may 2016 reporter
DESCRIPTION
Useful information for home inspectors, home buyers and sellers, and realtors.TRANSCRIPT
RepoRteRASHI
Inspection News & Views from the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc.
5.16 2017 Election Information on Page 33
EnErgy and WatEr EfficiEncy ratings p8
6 Around the CoRner
14 Florida’s Stucco Disaster, Part 1
18 aida: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 2
20 Vinyl Siding: Facts and Foibles
24 All Inspectors on Deck: May is Deck Safety Month
40 Postcards From the Field42 On My Mind: Traveling…Around the Country
and On the Pathway to ACI Status
2 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 3May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 3
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Departments 6 Around the CoRner Jim Funkhouser, Speaker of the CoR
12 You Tell Us Letters From Our Readers
23 Affiliate Spotlight PRISM Analytical Technologies
26 The ASHI School Top Student Recognized at InspectionWorld® 2016 28 ASHI Community Chapter Listing, New Inspector Status, Chapter Events, Council News and Education
33 Your ASHI Membership News, Event Calendar, Endorsed Member Programs & Anniversaries
40 Postcards From the Field It’s Wacky Out There
42 On My Mind Randy Sipe, ASHI President
Features 8 Energy and Water Efficiency Ratings: An Opportunity for Home Inspectors to Learn (and Earn) Green An Interview with Mike Collignon, by Carol Dikelsky
14 Florida’s Stucco Disaster: What Every Home Inspector Should Know Part 1 Mark Cramer, ACI
16 A New Approach to Relationship Management in the Real Estate Industry Joel L. Singer
18 AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 2 Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop
20 Vinyl Siding: Facts and Foibles Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop
24 All Inspectors On Deck! May is Deck Safety Month Compiled by Carol Dikelsky
May 2016 Vol . 33, #5RepoRteRASHI 5.16
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America’s Call Center 19 AmericasCallCenter.com
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PRISM Analytical Technologies 23 www.pati-air.com
OREP 25 www.OREP.org
The ASHI School 26 www.theASHIschool.com
Allen Insurance Group 27 allenins.com
American Home Warranty Co. 35 ahomewarranty.com
InspectIT 37 InspectIT.com
NHIES Study Guide 38 NHIEStudyGuide.org
Target Professional Programs 39 www.TargetProsIns.com
Sun Nuclear Corporation 43 sunradon.com
HomeGauge 44 HomeGauge.com
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ASHI Reporter • May 2016 5May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 54 5
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]
Shannon E. Cory 2015-2017
Fayetteville, GA, [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]
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] Gallegos, Executive Assistant, 847-954-3177 [email protected]
Education, CE Approval, ASHI Online Learning Center, 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 & Chapter Relations, 847-954-3185, [email protected] George, Membership Services Supervisor, 847-954-3180 [email protected] Harris, Membership Administrator, 847-954-3175 [email protected] Mark Lester, Membership Services Coordinator, 847-954-3176 [email protected]
Accounting
Toni Fanizza, Accounting & Human Resources Manager 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] Advertising, Marketing, IW Expo Hall, Public Relations
Dave Kogan, Manager of Marketing & Business Development 847-954-3187, [email protected]
Graphics, Publications, Member Logo Design
Arlene Zapata, Graphic Design Manager & “ASHI Reporter” Managing Editor, 847-954-3186, [email protected] Laurent, Junior Graphic Designer & Administrative Assistant, 847-954-3179, [email protected]
The ASHI School
Bonnie Bruno, 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 & Sales Representative, 847-954-3198, [email protected]
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IT’S HERE!© 2016 HEALTHY HOUSING SOLUTIONS, INC.
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ASHI Reporter • May 2016 7May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 76 7ASHI Reporter • May 2016 7May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org
The weakest link in a modern roof:
The Problem:
The plumbing vent pipes that penetrate your roof aretypically sealed with a rubber gasket to keep rain from entering the home. These rubber gaskets deterioratewhen exposed to the sun and high temperatures. Over time they get brittle and crack thus losing their ability to protect the home from water intrusion.
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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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 AtlanticRay Baird 615-371-5888 [email protected]
GulfJohn Knudsen 334-221-0876 jgknudsen111@ elmore.rr.com
South Midwest John Wessling 314-520-1103 john@wessling inspections.com
North CentralDave Haught 304-417-1247 [email protected]
MountainBryck Guibor520-419-1313 [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
How many times have we all heard the statement “Well, it’s always been that way” after we report a defect? As if saying that
will make us change our minds about what we’ve found!? When hearing this statement, I sometimes think to myself, “Why, you say it’s always been that way? Exactly like that? Well, I’ll be! Let me just erase that from my report right this very minute. I mean, gosh, if it really and truly (no pinky promises now) has been just exactly, identically like that, nary a molecule moved in any direction East, West, North or South...then, by golly, I have no business whatso-ever suggesting you do anything about it at all! I have to ’fess up and tell you, Sir and/or Madam, that I did remove the fork from the dryer’s electrical receptacle—I mean, after dousing the flames and all—and I feel right bad about that now. Should I put it back?”
We face similar situations from time to time with ASHI, as with any organization. The “that’s the way we’ve always done it” attitude. Well, times change, situations change and needs change. Some-times the way we do things can seem silly, though it’s likely you’ll receive a long explanation as to why it is done this way (as if it won’t continue to seem silly after hearing the explanation). We hang on to tradition and repetition as an anchor, steadying us as we do our jobs. But, as with anchors, they don’t let you make any progress,
they just keep you in the same place all the time. That is, in part, the purpose of the Council of Representatives (the CoR)—to iden-tify those things that ASHI can be doing better or more efficiently and to “raise the anchors,” so to speak. It is your job to help point things out to your Council Representative that you feel could be done differently or more efficiently. We on the CoR look to you for the next great idea that can improve membership in ASHI.
Please contact your Council Representative, or if you do not have one, contact me with your thoughts and ideas. Believe me, I will listen eagerly to all of your ideas and work to bring them before the CoR for action.
I assure you, I am not “panda-ring” :)
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
Would you like to see your photo used
in ASHI print and digital materials? We
like to feature our members!
Please send a photo of you doing an
inspection, your name, company name,
city and state to: [email protected]
8 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 9May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 9
Energy and Water Efficiency Ratings
energy and Water efficiency Ratings: An Opportunity for Home Inspectors to Learn (and Earn) Green
An Interview with Mike Collignon, by Carol Dikelsky
> Energy and Water Efficiency Ratings
Note. The April issue of the Reporter featured an article about HRVs, ERVs, high-velocity systems and ductless mini-splits. Mike Collignon and I talked with experts in these modern HVAC systems because, as part of more sustainable, green building practices, the use of these and other energy-efficient sys-tems is increasing in homes across the country. This month, we focus on two other aspects of green and sustainable buildings—energy and water ratings, which are two of Collignon’s focus areas.
In communities across the country, home-owners are becoming more aware of the benefits of knowing their home’s energy score, energy efficiency rating and water efficiency rating. With this knowledge, they can make changes to have a more energy- and water-efficient home and, in some cases, receive financial incentives or tax credits. According to Mike Collignon,
Executive Director of the Green Builder® Coalition, “The re-sults of some analy-ses—for example, the Home Energy Score
(HES) and Home Energy Rating System (HERS)—can affect the transaction of a home just as much as the results of the home inspection. These auditing systems represent a simple performance path (HES) and a more complex performance-based system (HERS) toward energy efficiency.”
Collignon encourages home inspectors to learn about these and other green rating systems and consider capitalizing on the green and sustainability trend by becoming an assessor of energy or water efficiency.
Why Going Green Can Be a Good Fit for InspectorsCollignon stated, “With vast background knowledge about homes and their systems,
inspectors are well-suited to seek the type of training and certifications that would allow them to offer ancillary services, such as assessing energy efficiency, rating water efficiency and more. Inspectors are trusted by, and have credibility with, home buyers looking for information and guidance to solidify their decision about a major invest-ment. Because determining a home’s energy performance could carry with it financial incentives, homeowners may find it reassur-ing to turn to their inspectors for guidance in this area as well.”
He added that home inspectors are well-equipped for this opportunity because they are:• specialists in analyzing systems and
reporting details about their findings;• proven experts in performing the objec-
tive, third-party role of assessing a home;• willing to continually add to their
knowledge, training and experience;• regarded highly by clients; and• open to new avenues to expand their
income and business contacts.
Home Energy Score (HES)The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has advanced the efforts made by the home-building industry to improve sus-tainability and energy efficiency. The DOE developed a Home Energy Score (HES) that can be assessed by experts and applied to existing homes. People who request an HES assessment receive the score itself, facts about the home and a list of recommended improvements that, if im-plemented, can increase the home’s future HES and improve energy efficiency.1
Reasons why a homeowner might want a HES reportMaking recommended improvements found on an HES report can potentially save the homeowner money on utility bills and raise the home’s future HES rating, which they can showcase when refinancing the mort-gage or selling the home. In addition, addressing the recommendations can enhance the home’s comfort level and improve its air quality.1
The DOE and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fed-eral Housing Administration (FHA) are working together “to initiate an incentive with some other loan programs…. [such as] offering a 2% stretch to expand the amount that people would be qualified [to borrow] in terms of their debt-to-income ratio.”2 By purchasing an efficient home or by making improvements, the home’s HES will im-prove, and this improvement could factor into a lender’s decision on a loan transac-tion.2
Path to become an HES Assessor:1. Work with a participating Home
Energy Score (HES) Partner. Two partners are ASHI and Building Performance Institute (BPI).
2. Hold a relevant credential, such as ASHI Inspector or ASHI Certified Inspector.
3. Pass a free, online test.For more details, contact ASHI or BPI, or refer to the information provided by the DOE.3
Home Energy Rating System (HERS) The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is another widely accepted rating tool for auditing home energy efficiency.4 HERS is an energy rating index, and as such, is accepted as an alternative compliance path to the residential version of the Interna-tional Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Updated every three years, the 2015 IECC is the current model residential energy code and is the first edition of the IECC to include the Energy Rating Index (ERI) path, which is supported by home builders and energy efficiency advocates.5 The ERI path is akin to a performance path that helps home builders try to hit benchmarks and address performance levels, while still meeting building envelope requirements.
“Although HERS was intended to tie energy efficiency into mortgage rates and underwriting, it has not been able to achieve
that success yet. However, an ERI does provide an analysis of a home’s projected energy consumption, as opposed to as-sessing the behavior of the occupants,” Collignon said. The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), a national nonprofit organization that coordinates standards for energy efficiency rating and certifications, promotes the use of HERS and offers accreditation for Home Energy Raters according to RESNET standards.6,7
Reasons why homeowners might want a HERS ratingCollignon explained that the use of HERS ratings grew in popularity during and after the housing bubble. Over time, HERS rat-ings have become linked to some state and local energy efficiency programs, as well as some state and local energy codes.
He added that the ERI path gives builders flexibility, which they generally like because it gives them more independence and, to comply, they simply need to be at or below a specific number to achieve energy efficiency. For example, if a home’s HVAC equipment is the most energy-efficient on the market (with the highest Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio [SEER] rating), but builders install the lowest-performing windows allowed by code, as long as they achieve the proper ERI number for their area, then all is well.
“In most cases,” Collignon said, “seeking a HERS rating is voluntary. The homeowner requests an independent third party to assess the home, and that rater looks at the entire envelope of the house, by checking the home from the outside in. In other words, the assessor notes the existence and status of the insulation, the walls, windows and roof. The energy rating does not include choices the home buyer made on parts of the exterior of the home. And although the original homeowner of a residence likely would know the home’s energy rating, unless that documentation is transferred, subsequent homeowners of the same resi-dence might not know about these ratings.”
Path to become a HERS Rater: The knowledge base and skill sets for Home Energy Raters are defined by RESNET standards, and training providers must be accredited by RESNET. Home Energy Rater candidates must pass a national online
test and perform five ratings under the supervision of a certified RESNET Home Energy Rater before becoming certified by a RESNET-accredited Rating Provider.7
Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS) Ensuring water quality and efficiency is a major issue across the country. You need only look to the headlines about the distressing water quality problems in Flint, MI, or the chronic drought condi-tions limiting access to water in several Western states to know that our water supply is a constant concern.
Collignon explained that RESNET is developing its own water efficiency
rating index, but all subgroups and com-mittees have yet to work together. Fur-thermore, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) develops standards and publishes codes, including the Uniform Plumbing Code. IAPMO is developing a water efficiency standard (WE Stand) and has a formal Process and specific timeline. It plans to publish WE Stand by the end of 2017.
During a webinar conducted in March 2015, Joan Glickman, a presenter from DOE, said, “I know the Department of Energy and other federal agencies like [the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] are very concerned about water. It’s clearly a problem for this country and the world. We do not, unfortunately, have a plan to incor-porate it [into the HES] right now. But that said, I think there are talks of others getting involved in seeing if there’s some kind of companion piece that might be potentially used with the score…[We’ve] been talking to EPA about different kinds of collabo-ration we have with their tools, so maybe that’s a role that they can also play.”2
Collignon stated that one program that has been created is the Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS). Water ratings are similar to an energy rating, in that a prop-erty can achieve a specific score on a scale of 0 to 100, in which a lower score is more desirable. The WERS program is perfor-mance-based and assesses the design and product choices for a new or existing single-family or multifamily property.
Continues on the next page
10 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 11May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 11
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Reasons why homeowners might want a water rating:• To comply with a code. For example, in
Santa Fe, where city officials plan to add WERS into the residential green building code, homeowners will need to stay at or below a specific WERS.
• To access tax credits. WERS is an option that helps certain homeowners qualify for New Mexico’s Sustainable Building Tax Credit (see sidebar).
• To be a part of a green building program. GreenStar, a green building program based in the upper Midwest, is phasing the WERS program into its water criteria.
The WERS program is still in the business development stage as stakeholders learn how they can best utilize WERS for their specific situation. For some, that might mean using it in conjunction or in compli-ance with a code, as an incentive or as a way to differentiate their homes from another builder’s.
Path to become a WERS Verifier: Led by WERS faculty, students attend a three-day course that includes both classroom and on-site instruction. On the final day, students take one written exam and one field exam.
Once the student passes both exams, he or she needs to complete two probationary WERS verifications before becoming an accredited WERS Verifier.
The inaugural WERS Verifier training course was held at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) in early March 2016, and SFCC has already scheduled another course for mid-June. Discussions are underway to hold classes in Georgia, Florida and Illinois later in 2016. Interested students should contact the Green Builder® Coalition for information about future classes.
Go Green to Get More GreenIf becoming a certified rater or verifier for HES, HERS or WERS seems like a logical addition to your list of ancillary services, perhaps it’s time to seek training to add these certifications to your toolkit. Your clients may be interested to find out that they can get this information from you at the same time they are seeking a home inspection, or they may turn to you for consultation years after purchasing their home in an effort to seek new information, to make improvements and pursue tax incentives or as they strive to live more sustainably in the community.
( “Becoming a rater could be a great fit for inspec-tors, given that they are already familiar with many aspects of the energy code,” Collignon stated. He added, “Because they become a confidante of the homeowner and already have experience analyzing systems and providing comprehensive informa-tion, taking on this unique opportunity to deliver a projection of the home’s anticipated energy and/or water bills could enhance their business.”
With some effort, inspectors could get the required training and then market this new service to clients to give them confidence that, by either partnering with a local con-tractor or doing the work themselves, they can make plans to improve the energy and/or water efficiency of their home. The bene-fit to clients is they can get a rating that can amount to a palpable return on investment from an inspector they trust. The benefit to inspectors is having an additional skill set that can lead to new business prospects and an increased bottom line.
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.
> Energy and Water Efficiency Ratings
IN THE Mike Collignon described some noteworthy green building issues happening across the country.
New Mexico offers a sustainable building tax creditNew Mexico encourages residents to pursue energy efficiency. To receive a tax credit, homeowners must prove that their residence meets or exceeds certain sustainability requirements, including a specific HERS score. This program has been so success-ful that, in 2015, the funding source was depleted before it could support all the tax credits for which homeowners successfully applied. On average, tax credits provided ranged from $9,000 to $11,000. New Mexico has extended the program and will include new requirements, such as increased water efficiency. Massachusetts stretch codeMassachusetts implemented a stretch code (with a HERS path) that amended the base code (IECC 2009) so that homes achieved approximately 20% improvement in build-ing energy performance.8 Residents were encouraged but not required to participate; some homeowners liked receiving the certificate even without receiving a financial incentive. It’s likely that the changes will be included in the next state energy code. 2015 IECC adoptionsAs of March 30, 2016, Alabama, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Vermont had adopted the 2015 IECC (or equivalent) as their effective code. Other states, including Iowa, are considering it as well.
Continues on page 12
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> Energy and Water Efficiency Ratings
About the Green Builder® Coalition The Green Builder® Coalition is a not-for-profit association dedicated to amplifying the voice of green builders and professionals to drive advocacy, information and education for more sustainable home building practices. It is an action-oriented community of green builders and professionals dedicated to uniting and growing our joint expertise, values and voice to create stronger standards for sustainable, more environmentally responsible home building. The Coalition is also the national program sponsor of the WERS program. For more information, visit www.greenbuildercoalition.org.
1. Energy.gov. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Home Energy Score. Avail-able at: http://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/home-energy-score. Accessed March 16, 2016.
2. Energy.gov. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Home Energy Score Update: New Simulation Training and Requirements for Assessors Webinar—text version. Presented in March 2015. Available at: http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/home-energy-score-update-new-simula-tion-training-requirements-assessors-webinar-text. Accessed March 28, 2016.
3. Energy.gov. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Home Energy Score: Infor-mation for Interested Assessors. Available at: www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/home- energy-score-information-interested-assessors. Accessed March 16, 2016.
4. Green Energy Money (GEM). Not HERS and His, but HERS and HES. Available at: http://greenenergy.money/not-hers-and-his-but-hers- and-hes/. Accessed March 17, 2016.
5. International Code Council (ICC). Overview of the IECC. Available at: http://www.iccsafe.org/codes-tech-support/codes/2015-i-codes/iecc/. Accessed March 17, 2016.
6. Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). The History of RESNET. Available at: http://www.resnet.us/about/our-history. Accessed March 17, 2016.
7. Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). What is RESNET? Available at: http://www.resnet.us/about/what-is-resnet. Accessed March 17, 2016.
8. Summary of the Massachusetts ‘Stretch’ Energy Code. Available at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green-communities/grant-program/stretch-code-summary-jun20-2011.pdf. Accessed March 17, 2016. H
When a Chapter Becomes a FamilyTri-State ASHI has been many things to me over the years. First, it was my intro-duction to a profession that has served me well for almost 30 years. Being part of it has taught me things I would have never known because of members who are willing to share their knowledge, talents and experi-ences over and over again. Their advice and coaching has made me a better inspector and has helped me save my clients from the turmoil of the unknown and unexpected financial burden. I, too, have shared my experiences to help others in their quest to be better at their profession.
For years I attended meetings and listened and contributed when I saw the need. I gradually stepped up my game to give back a little for all that I’ve received from the chapter. That’s when I began to realize the extreme effort and time put forth by the board. I consider “the board” to include all the members who put forth extra effort to make the chapter work. It takes a lot of work to make a successful organization. Tri-State ASHI is lucky to have many long-time members, including ASHI past presi-dents and founding members. The resumes of our members make up a Who’s Who of the inspection and construction industry. These members continue to contribute to the chapter, they regularly attend our meetings and their voices are always full of wisdom.
Recently Tri-State ASHI had a great loss in the death of Blaine Illingworth, a good man and a dedicated longtime chapter member. It was a privilege to have Blaine on board. He worked effortlessly on any task at hand. His knowledge of the profession was unsur-passed, and his presence made us a better chapter. He was a go-to man for everyone in the chapter and a friend to all.
The chapter’s response to Blaine’s pass-ing was overwhelming. We had just seen Blaine at our February chapter meeting; I’m writing this message in March, and he is no longer with us, physically, that is. I know that his spirit will always be with the Tri-State chapter—that is how “big” he was to us. When the chapter heard the sad news, we invited Blaine’s family members to attend our March meeting. We had no idea what to expect or even if they would come.
They did come: A family group, including Blaine’s wife, son and close relatives. Just days after Blaine’s passing, we had an opportunity to pay our respects. This was the moment when Tri-State ASHI became a real family. As we shared our thoughts and memories about Blaine, we let his family see what it was like for Blaine to be part of our family. The exchange was unforgettable. It gave what some would call “closure,” but I would call “a new begin-ning,” in which work plays second fiddle to the importance of life and sharing comfort with those in need.
( I am truly proud to be part of the Tri-State ASHI chapter and the greater ASHI family, for I now re-alize what it means to be part of something special that extends well beyond a monthly meeting.
Tri-State chapter members will not forget Blaine and his family. I am sure he will be guiding us in our endeavors to educate and to make family members of all those who take the time to come out to a chapter meeting on a Tuesday night. H
Sincerely, Gerry GavinTri-State ASHI Membership and Education Chair
On January 23, 2016, retired ASHI Member Jack Fehlandt held his yearly, free
home safety class for 13 families who have received Habitat For Humanity
homes in the Phoenix, AZ, area. Each family receives a copy of Tom Feiza¹s
(Mr. Fix-It) “How to Operate Your Home - Professional Edition.” They also
received 10 pages of informational handouts.
This was our second two-hour Class called “Maintenance II” held in Phoenix for
the Habitat for Humanity home recipients who had already attended the class on
January 23. Fourteen people attended and there were a lot of Q&As.
14 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 15May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 15
Florida’s Stucco Disaster: Part 1
> Florida’s Stucco Disaster: Part 1
florida’s Stucco Disaster: What every Home Inspector Should Know Part 1
By Mark Cramer, ACI
Thousands of homeowners in central Florida are facing a stucco disaster.
Cracking stucco, water entry and the re-sulting rotting of wood frame structures has become a nightmare for homeowners and home builders. One national builder has set aside more than $40 million to repair im-properly installed stucco. In most cases, the structural damage is concealed and can’t be discovered without destructive inspection.
During the 2005-2010 construction boom, shoddy workmanship and lack of supervi-sion, combined with lax or no inspections resulted in a perfect storm of stucco disas-ters. Here’s a link to a recent news story about the problem: http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/investigations/2015/06/24/floridas-billion-dollar-stucco-prob-lem/29073195/.
Stucco takes time. It’s very time consum-ing to properly install the backing and accessories. Production builders live by the “cheaper is better” model. Anything that takes time tends to go by the wayside in the world of production building, where a two-story home is built in 30 days.
In the past year, I’ve conducted more than 100 destructive inspections of improperly installed stucco on homes in central Florida for homeowners who are making con-struction defect claims. I’ve learned every possible way you can imagine that you can improperly install stucco, and some ways that you or I couldn’t imagine.
As home inspectors, we face a dilemma. Most of these defects can’t be discovered or proven until you break things apart. Many of them, however, can be seen without performing destructive inspection. As consumers become aware of these issues with stucco, their expectations increase regarding what they want a home inspector to tell them about stucco.
In the first part of this two-part article, I’ll share some of the points you can observe in the course of a visual home inspection that will help you and your clients avoid an expensive problem. Fixing these prob-lems isn’t cheap. Removal and replacement costs can range upwards of $50,000. Part 1 covers issues involving lack of drainage, no drainage at horizontal returns and stucco that’s too thin. Part 2 will cover improperly installed paper-backed lath, improperly installed control joints and lack of casing beads and caulked joints—watch for the second installment in the June issue of the Reporter.
Lack of Drainage (photos – #1-4)All vertical panels of stucco have to drain water at the bottom. In central Florida, the typical production home is concrete block on the first floor and wood frame on the second floor. You need to see a weep screed at the bottom of all wood frame walls above a masonry wall or foundation. This has long been required in the ASTM standards that are referenced in the model building codes. In 2005, the Florida Building Code added a specific requirement for drainage at this point. I’ve seen many homes without this drainage or with it improperly installed.
Reference: ASTM C-1063: 7.11.5 Foundation Weep Screed—Foundation weep screed shall be installed at the bottom of all steel or wood framed exterior walls to receive lath and plaster.
Photo 1: No drainage at bottom of second story wood frame walls above first floor masonry walls.
Photo 2: No weep screed at bottom of first floor wood frame wall. Casing beads do not drain water.
Photo 3: No weep screed at bottom of second story wood frame wall. Casing beads do not drain water.
Photo 4: Water stain at the top of a garage wall below a wood frame wall. Stains like this indicate concealed damage to the wood frame wall above the masonry wall. No Drainage at Horizontal Returns (photos 5-9)Where vertical stucco surfaces meet horizontal surfaces, drainage is required. All wood frame walls must drain water at the bottom. This is easy for home inspectors to see.
Drainage is specifically required here by the ASTM standards referenced in the building code. Any water that enters here is trapped as it can’t drain out at the bottom of the vertical panel. When water entry occurs, the wood structure is damaged.
Reference: ASTM C-926: A2.2.3 Where vertical and horizontal exterior plaster surfaces meet, both surfaces shall be terminated with casing beads with the vertical surface extending at least 1⁄4 in. (6 mm) below the intersecting horizontal plastered surface, thus providing a drip edge. The casing bead for the horizontal surface shall be terminated not less than 1⁄4 in. from the back of the vertical surface to provide drainage.
Photo 5: No drainage at horizontal return below vertical stucco walls.
Photo 6: Here’s what the home inspector can see looking up at the underside of the horizontal surface. Note the small crack and faint stains bleeding out.
Photo 7: Here’s what the structure looked like after the stucco was removed. If you can see stains bleeding out, it’s very likely there’s heavy damage.
Photo 8: If you see this on the underside of a horizontal return, you can be certain there’s heavy damage.
Photo 9: It probably looks like this.
Stucco That’s Too Thin (photos 10-12)ASTM standards require that stucco on wood backing be 7/8-inch thick, exclusive of texture. Stucco that’s too thin isn’t as strong and is more likely to crack. Cracks admit water. The wire lath rusts and ex-pands, allowing more water entry and causing more cracking. Often these cracks on a second story wall are too small to see from the ground. You can get an idea of the thickness by looking at the dimensions of casing beads or weep screeds at the bottom of walls above roofs, or by inserting a thin ruler above the top of the stucco at the soffit level.
Photo 10: Measuring thickness at top of wall. Thickness here is about 5/8 inch.
Photo 11: A 3 ⁄4-inch casing bead. The stucco cannot be 7/8 inch thick.
Photo 12: Stucco gets noticeably thinner away from accessories such as weep screeds and control joints.
16 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 17May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 17
> Florida’s Stucco Disaster: Part 1
Conclusion (photo 13) Florida’s stucco problem is real. It’s big, and it’s getting bigger. Don’t let yourself be caught on the wrong side of a lawsuit because you failed to point out potential problems and explain the implications of the problem. Always make your client aware of the potential for significant concealed damage. Recommend destructive inspec-tion. You won’t be very popular with agents, but you’ll sleep better at night. I’ve had to defend a home inspector in a concealed damage claim over stucco. It’s not pretty.
Photo 13: Destructive inspection can in-clude drilling holes and measuring moisture with a meter, or simply breaking open the stucco to see what was done wrong under-neath the surface. Both have their places. Also understand that it’s useless to recom-mend “further evaluation by a stucco con-tractor.” These are the folks who created this mess. They’re likely to say it’s all just fine and you need a little patching. That’s just kicking the can down the road. For those of you in other parts of the coun-try, the issues are the same, not only with stucco, but with artificial stone veneer, which is essentially nothing more than lumpy stucco. Similar disasters are wide-spread almost everywhere.
Mark Cramer is home inspection veteran and a Florida-licensed contractor who has 25 years of experience performing home inspections, construction progress
inspections, commercial building inspections and insurance inspections. Mark also works as a litigation consultant and expert witness in matters relating to construction defects and home inspection. He’s performed more than 100 forensic inspections of stucco failures. Mark has more than 5,000 hours of experience training home inspectors in classroom and seminar settings. A longtime ASHI member, Mark was one of the founding members of the Suncoast Chapter of ASHI. He’s held numerous local and national positions within ASHI, serving as chair of several national committees and as National President of ASHI in the year 2000. H
Submitted by Joel L. Singer, Applica Solutions, email [email protected], www.applica-solutions.com, 508-281-2050.
Dateline: Marlborough, MA, February 9, 2016
The real estate industry poses very unique challenges for maintaining long-term relationships with homeowners and potential real estate clients. However, there are changes affecting the industry that are creating new opportunities for overcoming these challenges. A company named Applica Solu-tions is emerging as a leader in leveraging these changes to develop a fresh approach to maintain-ing real estate client relationships and building personal brands, by providing low-cost and no- cost tools that enable establishing ongoing person-alized essential home care connections with clients and prospects.
Unique Challenges in the Real Estate Industry
Jeffry D. Wiren, Principal Broker with RE/MAX Equity Group, says, “There are two big challenges with maintaining long-term client relationships in the real estate industry: 1) consistency—having a system that will consistently deliver content to the client over time; and 2) meaningful content—having content that matters and is of value to the client. Most clients don’t need another chocolate chip cookie recipe, but information on how to help them maintain their largest asset is pretty important.”
This is echoed by Ken Brittain, owner of Home Vue Inspection Services LLC, who says, “A major chal-lenge is how to remind or reinforce your brand and the services you provide. It’s been said that, on the average, people move every seven years. So if I do a great job for them, will they remember me in seven years? Probably most will not. So I need to remind them periodically during this time.”
Changes Creating New Opportunities
Fortunately, there are changes affecting the industry that are creating new opportunities for overcoming the unique customer relationship management challenges of the real estate industry. Three such changes include the explosive growth in the use of tablets and smartphones; increased Wi-Fi availability and dramatic reductions in mobile data plan costs; and increased capabilities of high-speed, cloud-based software applications. The combination of these three factors has enabled the development of sophisticated low-cost customer loyalty tools that can be customized for the specific needs of individual users, where this level of personalization would not have been practical before.
According to Wiren, “I think in the service economy we are in, customization of resources is the biggest opportunity moving forward. Cus-tomers are not one size fits all, they have specific
needs and wants, and they live in a world that caters to that level of specificity. As real estate professionals, we must offer resources that can be customized and specific to a client’s needs.”
Applica Solutions Introduces New Approach
A company named Applica Solutions (www. applica-solutions.com/tools) has developed a suite of tools called Home Wizard (www.home-wizard.com), which includes easily customizable mobile apps, web tools and a newsletter that allow home professionals to give their clients branded, essen-tial, monthly home care reminders that are person-alized based on their home type, home features, personal goals, priorities, location and knowledge level. And like other cloud-based business tools such as Skype, Dropbox and Google Drive, most of Applica’s tools for home professionals are free, with optional premium services.
Wiren says, “From my experience, Home Wizard has the great benefit of letting customers custom-ize the experience based on their home and their needs. This is critical because people don’t want to make time for information that is useless to them. If the maintenance reminder system is consistently sending reminders that don’t apply to clients based on their home, they’ll stop looking, and the value of that benefit is eliminated. The ability for clients to customize their reminders and access the infor-mation on a mobile platform is a big win.”
According to Brittain, “I’ve found that Home Wizard provides a vehicle that delivers a useful product on a regular basis without over doing it and becoming annoying. In the year or so that I have used Home Wizard, it has adapted and changed to meet the needs of the cyber landscape. It not only provides a better end-user experience, but also provides more tools for the sponsors. From my experience, the ability to customize and personalize Home Wizard is a plus from both the customer and sponsor side. Tracking also provides a valuable tool for the sponsor to monitor the suc-cess of the CRM campaign and the quality of its contacts.”
Benefits of Home Wizard
“Applica’s Home Wizard tools are a valuable resource that demonstrates to my clients that I care about them and that I have the competence to know what type of resources matter in helping with their real estate portfolio,” according to Wiren.
“The content is great and very useful, and is not cluttered with annoying ads or pop-ups. The best part is I don’t have to develop the content, which is a huge timesaver for me. There is no doubt that CRM tools like Home Wizard are effective and bring in new and repeat business. Overall, my experience and those of the users have been positive, and it has been well received by most.
Using Home Wizard has helped brand my business, increase the recognition of my brand (logo) and brought in new and repeat business,” says Brittain.
Jeffry D. Wiren is a Principal Broker with the RE/MAX Equity Group www.equitygroup.com, www.jeffwirenhomes.com, a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and Past President of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors,® email: [email protected], 503-869-3513.
Ken Brittain is the owner of Home Vue Inspection Services LLC www.theconcordhomeinspector.com, a member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and a member of the North Carolina Licensed Home Inspector Association email: [email protected], 704-455-0482.
Applica Solutions develops customer loyalty solutions that combine data sciences, behavioral economics and emerging technologies. At Applica’s core are skills for developing the complex algorithms that drive its solutions. Applica currently focuses on three industry verticals: home professionals, the pet care industry and retailing. For more information about Applica Solutions or Home Wizard, refer to www.applica-solutions.com/tools, www.home-wizard.com or call 508-281-2050. H
A New Approach to Relationship Management in the Real Estate Industry
18 19ASHI Reporter • May 2016 19May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org
AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 2
AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action, Part 2
By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070
In Part 1 of this series, we introduced the first three components of AIDA marketing: Attention, Interest and Desire. Now in
Part 2, we examine the final component: Action. ACTION—Give Them a Reason to Act At the end of your advertising piece, public relations notice or sales message, remember to ask the reader to do something. This is the call to action. Make it easy and obvious for the reader to take the next step. If you don’t, your message is empty, and the reader is likely to do nothing.
EXAMPLES OF CALLS TO ACTION> “Call now to receive a FREE Home Improvement Costs
package.” The word “free” is powerful. “New,” “improved” and “more” are effective as well. Offer something of value, such as a free downloadable booklet of common problems. Collect email addresses from your audience by having them complete a form before they can access the download.
> “Contact Mike now at 555-555-1212 or email [email protected], or visit us at www.inspectioncompany.com to book your inspection.” Including your phone number, email and website, even if they also appear elsewhere in the piece, is a great idea. Keep in mind that providing a person’s name and a local phone number is preferable to providing a company name and an 800 number.
> “Inspection times book up fast. Call now to reserve your preferred time.” This call to action creates a sense of urgency. Home inspection is a time-sensitive service. Highlight your online booking feature on your website as a special convenience that is “Available 24/7.”
> Use dramatic photos of house defects. Including photos of house defects on your promotional piece can help make your message more powerful. These images can raise buyers’ awareness of risk and highlight the value you bring.
AN EXTENDED EXAMPLE OF AIDA MARKETINGThe following example of an advertisement offering an indoor air quality evaluation to clients who have settled into their new home walks you through the AIDA process. Be sure to copy the notice feature and benefit statements. Please note that this ad is simply an example that illustrates the AIDA process; the statements are not facts.
ATTENTION & INTEREST
IS YOUR HOME KILLING YOU? Is your health suffering? Do you or your family often feel ill in your home? Many families spend their lives breathing contaminated air. They never make the connection between their poor health and the air quality in their own home.
Fact: One in 12 people suffers from asthma.
Fact: Although there are treatments for an asthma attack, the best solution is to remove the asthma triggers from your environment.
Fact: Allergies have a compounding effect, and most people with allergies are allergic to several things. If you are allergic to dust, pollen and smoke, you may be able to get rid of all your symptoms by reducing only one of these three allergens.
Fact: The air quality in nine of 10 homes can be improved by 75 percent at little or no cost to the homeowner.
DESIRE
Our indoor air quality assessment can help you get you the answers you need. As a previous client, you will enjoy a reduced fee of only $245, rather than our standard fee of $300. We identify sources of indoor air contaminants, and we give you expert, unbiased advice on how to improve the quality of the air you breathe. We have no affiliation with any contractor or manufac-turer, and we do not do repairs or sell products. We just give you the advice you need. Often, you can implement our recommendations at little or no cost. You and your family will enjoy a healthier and more pleasurable home life.
Here’s what our customers are saying:
“Thanks so much. The solutions you gave us are worth their weight in gold. We never knew it was so easy to improve the quality of the air we breathe.” – D. Johnson, Washington, D.C.
“I can’t thank you enough. Because you put the cover back on the furnace filter cabinet, my headaches have completely disappeared.” – J. Walsh, Chicago, IL
ACTION
Call 555-555-1212 now to book an assessment. Mention this letter to receive $55 off our normal fee of $300.
Don’t forget: Make sure that you plan to spend time with our expert while he or she is in your home. Our clients say that the education they get during the evaluation is as valuable as the report itself.
USE THESE AIDA IDEAS ON YOUR NEXT MESSAGE TO CLIENTSKeep this article (and Part 1 that appeared in the April issue) handy so you can refer to it as you develop or review your marketing messages. Reviewing these AIDA ideas can help you to help your clients understand how your services will help them. H
20 21ASHI Reporter • May 2016 21May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org
Vinyl Siding: Facts and Foibles
Vinyl Siding: facts and foiblesBy Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070
Vinyl siding is America’s most popular siding material, account-ing for more than one-third of installations across the country.
It is inexpensive, relatively easy to install and low maintenance. In-troduced in the 1950s, the early versions were susceptible to fading as well as becoming brittle in cold weather and buckling in hot weather. Vinyl siding has come a long way.
The siding is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a common plastic used in many building materials. It may contain a number of additives. The quality varies, with the premium products tending to be thicker. Better vinyl siding comes with a 50-year warranty or a lifetime, prorated warranty. Light colors are common because they stand up better to heat and sunlight. Darker colors typically have more additives to help stabilize the vinyl.
The common problems that we see with vinyl siding include buckled and wavy siding, loose siding, flashing and caulking defects, mechanical damage and fading. In this article, we focus on buckled siding.
Buckled and Wavy SidingBuilding settlement may cause siding to buckle, tear or come loose, although that is rare. Movement due to thermal stresses is far more common. All things expand and contract with temperature changes. PVC does so more than a lot of other materials. It has a high coefficient of thermal expansion. A 12-foot length of vinyl siding expands and contracts ½ inch or more.
Good installation helps prevent buckling and wavy siding. Here are some guidelines:
• Nails should be driven through the center of the wide slots at the top of the siding. This allows the siding to expand and contract stress-free in the horizontal plane.
• Nails should not be driven tight. The siding should hang on the nails to allow movement.
• Fasteners should go through sheathing and at least ¾ inch into studs or furring.
• There should be a fastener every 16 inches for horizontal siding, and every 12 inches for vertical panels.
• Panels should overlap by at least 1 inch.• Adjacent panels should interlock.• There should be at least a ¼-inch clearance at all openings and
stops. • Nailing strips between overlapping pieces should provide a ½-inch
gap to allow for movement.
The Vinyl Siding Institute published an installation manual in 2015. You can refer to it online here: http://www.vinylsiding.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2014/02/2015-Vinyl-Siding-Installation-Manual.pdf.
The illustration shows some of the installation points described.
Poor installation can result in buckling, especially in hot weather. Home inspectors typically cannot see how the siding was installed, and siding that looks good in cold weather may deform in warm weather.
Siding is wavy because of poor installation.
22 23ASHI Reporter • May 2016 23May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 22 23ASHI Reporter • May 2016 23May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org
> Vinyl Siding: Facts and Foibles
Reflected sunlight: Properly installed siding also may buckle, due to heat. When caused by grills, barbecues or heating appliance venting, for example, the damage is typically quite localized. How-ever, there’s another fascinating issue that may affect large areas. Reflected sunlight from windows in adjacent buildings can cause significant failures. See the photographs showing examples.
Work environments can contain a myriad of sources that produce unwanted chemicals (VOCs) in the air. Couplethat with insu�cient ventilation and the resultingair breathed by buildingoccupants can a�ect productivity, work qualityand worker health.
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Vinyl siding damaged by re-
flected sun from nearby window.
The circumstances that cause this phenomenon include the following:
• An adjacent building has windows facing the vinyl siding.
• The windows are exposed to direct sunlight.
• The windows are double- or triple-glazed, and may be low-e glass.
• The outer pane of glass deflects inward due to barometric pressure differences, creating a concave surface like a magnifying glass, which concentrates the reflected sunlight.
• If the concentrated reflected light reaches the vinyl siding, the siding may overheat and deform.
• Vinyl temperatures can be well above 200°F. Vinyl siding typically begins to soften at roughly 160°F.
• The lower the angle of sun hitting the window, the more likely the problem is to occur. Spring, winter and fall come to mind, although low outdoor temperatures, of course, cool the siding.
• The closer the adjacent buildings, the more likely the problem is to occur. Problems most often happen with buildings less than 30 feet apart, although damage has been documented with up to 100 feet of separation.
This issue has been documented by the National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.org) and the Vinyl Siding Institute (www.vinylsiding.org). Over 2,000 incidents have been informally reported over a 10-year period. The problem has appeared in all states, although it seems to be more concentrated in Northern states.
What to Watch ForWhen inspecting any exterior cladding, you should be looking for surface anomalies. Where you see vinyl siding that is buckled or wavy, look for an adjacent building with significant window areas. You may see the bright star-shaped spots on the vinyl siding if it is sunny. Dark siding may be more vulnerable than light siding because it absorbs more heat.
Low-e glass may make the problem worse because it increases the amount of reflected ultraviolet (UV) light, although you will typically not be able to determine this. Argon-filled windows also may exacerbate the problem.
Buckled siding due to poor
installation.
Siding in danger of
blowing off; pieces
are not interlocked
properly.
Siding is not well
secured below
window.
Siding is poorly
secured.
Buckled vinyl siding
due to reflected
sunlight from
windows in
adjacent building.
Note the “stars”
of reflected light.
(Photo courtesy of
Don Lovering)
Continues on page 38
24 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 25May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 25
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All Inspectors On Deck! May Is Deck Safety Month®
Compiled by Carol Dikelsky
May kick-starts the summer season, with more people getting outdoors and using their decks. May is also Deck Safety Month® so make time to review your knowl-edge of deck safety to ensure that you’re providing a comprehensive inspection and the most critical information to your clients.
Use NADRA ResourcesASHI partners with the North American Deck and Rail Association (NADRA), whose goals include reducing injuries related to decks, increasing awareness of potentially unsafe structures and offering solutions to resolve and prevent unsafe situations. NADRA provides continuing education and certification for inspectors.
NADRA Executive Vice President Michael Beaudry said, “Our goal is to have at least 1,000 ASHI members certified as deck inspectors by the end of 2017. With great turnout and fantastic responses to our classes held at ASHI events since January 2015, we are well on our way. Home inspectors are very open to learning more about decks, and they understand that certification can add to their professionalism. Deck inspections can present new business and income, especially in states that require annual deck inspections.”
NADRA recommends that all homeowners have an annual deck inspection. By becom-ing certified by NADRA, you can enhance the quality of your inspections of decks, stairs and railings. Your extra efforts will show your commitment to addressing deck safety challenges and reducing injury statistics. Beaudry encourages ASHI members to review these online resources and features:
• Deck Safety Month® resources (nadra.org/consumers/deck_safety_month.html), in-cluding a video encouraging homeowners to have a deck inspection.
• General consumer information about deck inspections (http://www.nadra.org/con-sumers/deck_inspections.html).
• A detailed Deck Evaluation Form (http://nadra.org/Deck_Evaluation_Form.pdf) for inspectors, also available as an app. NADRA plans to analyze and apply data collected from users to improve awareness and injury-prevention efforts.
• NADRA membership information for inspectors (http://nadra.org/About_NA-DRA/inspectorfaq.html). Membership includes a personalized online profile that generates leads within your community. Over time, you can tally the number of inspections your NADRA profile page has sent your way.
• Training and certification (http://www.nad-rablog.com/?p=2155%20or%20nadra.org/Education/Education_Home.html).
Link Clients with the Check Your Deck® Consumer Checklist NADRA created a checklist for consumers (nadra.org/NADRA_DSM_Checklist.pdf) that offers details about critical issues includ-ing split or decaying wood; flashing; loose or corroded fasteners; stairs, railings and banisters; cleaning and maintenance; grills, fire pits, chimneys, heaters and candles; and lighting and electrical. It cautions that checking your own deck does not ensure that your deck complies with codes and recommends hiring a professional inspector for a complete evaluation. NADRA makes it easy for members to share this information with clients by sending out a fill-in-the-blank “Check Your Deck” press release.
Offer Clients a Free Deck InspectionConsider promoting (or perhaps even suggest that your ASHI chapter coordinate) a drawing for a free deck inspection. For example, you could post a link highlighting Deck Safety Month on your website or social media feed or send an e-mail blast or letter to your former and potential clients, with a request to “like” or reply to the post or message. Explain that you’ll enter respon-dents into a random drawing and give the “reveal” date for finding out the name of the winner.
This idea came from an ASHI program implemented in 2011 in partnership with Simpson Strong-Tie. The two organizations
teamed up to turn attention to the importance of deck checkups by offering free deck inspections to homeowners in Seattle, Atlanta and Chicago. More than 40 ASHI members participated, and the program served its purpose to encourage deck safety, with the bonus of earning accolades for local inspectors and for ASHI. Read more about this successful program here: http://www.ashireporter.org/HomeIn-spection/Articles/Deck-Safety-Week/2157.
Share Your Knowledge with the MediaContact the media about the importance of deck safety and offer to be interviewed about the topic. In 2008, ASHI Executive Director Frank Lesh promoted deck safety by sharing tips during a segment on NBC’s Today Show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QkzQdNq7K8). More recently, he was interviewed for an online article on This Old House (http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20933543,00.html).
You don’t have to contact the national media, of course, but you could send that Deck Safety Month DIY press release available from NADRA to your local media. If you do, consider adding some specifics that you’d look for in a deck safety inspec-tion. For example, Frank Lesh mentioned rusted fasteners and connectors, damage from bugs, cracks, rotted wood, loose railings and mold and mildew in his interviews. Most importantly, emphasize the importance of getting an inspector’s opinion and hiring a professional to make needed repairs.
Get on Deck!Whatever you do—even if it means simply rechecking your own deck—be sure to pay special attention to deck safety in May. One final note: Beaudry encourages you to submit your most shocking deck inspection photos and captions to [email protected]. NADRA posts these online, much like the Reporter runs “Postcards from the Field,” so your name and business will be in the spotlight along with your photo. H
26 27ASHI Reporter • May 2016 27May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 26
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top Student Recognized at InspectionWorld® 2016By Carol Dikelsky
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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 .
Jon LaRose, a home inspector based in the suburbs of Seattle, WA, recently achieved
a perfect score of 100 on The ASHI School’s final examination. Jon’s road to this distinc-tion came after hurdling two big obstacles: dealing with serious health issues and making a career change.
About two years before he took The ASHI School’s two-week course in May 2014, Jon was diagnosed with celiac disease. His allergy to wheat had manifested in severe inflam-mation throughout his body that significant-ly affected his brain. He said, “There was so much pressure on my skull that I had many problems with memory. Once my doctors figured out the problem, I was able to address the issue and gradually recover. In the process, I lost 60 pounds.”
During his recovery, Jon decided to reassess the course of his career. Like many others, he did not have a direct path to home inspection. After graduating with a de-gree in economics from the University of Washington, he got married and worked in finance and benefits, including having positions at Coopers & Lybrand, Merrill Lynch and Boeing.
But soon after he and his wife bought their first home, Jon found that taking care of and working on the house brought him much more joy than his 9 to 5 life. Years later, while working for Boeing, the diagnosis of celiac disease brought him to a breaking point. During the several months he spent going through tests, treatment and recovery, Jon decided that he wanted to do what he liked doing for a living. So he decided to take a chance and forge a career path in home inspection.
With this new start in mind, he started researching how to become trained as a home inspector. Jon said, “ASHI had the best educational offerings by far. I signed up for The ASHI School course in Bellevue, WA. Taking the course confirmed that I was going in the direction that I wanted to go. I just ate it all up and thoroughly enjoyed the educa-tion.” Jon was impressed by the knowledge
and skills of the four dedicated instructors, including lead instructor Rod Beacham and associate instructors Michael Wicklund, Howard Maxfield and Karl Neuffer. After taking the course, Jon secured employment with The Sterling Inspection Group, owned by Michael Wicklund. He said, “Michael became my mentor and now he’s my boss. I like that I’m still learning all the time.”
At InspectionWorld® 2016 in San Diego, Jon attended The ASHI School Student Reunion, and although he didn’t see any of his classmates there, a few of his instructors attended as well as a few students he knew who took the class after he completed it.
At the event, The ASHI School presented Jon with a plaque to award his achievement on the final exam. Jon said, “Getting the award was a complete surprise. It was nice because my boss Michael was there to see it. With all the struggles I’ve had with my health and especially with my memory, acing the exam was a really nice bookend to the experience.”
For Jon, home inspection has been an excellent career change because he finds the process both exciting and rewarding. “I really enjoy being part of the process of going into a home and giving my assessment. I understand that my role plays a part of a huge decision, and I feel good being able to advise people about it.”
Although working in the Seattle area some-times requires driving long distances to a job site, Jon said, “I love it. I have freedom, and my work is not the same each day. It makes life interesting, and I am so much happier not working in a cubicle. I like to have fresh projects and new clients. It’s really been a great change to my life.”
On behalf of The ASHI School, congratulations, Jon! H
28 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 29May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 29
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, PAPeter Muehlbronner 215-852-7319 [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, 7:00 - 9:00 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 CityDoug Hord, [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 Saturday, (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
AlaskaMeeting dates: Jan 1, March 1, Aug 1, Nov 1 Location varies each meetingDavid Mortensen, [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., PortlandJay Hensley, [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.caChris Bottriell, [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.comShannon Cory, 404-316-4876 [email protected]
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, GreensboroAndy Hilton, [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]
30 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 31May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 31
TO SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS FOR MOvING UP, PLEASE CONTACT JANET GEORGE AT 847-954-3180 OR [email protected]
H Denotes graduate of The ASHI School
new ASHI Associates As of March 1, 2016
Graham ShawnEdmonton, AB
Jordan AgenFlawless InspectionsWasilla, AK
H Larry McBainAnchorage, AK
Jonathan BrooksAndalusia, AL
Jeff HoustonFirst Choice Home Inspections LLCBirmingham, AL
Christopher HufhamAnchors Aweigh LLC dba Amerispec Mobile, AL
John MizeChelsea, AL
Charles SquiresSouthern Home Inspectors LLCFairhope, AL
Joseph ThomasDanny Thomas dba National Property InspectionsGadsden, AL
Matthew Brentlinger4 Counties Inspection LLCHuntsville, AR
Keith CaldwellCabot, AR
Duane SmithReliable Choice Home Inspections Inc.Sherwood, AR
Carl JohnsonJust the Facts Arizona Home InspectionMesa, AZ
Josh LindScottsdale, AZ
Allen RiceAmerican National Home InspectionsPhoenix, AZ
H Eddie BableyanNorth Hollywood, CA
Bob BeestonPillar to Post Home InspectionElk Grove, CA
Pierre BelangerHomeGuard IncorporatedSan Jose, CA
Jennifer BlueSouth Shores Home InspectionDana Point, CA
Matthew FulmerVigilant Home Inspections, LLCCedar Rapids, IA
Neal PeterPolk City, IA
Ken ThomasTag’s Professional Home Inspections Mitchellville , IA
Roy WierVigilant Home InspectionsLisbon, IA
B. Bradley CollierGalesburg, IL
Michael DavisPillar to PostWashington, IL
Mike DilgerHealthy Homes Inspection Services Royal, IL
Kenneth EndresChicago, IL
Jason GrischkatBuyers Protection GroupHinsdale, IL
Matthew HawleyHawley Home Inspections LLCPocahontas, IL
Bob MadewellMadewell InspectionsEast Alton, IL
David YostQuality Building Inspections, IncGlen Ellyn, IL
Terry BoehmHolland, IN
Jeff CallahanGriffith, IN
Mark HardwickInspect It 1st - IndyBrowsburg, IN
Rodney NissleyBrick & Beam Home Inspections LLCPierceton, IN
Beth RobinsonWrubel Home InspectionsNew Albany, IN
Nick YoungPillar to PostPortage, IN
Woodrow BatesJMJP Inc. dba National Property InspectionKansas City, KS
Brett Boswell Hutchinson, KS
H Zach NashCrown Home InspectionsLenexa, KS
Michael BrownMurrieta, CA
Peter CollisonBenchmark Property InspectionEncinitas, CA
Harold EllisInspections For EsckowPorterville, CA
Tony GenovaBPG InspectionTorrance, CA
Randall GoadA2Z Home InspectionVista, CA
Shawn GravelleH2H Inspection Services Thousand Palms, CA
Paul HarriottThe Home Inspection CompanySan Diego, CA
Jason HavelNation Wide InspectionsSan Diego, CA
Jerry HoltPalmdale, CA
Toby LowderInspectProsCamarillo, CA
Jeffrey MannElite Home InspectionDiscovery Bay, CA
Jose MendozaRM Home Inspection ServicesChula Vista, CA
Harry MullerBPG InspectionsPalmdale, CA
Christopher NealisAztec Property InspectionsSan Diego, CA
Eric ReeceThe Lighthouse GroupWestminster, CA
Matt ReidBPG InspectionsWest Hills, CA
William ReidRemodelWestSaratoga, CA
H Ryan RenfroPacific Grove, CA
Elias ReyesGuaranteed Property InspectionsOrange, CA
Dustin Price785 Home InspectionsManhattan, KS
Jessica RobertsJR Certified Home InspectionsRantoul, KS
Ted ClarkeCrescent Springs, KY
Jack FullerComprehensive Property ManagementBenton, KY
victor GarciaLouisville, KY
Jeff MasonMayfield, KY
Jack McNearAAA Professional Home InspectorsLouisville, KY
Dale MillerOn Your Side Home Inspections (OYSHI)Louisville, KY
Brandon PickettB+P Home SolutionsFlorence, KY
Tony PonteGreenlight Home Inspections LLCLouisville, KY
Thomas SchwagerThomas Schwager LLCLouisville, KY
David WilloughbyLancaster, KY
Craig HenriksenPillar to Post-FranchiseeMarshfield, MA
Christopher ReadySherman Home Inspection, INCNorth Dighton, MA
Robert ArlingtonEdgewood, MD
Paul BakerBaker Home Inspection Inc.Salisbury, MD
Ken BallKen Ball Home Inspections LLCNortheast, MD
Bryan BandyBlue Crab Inspections Abingdon, MD
Robert BurgeeComplete Home SolutionsLothian, MD
Brad CaleBaltimore, MD
Christopher ReynoldsHomeGuard IncorporatedSan Jose, CA
H Hector SanchezCorona, CA
Danny SchultzSchultz Building Inspection ServicesGarden Grove, CA
Steven StrunkBroadway Home InspectionsViallejo, CA
James TaylorHome Pro, Inc.Seeley, CA
Donald WilsonBuyers Protection GroupDesert Hot Springs, CA
Andy WilsonImazing Properties, LLCAubrun, CA
Tim ByersAccurate Home Inspection LLCWestminster, CO
Paul CalhoonC-2 Building ConceptsGrand Junction, CO
Lori CoatesWestminster, CO
Jason DeWittDewitt’s Inspection ServicesGrand Junction, CO
Tom EggingEgging Home InspectionsColorado Springs, CO
Norman FinkTrinidad, CO
Brian HendersonElizabeth, CO
John KleinDenver, CO
Jeff KrauseDenver, CO
Michael LobatoCanyon Property Inspection, LLCGrand Junction, CO
John MaldonadoThe House Whisperer Home Inspections, LLCColorado Springs, CO
Michael McCarrenColorado Certified Home Inspection LLCColorado Springs, CO
David McQueenA1 A Home Inspection ServicesColorado Springs, CO
Greg MecklingAnimas Inspections, LLCBayfield, CO
John CouslerBel-Air, MD
Isaac FrucheyJoppa, MD
Joseph GreelyJoppa, MD
Jonathan HandyDarnestown, MD
David Kemp 4U Home InspectionEllicott City, MD
George LeoneA Comprehensive Home Inspection Service, LLCNorth East, MD
Todd LewisLaurel, MD
Charles SeubertAbingdon, MD
Kamal SinghBaltimore, MD
Melvin StachuraHavre de Grace, MD
Richard StearnsElkton, MD
Michael StoneRite-Time Inspections, LLCCambridge, MD
Richard ThackerHomeRite Real Estate Inspections, LTDWhite Hall, MD
Anthony WebberiKON Home InspectionsSilver Spring, MD
Julius ZsakoLeader Home InspectionsGaithersburg, MD
DeWitt KimballComplete Home Evaluation Services LLCBrunswick, ME
Randall LaClaireRKL Home InspectionsPoland, ME
Mike Millett 207 Inspect, LLCRaymond, ME
Christopher RossNorth Coast Home Inspection, LLCYork, ME
Tom De JongMy Home Inspection Services, LLCCaledonia, MI
Andy NeeringThe Home Inspector, Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI
Jill O’NeillSage Inspections LLC.Englewood, CO
Kenneth SchipperColorado Springs, CO
Christopher ScottScott Home Inspection LLCBerthoud, CO
William (Bill) WysongFortress Home InspectionColorado Springs, CO
Ron BelangerRW Construction + Shady Oaks Assisted LivingFarmington, CT
Ernie CullinanHamden, CT
H William DazzoRedding, CT
William MgarianWest Simsbury, CT
Wyatt NovakNaugatuck, CT
Joseph PadillaWest Haven , CT
Ryan WilcoxSuffield, CT
Shelden FaisonF.A.C.E.S. LLCWashington, DC
Michael HemeonHome Inspector Inc.Washington, DC
Gregory BurnsReliable Home Inspection ServiceWilmington, DE
Skip JenkinsPro-Spect Inspection ServicesDover, DE
H Barbara BatesOrange City, FL
Michael BurlingtonHomosassa, FL
William ChandlerProperty360, LLCFleming Island, FL
H Nancy CoughliniProtect Home InspectionsJacksonville, FL
Wallace LawsonBuy Right Home InspectionsPlantation, FL
Dave MarvelPeace of Mind Home Inspection, LLCBradenton, FL
Bob MassanovaSWF Home InspectionsVenice, FL
Brian Walkeren-Vision Property InspectionsWashington, MI
Carl Mulder A+ Certified Home Inspections LLCNorth Mankato, MN
Christopher SchrockTwin Ports Home inspection, LLCDuluth, MN
Michael StahlerStahler Inspection ServicePine Island, MN
Cole YoungMound, MN
Scott AdamsScott J Adams Property InspectionsWarrensburg, MO
John AtwellJohn Atwell Inspections dba Pillar to PostHazelwood, MO
Ryan BentonRediscovered Properties LLCKansas City, MO
Gordon BrandtWarrensburg, MO
Kevin ClarkLees Summit, MO
Scott ElkinsImperial, MO
Donald GrindleHome-Trust, LLCKimberling City, MO
Greg JohnsonA-Okay Inspections LLCBlue Springs, MO
Michael LudyELM Home Services, LLCParkville, MO
Stephen MartinBlue Springs, MO
Ryan McCarthyBPGSt. Louis, MO
Patrick McLaughlin Lake Ozark, MO
Phil PerryPLP Properties LLCBarnhart, MO
Curtis ReederOrrick, MO
Justin SheltonCardinal Guaranteed InspectionsSt. Louis, MO
Charley SmithShow-Me Inspections, LLCNixa, MO
Devin MoranteDBJ Home Inspections, Inc.Port St Lucie, FL
Damon O’DonnellA Professional Inspection ServiceGulf Breeze, FL
Dennis WagamanFlorida Gulf Coast Home Inspections, IncFt. Myers, FL
Robert WartellB.P.G.Rockledge, FL
Jason WiggintonCertified Home Inspectors of Florida Ocala, FL
Ellen YarrkinNeal Development Group, IncTavares, FL
Randall BaisePrism Home & Building InspectionsSavannah, GA
H Travis BellMiro Home InspectionDecatur, GA
Ellis ChildersDahlonega, GA
David Del GiornoDLJG Enterprises, LLC dba Pillar to PostCanton, GA
Kenny DyerRincon, GA
Travis HeringerSuwanee, GA
John HudsonHudson & Co. Home InspectionsLilburn, GA
Jeff KintonCornerstone Inspection GroupAtlanta, GA
Thomas LloydBPG InspectionsCanton, GA
Mark LotaneHomePro Home Inspections of Georgia., Inc.Watkinsville , GA
Kenneth SherriffJonesboro, GA
H Charles ThompsonLawrenceville, GA
Leroy WilliamsonWilliamson’s Home InspectionsSavannah, GA
H Gary Spicer Spicer Property InspectionsKailua-Kona, HI
James SpencerColumbia, MO
Steven TeachoutSmithville, MO
Richard WilliamsR&M Home Inspections ServiceAugusta, MO
Jim DanielsMeridian, MS
Matthew RaineyDuck Hill, MS
H Levi GillMontana Home InspectionBillings, MT
R. Dean IndrelandPillar to Post Home InspectorsMissoula, MT
Jim AnnissTwo Pointers InspectionOmaha, NE
Kurtis GrassettNorway Hill Home InspectionsHancock, NH
Scott JohnsonWIN Home Inspection - SeacoastStratham, NH
Jed KelleyNewmarket, NH
Angelo BencivengaCurb 2 Roof Home Inspection LLCCranford, NJ
Anthony DeliaLexington Home ServicesWhippany, NJ
Daniel LavertyOcean City, NJ
Frank MitchellTrinity Inspections Services, LLCMullica Hill, NJ
Stewart EwingThe Ewing CompanySanta Fe, NM
Ron Pofeet Southwest Home InspectionAztec, NM
David CreightonBeacon, NY
Thomas DhinsaBrooklyn, NY
Kenneth HayesPort Crane, NY
SEE PAGE 32 FOR CHAPTER EDUCATION.
Continues on Page 36
32 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 33May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 33
ASHI Event Calendar
� 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
� January 22-25, 2017 inspectionWorld® and asHi Board Meeting Las Vegas, nV
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
Southeastern Home Inspector ConferenceWhen: September 7- 11, 2016
Please go to the web site for Location
and additional information.
Contact: www.sehomeinspectorconference.com
Great Lakes ChapterWhen: September 23-24
Where: Grand Rapids, MI
Subjects: Friday: Peer Review, Board Meeting,
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
Keystone ASHI Inspection SeminarWhen: October 14 & 15, 2016
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading
701 Penn Street, Reading, PA
Subject: 2014 NEC updates, Stucco & AMSV, Fuel
& Appliance Venting, Reporting, Attic
Ventilation, Roofing, Infrared and Mold.
CEUs: Up to 16 ASHI CEs
Contact: www.keystoneashi.org
ASHI Chapter education
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: Johns 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
Keystone ASHI Inspection SeminarWhen: October 14 & 15, 2016
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading
701 Penn Street
Reading, PA
Subject: 2014 NEC updates, Stucco & AMSV, Fuel
& Appliance Venting, Reporting, Attic
Ventilation, Roofing, Infrared and Mold
CEUs: Up to 16 ASHI CEs
Contact: www.keystoneashi.org
Mid-Missouri ASHI Chapter Educational SeminarWhen: November 4, 2016
Where: Columbia Board of Realtors Office
Columbia, MO
Speaker: Shannon Cory
CEUs: 8 ASHI CEs
Contact: [email protected]
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.
IMPORTANT RepoRTeR DEADLINES: • JULY ISSUE - 5/23/16• AUGUST ISSUE - 6/20/16• SEPTEMBER ISSUE - 7/20/16• OCTOBER ISSUE - 8/19/16• NOVEMBER ISSUE - 9/15/16• DECEMBER ISSUE - 10/14/16• JANUARY ISSUE - 11/15/16• FEBRUARY ISSUE - 12/15/16
elections OfficersThe following ACIs were selected to serve on the Officers Nominating Committee:
Brendan Ryan John BiegalskiMiki Mertz Bryck GuiborJules Falcone Hollis BrownTom Lauhon George Basista The immediate Past-president Alden Gibson serves as chair. The committee is accepting nominations for the Society officer positions of president-elect, vice president, secretary and treasurer for 2017.
Any ASHI Certified Inspector in good standing may be nominated to any office. Self-nominations are permitted, and all nominees must agree to serve if elected.
ASHI Nominating and Election Guidelines require that all nomi-nations include a completed Matrix for Evaluating Nominees. The official matrix is available on HomeInspector.org in the Documents section of the Members-Only Extranet. The matrix also can be obtained by contacting ASHI headquarters, [email protected].
As matrices are received at headquarters, the staff will verify that all nominees have agreed to serve and have submitted the neces-sary background information, including a response to all matrix questions. Headquarters will verify the nominees’ status as ASHI Certified Inspectors in good standing. Nominations will close Aug. 15, 2016, and the matrices will be distributed to the members of the Nominating Committee.
Nominating Committee Purpose: The objective of the Nomi-nating Committee is to identify and name candidates who meet ASHI’s leadership requirements for the offices of president-elect, vice president, secretary and treasurer. All contents, discussions and documents from the meetings and their results are strictly confidential.
Petitions: After the Nomination Committee names its candidates, a petition of 10 percent of ASHI Certified Inspectors in good standing can cause the name of a qualified ASHI Certified Inspec-tor to be added to the ballot for a specific office. Petitions must be presented on a special form available only from ASHI headquarters and require the name (printed) and the signature of each petitioner, as well as the office in which the petitioner would serve, if elected.
The form must be received by mail or fax at headquarters at least 10 days prior to the distribution of the ballots. Staff will verify the validity of the petition prior to placing the name of a candidate for office on the ballot. Ballots will be mailed to ASHI Certified
Inspectors by Oct. 31, 2016, and the election will close Dec. 5, 2016.
Campaigning: According to the Policy and Procedures Manual, campaigning positively by or about any candidate is permissible as long as no ASHI assets are used. Staff, Nomi-nating Committee and Election Committee members shall not participate in campaigning. Nominees or petition candidates for an officer or Board of Director position may purchase mailing labels or lists of qualified voting members’ contact information from headquarters at cost. Negative campaigning (against candidates or nominees) is not permitted. The Election Committee should preview campaign statements or materials in advance if there is any uncertainty about the appropriateness of their contents. Ballots will be counted the first week in December and election results will be published in the January 2017 issue of the ASHI Reporter.
Comments and questions about the nomination process are welcomed. Please contact ASHI headquarters at [email protected].
DirectorsThe following council representatives were selected to serve on the Directors Nominating Committee:
Skip Walker Brian MurphyEric Barker Tony Hecht
Brendan Ryan was appointed to chair the committee.
Nominations are being accepted for three new, non-officer Board members and one alternate for 2017. Nominees shall be ASHI Certified Inspectors in good standing who have served a minimum of one year on the Council of Representatives, the term beginning no later than Oct. 1, 2015. Nominees must be on the council during the election process, up until the time the ballots are counted. If elected, the council member must step off the council and the chapter will be allowed to fill the vacancy.
The Directors Nominating Committee will submit names of possible candidates, and any COR member may submit his/her name or any names as nominees. All candidates must agree to serve and provide background information, as required on a matrix that is available from HQ. Nominations close Aug. 15, 2016, and the Directors Nominating Committee selects a slate in September. Ballots then are mailed to Council representa-tives on Oct. 31, 2016.
If you have questions, please contact Frank Lesh at HQ , [email protected]. H
34 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 35May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 35
CURRENT ASHI
MEMBERSHIP
ASHI Certified Inspectors: 3,281
Inspectors/Logo: 114
Associates: 2,987
Retired Members: 111
Affiliates: 68
Total: 6,561 Members as of 3/31/2016
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 YearsLon Grossman
Thirty Years Kevin O’Hornett
Twenty-five Years Charles IttePaul MaidaKeith Oberg
Twenty Years Mark BishtonMichael BrisbinFrank BuraskiJim FahsRuss GarmonGary GentryTimothy HullAnthony InfeliseArnis KengisRick LobleyTate Mackenzie Thomas McInernyChristopher Miller Sr.Peter MuehlbronnerJohn OlsonHans PetersGary RoarkTroy RudyJoel SchmitzDavid SherwoodBrian Vanden Heuvel
Fifteen Years Bruce CzechWilliam DennisGeorge JellisonTodd JohnsonRobert KilleJames MakaraMark Panetti
Ten Years Michael AshburnKathleen BarbeeCharles BuellSteve CalhounBernie CatanzaretiJim CookEugene GodowskiMichael HarrisonDavid JenkinsReis PearsonFelix PeñaJim RobinsonMelvin RobinsonDavid ThompsonGary Tucker
Five Years James AdkinsJohn BottoRobert BranderKim ChristensenJohn Ciambello Glenn CrowlMarc DavisDon FountainJohn GamacheKeith HolsingerLee KastbergKerry KoontzRichard LahrJesse MakainaiBryan ParrishDavid SmithJeffrey ToshJames VanSuchDerek Wetlaufer
May 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
ASHI Reporter • May 2016 37May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 3736 37ASHI Ad.indd 6 3/25/15 10:33 AM
Continued from Page 31
Mark HicksPoughkeepsie, NY
Paul HuntShirley, NY
Julie-Ann Musial Otisville, NY
Peter PiccianoGPS Home InspectionsCommack, NY
Scott SasoCertinspectorsHighland, NY
James Schiller Salt Point, NY
Dan WagnerAdvanced Home Inspection of WNY LLCWest Seneca, NY
Brian BallNorth Canton, OH
David DettyInspecTek, LLCGrove City, OH
Hunter DuerigDover, OH
Richard HartHart Home InspectionsBedford Heights, OH
H Kathryn HartHart Home InspectionsBedford Heights, OH
Tim HoffmanHomespec LLC IncToledo, OH
Tyler JohnsonOn The Nose Home InspectionsCanton, OH
Anthony JonesRid-All CorpCleveland, OH
Chris LetsonCertified Home & Property Inspection LLCStow, OH
Ron LopezWestgate Home Inspections, LLCToledo, OH
Brian MangelluzziBelief Core Inc.Mayfield Heights, OH
Tejinder SinghAQuality InspectionsDublin, OH
Paul ThompsonPillar Home InspectionWooster, OH
John WassonBoone & Fox Home InspectionNorth Lawrence, OH
Kimberly McCauleyOKC InspectionsEdmond, OK
Allan Spisak ACISS Home & Commercial Inspection ConsultantsBurlington, ON
Ron BoveeStrukture Home Inspection & Construction Serv, LLCVida, OR
Paul BukeavichHealthy Home InspectionsAshley, PA
John CilibertoReal Estate InspectionsBroomall, PA
Brian ElwoodPillar to Post Willow Grove, PA
Edwin FrableAdvanced Choice Home InspectionSouth Abington, PA
Kevin Grove Grove Home Inspection Inc. dba HouseMasterThorndale, PA
Corwin JacksonCore Inspection GroupPhiladelphia, PA
Sarah JamesonShamokin, PA
Esdras PaganPillar to PostWillow Grove, PA
Adam SmithValueGuard Home InspectionsPhiladelphia , PA
Philip WilliamsMeridian Home Inspections, LLCLionville, PA
Andrew WolfeATWHLW LLC dba Pillar to PostShewsbury, PA
Hank RichterHomepro Inspections of RI CorpCoventry, RI
James BrutonBruton Home InspectionGreenville, SC
H Todd EastlandWestminster, SC
Sam Mudlin Advantage Property Inspections, LLCPiedmont, SD
Brian ShabinoNational Property InspectionsSioux Falls, SD
James Bond Jameson LLCFranklin, TN
Jason Dillon Home Inspection HeadquartersBronxville, TN
Troy DuBoseKnoxville, TN
Martin GillMemphis, TN
Jonathan KallinCookeville, TN
Allen PfingstenAll’n the DetailsMulfreesboro, TN
Dana TimmckeLighthouse Inspection ServicesMonterey, TN
Barry YoungBSR Home InspectionsCookeville, TN
Billy BenderBrenham, TX
Rodney DunnInspector Clouseau Home InspectionsSan Antonio, TX
Nicolas GalanHouston, TX
Matt GilchristCorpus Christi, TX
Ross HoskinsonPasadena, TX
Walter JacksonHouston, TX
Richard Kinder2K InspectionsWillis, TX
Kenneth MerendaSeabrook, TX
Gary NelsonPillar to PostSavannah, TX
Fred ParceParce Inspections LLCHarlingen, TX
Harvard PhamHouston, TX
Lionel PhilipHouston, TX
Steven SchillingHouston, TX
Ronald SuttonBlossom InspectionsSan Antonio, TX
Ryan CampbellGDC PartnersOgden, UT
Dean MadsenJ-Pro InspectsMagna, UT
Aaron BaileyBailey’s Property InspectionAshland, VA
Timothy EarlyVirginia Beach, VA
Todd HallStuarts Draft, VA
Nicolas LandersPillar to PostWilliamsburg, VA
Scott RobbinsQuality Assurance InspectorsVirginia Beach, VA
Christopher WilsonGrafton, VA
Thad BamfordPNW Home Inspections, LLCShelton, WA
H Robert BreznenBothell, WA
H Alexander FisherTacoma, WA
H Jared FranceNW InspectionsShelton, WA
Jeremy HooperAdvanced Home InspectionsLongview, WA
H Wendy McDowellHandigirl Home ImprovementsMonroe, WACraig ThomasShoreline, WA
Harvey HaukaasNorthwoods H.IAshland, WI
Jeffrey DavisDavis Home Inspections LLCWestover, WV
INSPECTOR
new ASHI Inspectors As of March 1, 2016
Reid AndersonBuyers Protection GroupCapistrano Beach, CA
George BaralRELIANCE Home InspectionsLos Angeles, CA
Perry FarnumFarnum Inspection ServiceCupertino, CA
Steve JohnAll Pro Home InspectionsSan Diego, CA
Chris MagillAztec Property Inspectors, IncSan Diego, CA
Brian SmayUS InspectBerkeley Lake, GA
Cory FunkhouserMaury Home Inspections, LLCBethesda, MD
Romano PietrobonoThe Building Inspectors of AmericaSilver Spring, MD
Gregory MoosWiscasset, ME
John MedinaSouth Metro Home Inspections LLCNew Prague, MN
Anders HyattFirst Choice Home Inspection Co. IncHuntingdon Valley, PA
Michael McBrideMichael McBride Pillar To Post Home InspectionsWayne, PA
Continues on Page 38
38 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 39May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 39
Get the NEW Study Guide and Home Inspection Manual
Available from theExamination Board of Professional Home Inspectors
Be prepared.
The NHIE Study Guide and the NHIE Home Inspection Manual together contain over 750 pages of technical and administrative information and are produced by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors.They will benefit the exam candidate along with being a great technical reference for the experienced home inspector.
www.NHIEStudyGuide.org
Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors
HomeInspectionExam.org
Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors
HomeInspectionExam.org
NH
IE Hom
e Inspection Manual
NHIE HomeInspection Manual
Components and Systems
Typical Defects
Maintenance and Safety Issues
Industry Standards References
100 Review Questions
The National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) is devel oped and maintained by the Examination Board of Profes-sional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). This board has received many requests over the years for a study guide to assist those taking the NHIE. This manual, and the associated NHIE Study Guide, were developed to address this need.
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.
9 7 8 0 9 9 6 4 5 1 8 0 2
5 9 8 5 0 >ISBN 978-0-9964518-0-2
$98.50
Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors
HomeInspectionExam.org
Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors
HomeInspectionExam.org
NHIE Study Guide
Exam Administration
Exam Content Outline
How to Take an Exam
100 Review Questions
The National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) is de-veloped and maintained by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). This board has received many requests over the years for a study guide to assist those taking the NHIE. This study guide, and the associated NHIE Home Inspection Manual, were devel-oped to address this need.
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.
9 7 8 0 9 9 6 4 5 1 8 1 9
5 2 9 9 5 >ISBN 978-0-9964518-1-9
$29.95
> Nontraditional HVAC Systems: What Should You Know?
Continued from page 22
What to Do
Solutions include blocking the path of light from the windows to the siding. If the siding has been badly damaged, replacement may be necessary. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) siding is a more expensive alternative, although it may not be completely immune to the issue.
Windows with capillary tubes between multiple panes, which are common in some Western states, have less deflection and thus are less susceptible to this problem.
Final note: You can learn much more information about building issues and inspection strategies in the ASHI@HoMe training program.
Thanks to Don Lovering, Daniel Friedman, Kevin O’Hornett and Roger Hankey for their valuable contributions to this article. H
> Vinyl Siding: Facts and Foibles
new ASHI Certified Home InspectorsAs of March 1, 2016
Mark vittoreTempe, AZ
Dominic D’AmbrosioHomeGuard IncorporatedSan Jose, CA
Gerald ClelandIcomc Inc. Property ServicesYorba Linda , CA
Theo WilsonSunset Property InspectionSan Diego, CA
Bruce CarnesPillar to PostLittleton, CO
Gary GrahamGraham Home Inspections Orlando Ltd.Orlando, FL
Michael FiolaQ-Spect Home Inspections, LLCSt. Petersburg, FL
Sidney CarterThe Cornerstone Inspection GroupMarietta, GA
Reese HamiltonBuyers Protection GroupChicago, IL
Benjamin HollisPHI dba HouseMasterWestfield, IN
Richard BrooksNational Property InspectionsUnion Mills, IN
Bob MurphyCamelot Home Inspections Inc.Germantown, MD
Erich FaulstichHouse to Home Inspections, LLCFenton, MO
Chris SearsPro-Tech Home InspectionsStarkville, MS
Randy MoyaSanta Fe, NM
Mark BenzelExpert Home Group LLCKennett Square, PA
Daniel GoodsonPillar to PostKnoxville, TN
Troy Pappas Safe House Property InspectionsVirginia Beach, VA
Michael MarzionFive One Home InspectionsWauwatosa , WI
Continued from Page 36
40 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 41May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 41
neW POStCARDS eMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: [email protected]
GOt GREAt POstcARDs?
We are running out!
Please send your 1. name, 2. company,
3. city, 4. state, 5. photos, 6. headings & 7. captions
Here a Defect, There a Defect, Everywhere a Defect
Back to the Future
The roof is propped up by the ceiling below, lead paint, vermiculite, galvanized pipe, effloresce, knob and tube.
Rick HiddemenDelaware Property Inspections Wilmington, DE
Snapdoor
Test Your Knowledge Photo Correction
I didn’t appreciate finding THIS in the attic! It’s fake, but there’s that split second.
Blaine DeVoy HKI, Incorporated, Building InspectionsSeattle, WA
We apologize for an incorrect photo credit for this image from March 2016, page 41. The correct photo credit is:
Matthew Steger WIN Home Inspection Elizabethtown, PA
Don Fischer Extra Eyez Inspection Woodstock, IL
Just in Case you Didn’t Know
1 One-Thousand, 2 One-Thousand, 3...
Knock, Knock. Who’s There?
Electrical service conductor, splices and all, laying in a nice bed of kindling on the roof.
Gil Hendrickson Kokomo, IN
Call Sparky for Repairs
Beg, Borrow or Steal
This explains why the backwash hose for the pool filter was to short. Howard Altman, New Jersey Property Inspections, Ringoes, NJ
...Let’s scare the inspector when he finds me!
Dave Maudlin Indy Pro Inspection Service, Inc. Carmel, IN
The Mama Bandito, oh dear!
John Prescatore All Through The House LLC New Egypt, NJ
1955 original kitchen and bathroom - all in working order. Only missing the refrigerator that hung on the wall.
Kevin Lantaff Discoveries Home ServicesCommerce City, CO
Advertising picture of 1955 refridgerator
42 ASHI Reporter • May 2016 43May 2016 • www.ASHIReporter.org 43
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By ASHI President, Randy Sipe
traveling...Around the Country and On the Pathway to ACI Status
Well, it’s now May, and I’ve traveled to attend several conferences on behalf
of ASHI. Traveling is an experience in itself, especially when you live 50 miles from nowhere, and it takes an hour and a half to get to the airport. Being inspectors, we are all very aware of what’s going on around us, and at the airport I find that I get a good variety of people to watch. I’ve always told my wife that someday, upon semi-retirement from my home inspection career, I might continue to work but that my next job won’t be a very “good” one (by choice). Well, I think I know now what I want to do. I want to be the guardian of the airline loading gate. I can sit on my motorized Jazzy and thump people on the head with my cane if they think they are above the rules. I’m talking about the line-busters and the people who don’t quite understand what “carry-on” means. When the attendants say that they are now loading group 3, and there is a person from group 5 trying to cut in line, it will be my job to send that person to the back of the line. And you can bet that I’ll be there when someone boards the plane with a rollerbag sporting 22-inch rims and tries every angle and direction to get it into the overhead luggage compartment. These are the same people who never quite mastered the square peg in a round hole test in kindergarten. So, in my next job, you might hear me paraphrasing Walter from “The Big Lebowski”: Rules are rules, dude.
Now on to ASHI BusinessAs ASHI President, I’m bombarded with facts and figures about the organization. The number one thing that jumps out at me is the number of inspectors who haven’t taken the National Home Inspectors Examination (NHIE). Previously I told you how my local ASHI chapter helped me get
through this process. Back in the day (and, yes, I said “back in the day”), we didn’t have books or study guides that helped us prepare for the test. Now all of that has changed with the NHIE Home Inspection Manual and NHIE Study Guide. Often I hear people say, “I just don’t test well.” Guess what? Every day you’re doing a home inspection, you’re being tested on your knowledge. The only difference on the exam is that you’re doing a virtual home inspection and answering questions in a different format instead of writing a report. With a number of states now requiring that home inspectors take the NHIE for licens-ing, I suggest that you get in gear and get it out of the way. I always recommend these four resources for reference:
• Code Check• The Illustrated Home• NHIE Home Inspection Manual • NHIE Study Guide
Let me tell you, reviewing the NHIE Study Guide will absolutely prepare you for success on the exam. In fact, because of the importance of this resource, last year the ASHI Board approved funds to provide a copy to every new ASHI member. If you don’t have a copy, you can purchase one from ASHI at a discounted rate (http://www.ashistore.com/).
I encourage all ASHI chapters to get copies of these books for their resource libraries and set up study review sessions for inspectors who want to participate.
With a little time and effort, you can successfully complete this exam and con-tinue stepping up to the highest ASHI level—that of ACI, the ASHI Certified Inspector. What makes this something to boast about? ASHI Certified Inspectors are
the only true third-party certified inspectors in the profession who are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) after successfully com-pleting the exam and 250 inspections.
Remember that you can complete the required 250 inspections before or after taking the exam. When you’ve become an ASHI Certified Inspector, you can proudly use the gold ACI logo, displaying to all that you’ve achieved the highest level of competency as a home inspector.
If you have any questions along this path, whether it be how and where to take the exam or how to set up a study group in your area, please email me ([email protected]) or Russell Daniels ([email protected]) at ASHI headquarters. We can help you gain success and continue your career with confidence that you’ve achieved the highest level in the inspection profession.
Until next month, inspect safe and just do the right thing. H
