TRADE SERIES
Guide to Home Inspections
A Common Sense Approach to the Business of Inspecting a House
As a home inspector is your business a success? Are your processes well organized? Can you give your customers clear, accurate reports on the results of your inspections? Do customers voluntarily refer you? Being able to answer yes to these questions is a hallmark of an inspector or company which is thriving. If you want your business to grow this book will teach you effective communication and reporting skills that will help make you stand out amongst the crowd of home inspectors.
Foreword
Chapter 1: Why Are You Doing This?
Exploring the real purpose of a home inspection and the inspector's role in the process
Chapter 2: The Best Tool In Your Kit Is You
Understanding the importance of using common sense over text books
Chapter 3: Exterior Inspections
Why the exterior of a building can tell the real story about a house before you even enter the home as well as step-by-step defect recognition
Chapter 4: Attic Inspections
How to perform a safe inspection of an attic space and still satisfy your client’s concerns
Chapter 5: The WFCDW Inspection
The basic wall, floors, ceiling, doors and windows inspection step-by-step defect recognition
Chapter 6: Safety First
Inspection of fall hazards, trip hazards, gas leaks, carbon monoxide, fire alarm systems, and mould or mildew
Chapter 7: Action Central - Basement and Crawlspaces
Understanding the importance of the basement and its relevance to the entire building system as well as step-by-step defect recognition
Chapter 8: HVAC Simplified
Performing a complete inspection of the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system that your customer can relate to. Keeping it simple
Chapter 9: Plumbing - It's Downhill From Here
The plumbing system inspection for homes on town services with step-by-step defect recognition
Chapter 10: Electrical Inspections
Electrical inspections that won’t freak out your client. How to do your inspection by the book without the book
Chapter 11: The Handy-Man Challenge
Looking at common mistakes of renovations or additions that were not done professionally and understanding how they can impact your client
Chapter 12: Back To The Country
The unique challenges of inspecting rural properties including discussions on well, water treatment and septic and sump systems
Chapter 13: The Older The Better
Developing a better understanding of period and century homes and how the approach to this inspection differs from the norm
Chapter 14: Communicate To Educate
Discussing communication skills vital to the success of your business and the success of the inspection