she’d just used that bathroom, she re-plied, “Yes, and the toilet clogged and overflowed.” Get ready, here it comes. William, the Ph.D. college professor and experienced homebuyer, looked at me and said, “Maybe we should see if the rest of the toilets will clog and overflow.”

“Are you kidding me?” was my first thought, but I brilliantly responded, “Sure, I think she’s through, but William, if you want to do the same and clog a toilet, have at it. I’m going back to the basement to finish my inspection.” I smiled and the agent smiled, but I really don’t think that William got the joke.

So, here’s my point. As inspectors, we see, hear and experience many different personalities, situations and conditions that make our jobs unique. Remember never be too serious, but always do the best you can do and enjoy the ride. Life is too short and precious to do anything else.

Until next month, do a good job, have fun and be safe! H

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April 2016 Reporter