AmericanSocietyofHomeInspectors

AnnouncesNewExecutiveDirectorDESPLAINES,Ill.(April27,2018)–TheAmericanSocietyofHomeInspectors(ASHI)announcesthatExecutiveDirectorFrankLeshisretiringafterservingtheorganizationfornearly30years.JamesThomas,formerlycampusdirectorfortheSAEInstituteofTechnology

Chicago,hasbeenappointedasthenewexecutivedirectoreffectiveApril30,2018.

Withalmost20yearsofbusinessandmanagementexperienceworkingwithcompaniessuchasSylvanCorporate,KaplanandLanguageStars,Thomaswillbechargedwithdrivingstrategicfinancialandmarketingobjectiveswithoversightforbusinessplanning,finance,regulatorycomplianceandbudgetinginhisnewrole.

"I'mhonoredtoserveASHIinthiscapacity,”Thomassaid.“Mr.Leshhassetastandardofexcellenceinhistimehereandhasbuiltalegacythroughthenumerousrolesheheld.IhopetobuildonthesesuccessesandcontinuetohelpASHIprovideexcellentservicetoourmembers,partners,andthecommunityweimpact.I'mexcitedtohelpASHIcontinuetomoveforward,andI'mhumbledtohavebeenchosentodothat.”

LeshjoinedASHIin1990andhasservedinmanyroles,includingmemberoftheCouncilofRepresentatives,secretary,vicepresident,president-electandpresident.Leshtookoverasexecutivedirectorin2013wherehegrewmembershipfrom5,100tomorethan8,300membersanddoubledtheorganization’sfinancialreserves.

“IthasbeenanincrediblepleasureservingASHIanditsmembersinsomanycapacitiesduringmy28yearswiththeorganization,”Leshsaid.“Alongwithspendingmoretimewithfamilyinretirement,IlookforwardtocontinuebeinginvolvedwithASHIandservingasamentorandresourcetomembers,especiallytonewhomeinspectorsgettingstartedintheindustry.”

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Howtoavoidthetwomostcommonclaims

againsthomeinspectorsFromroofleakscausingwaterspotstocatastrophicfloodsunderminingstructuralintegrity,waterintrusionanddamagecontributestothetwomostcommonclaimsagainsthomeinspectors.Accountingfornearlyhalfofclaimsagainsthomeinspectorsinthepastthreeyears,waterdamageposesaseriousrisktoinspectionbusinesses.

Inthisarticle,weprovideinsightsastowhywaterdamageclaimsarecommonandwhatclaimantstypicallyallege.Thatway,you’repreparedtopreventsuchclaimsagainstyourhomeinspectionbusiness.

Waterdamageisanydestructioncausedbywaterintrusion,meaningwatercominginwhereitshouldn’t.Soundvague?Itis.Waterdamage’sexpansivedefinitionispartofwhyitsclaimsaresocommonandwhyitsclaimstakenotjustthefirstbutalsothesecondplaceintheTop5MostCommonClaimsAgainstHomeInspectors.(Seethefulllisthere.)

“Waterintrusionisthenumberoneenemybecauseitattacksfromallpotentialanglesofthehome,fromtheroofdowntothefoundation,”explainedHankSpinnler,OwnerofHarmonyInspectionServicesin

Georgia...READMORE

TheASHISchool's

UpcomingClasses93-HourClass

Franklin,TN8/20-8/25

120-HourClassWorthington,OH5/14-5/25

Alpharetta,GA5/21-6/1

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Baltimore,MD6/4-6/15

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CreveCoeur,MO8/20-8/31

160-HourClassKirkland,WA6/4-6/15

MoldClassDesPlaines,IL6/30-7/2

CommercialClassDesPlaines,IL6/15-6/17

4-PointInspections

&WindMitigationTampa,FL9/15

16-HrResidentialRadonWebinar

May8-9

June5-6

ASHI@HOMEOnline

Top5TasksforMay

byApplica/HomeWizard

IfyourclientsorrealestateagentcontactsaskyouforthetoproutinemaintenancetasksthattheyshoulddoduringthemonthofMay,herearetheonesthatwesuggest,thatwillhelpyoucatchsmallproblemsbeforetheygetworse,andkeepyourhomeahealthyplaceforyourfamily.

PestControlWhetheryouhireaprofessional,ordo-ityourself,themonthofMayisagoodtimetoaddresspestcontrolissuesaroundyourhome.Inparticular,youshouldinspectyourhomeforanyindicationsthatinfestationshavealreadystarted,andyoushouldalsoblockanyopeningswhichcouldallownewinfestationstostartnowthattheweatherisbeginningtoturnwarmerandpestactivitywillbeincreasing.

Tolearnthe10areasaroundyourhomewhereyoushouldregularlyinspectandcleantopreventpestinfestations,youcanreadourarticleandvideo:"KeepingPestsOutofYourHome."

FoundationMayisalsoagoodmonthtowalkaroundtheoutsideofyourhomeanddoaninspectionofyourfoundation.Damagetoyourhome’sfoundationcancauseyourhometoshiftandwallstocrack,andtermitedamagecandevastateyourhome.Sobytakingjustafewminutestowalkaroundyourhome,youcanchecktoseeif

CertifiedResidential

ThermographyCourse

DesPlaines,IL5/10-5/11

RegisterNowfor

SummerClassesJune18-30

5/9-5/10

AUSPLConference2018

6/9-6/10

FABISummerConference

6/14-6/15

EastCoastBuilders

Conference

7/23-7/26

CVENTConnect

9/15-9/16

FABIFallConference

9/30-10/3

AARSTInternational

Symposium&TradeShow

10/9-10-11

RemoddelingShow|Deck

Expo

10/26-10/27

ASHI'sLeadership

DevelopmentConference

10/28-10/31

youhaveanyofsignsofdeteriorationofyourfoundationortermite"tubes"forming.Andwhileyouareatit,youshouldalsocheckthatthegroundslopesawayfromyourfoundationandthatnosoilistouchinganywoodonyourhome.

Foradescriptionofwhattocheckfor,youcanseeouronlineHow-ToGuideon:Foundations.

RoofWiththeweatherturningnicerinMay,itisagoodtimetocheckyourroofandroofeaves.Wintercanbehardonanyhome,andwithasetofbinoculars,youcaneasilychecktoseehowyourroofhasfaredoverthewinter.Inparticular,youshouldcheckforsignsoflooseshingles,missingordamagedflashing,andbuild-upsofdebris.Andyoushouldalsocheckandcleanunderyourroofeaves.

Formoreinformationaboutwhattolookforwhencheckingyourroofandeaves,youcanseeouronlineHow-ToGuideaboutroofs:Roofs.

BasementIfyourhomehasabasement,atleastonceayearyoushoulddoathoroughreviewofit.Inparticular,youwillwanttolookfor:anysignsofdampness,leaksorcracks;pestproblems;shiftingsupportcolumns;looseormissinginsulationaroundwalls,floorsorHVACductwork;andifyouhavewindowwells,youwillwanttocleantheseout.

Formoreinformation,seeourarticleandvideoon:"KeepingYourBasementSafeandDry."

ExhaustFansAndfinally,atleastonceayearyoushould

InspectionFuel

11/2-11/5

RealtorsConference&Expo

12/8-12/9

FABIWinterConference

1/20/19-1/23/19

InspectionWorldSan

Diego

cleantheexhaustfansinyourkitchenandbathrooms.Inyourkitchen,yourexhaustfanforyourstoveisconstantlyexposedtomoistureandgrease,andasthisbuildsuponandinyourexhaustfan,itbecomesabreedinggroundformolds.Similarly,thehighhumidityenvironmentofyourbathroomcreatesanothermoldhavenforyourbathroom’sexhaustfan.

Youcanreadabouthowtocleanyourexhaustfansinourarticleandvideo:"RemovingNastyGunkFromYourExhaustFans."

ASHI'sNewDiscussionForumASHIhasupgradeditsDiscussionForum.Itiscleaner,easier-to-use,andhasalltheformerpostslistedonthenew

forum.Currently,itisavailableonlytoASHImembers,howeverapublicforumwillbeunveiledearlythissummer.Visitwww.ashi.org,scrolloverthemenuitemmarked"MembersOnly"andclickonDiscussionForum.

Reminder:VotefortheASHIRadonStandardAsanASHImember,itisyourdutytohelpshapetheindustryyouworkin.Tothatend,asavotingASHImember,you'llbereceivingaseparate

5/9

Pro-ASHIMeeting

5/12

HeartlandChapterEvent

5/12

IndianaMaySeminar&

Meeting

5/12

MACASHISpringSeminar

5/19

EastTennesseeASHI

5/19

SiliconValleyEducation

Event:InspectThisOld

emailwithalinkthatisjustforyoutovoteonthenewRadonStandard.Pleasetakeafewmomentstoreadthroughthenewstandardandvoteonwhetherweshouldor

shouldnothavethisstandardinplaceforradon.

ASHI

OnlineLearningCenter

There'sbeenalotoftalkonsocialmediaaboutonlineeducationandwewantyoutoknowthatASHImembershaveaccesstoover120differentcourses(FREE)asmembers.Ifyou'renotamember,noproblem!It'sjust$29aclass.Eachcourseis2hours.Takeatestattheendandearn2ASHICEspercourse.Weknowit'sgettingtobethebusyseason,butthere'salwaystimetosqueezeinaclass.

ASHI

ChaptersWhetheryou'rea

memberofanASHIchapterornot,nowisthetimetogetinvolved.Beintegralinshapingthehomeinspectionprofessioninyourarea.GetinvolvedwithyourASHIChapterBoard,takepartintheCoR,attendgreatmeetingsandlearnathingortwo(orprovideeducation)toyourpeers.Meetnewpeoplewhocanhelpyougrowyourbusiness.

HouseSeminar

5/23-5/26

LosAngeles/VenturaCounty

Event

6/2

TucsonInspect-A-House

6/12

St.LouisEducationalEvent

TherearemanyperkstoASHImembership

including:

accesstohealthcare,supplementalinsurance,dentalandvisionplans

discountedticketstoshows,sportingeventsandconcerts

traveldiscountsonthemeparks,rentalcarsandhotelrooms

andsomuchmore.Clicktheimageabove,loginasamemberandcheckoutalltheperksASHIoffersitsmembers!

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QuickTip#62

WhyUsePrimerWhenPainting?Mostofusdo-it-yourselfersattemptpaintprojectsbecause

paintingiseasyandgivesabigbangforthebuck.

Afreshcoatofpaintcantotallychangetheappearanceofasurfaceandmakeeverythinglooknew.Sincepaintissogreat,whywouldyoueverneedtouseaprimer?Whywastethetimeandmoney?Well,ifthesurfacehasstainsorotherproblems,usingprimerisneverawaste.Infact,itcanpreventdisasters.Astaincouldeasilypushthroughafreshcoatofpaintandruinthenewsurface.Alwaysprimewhentheexistingsurfacehasstains,chalking,darkcolorsorirregularsurfaceconditions.

Primersworkbecausetheyarespeciallyformulatedwithadditionalbinders,additivesandtougherpigmentsthatcoverproblemareas.GreatprimersincludeZinsser’sBIN,KILZ(byMasterchemIndustries),andZinsser’sBullsEye1-2-3.BINismyfavoriteformostconditionsbecauseiteffectivelycoversstains,islow-odoranddriesin45minutes.Primershavespecialqualitiesforspecialconditions,soreadthelabelsorconsultapaintingprofessionalforspecificapplications.Forthebestadvice,visitapaintstorethatcontractorsuse.

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LevelsofMethInsideNewHomeAbouttheHouse:QuestionsAboutProperRoofVentingSkippingHomeInspectionsAMajorRedFlagforNewBuyersGettingAHomeInspectionBeforeYouListYourHomeHomeInspectionsCould

HeatUpYourSocialMediaMarketingThisSummerbyDaveKogan,DirectorofMarketing

It'salmostsummer.Thattimeofyearthathousesareonthemarketandbusinessisbooming.You'reuptoyoureyeballsininspectionsandbarelyhaveenoughtimetoseeyourfamilyletalonefocusonyourbusiness'ssocialmediaoutreach.However,ifyoudohavethetime,we'dlikeyoutobeawareofwhatwillbethehotsocialmediatrendsthissummer.

SummerEventsWhateventsarehappeningaroundyouthatyoucantieintoyourbusiness?Firstlookatthemajorholidayssuchas:MemorialDay(youshouldalreadyhavethisintheworks),FourthofJulyandLaborDay(aretheirparadesthatyoucantakepartin?).Nextlookatnationalandworldwideevents(MLBAll-StarGame,WorldCup,Olympics,majorfestivalsinyourarea,etc).Next,createahashtag(#)bypiggybackingofftheseeventswithyourownpromotionsorspecialsrunningatthesametime.Expecttosee

CostHomeownersThousandsofDollarsSilentKillers:ManagingTransactionsWithHazardousConditionsHowAHomeInspectionCanPutMoneyInYourPocketThumbtackTransformsHowCustomersShopForLocalServicesWithInstantResults

InspectionWorld,

thelargestconferenceinNorthAmericaforthehomeinspectionprofessionisgearingupforoneheckofaconventioncomethisJanuary20-23,2019inSanDiego.AndthefloorplanissetwiththeEarlyBirdExhibitorselectionsinplace.Wearetrulyexcitedonwhatwe'llbeofferingthisyearintheclassroomsandintheexpohall.

However,before

summermarketingtieintovarioussummerevents,bothinthespecialsofferedandhashtagsused.Anddon'tforgettoupdateyoursocialmediapageswithimagesofsummertotieinyourpromotionsandkeepclientscomingbacktoyoursites.

LocalEventsManycompanieshavelearnedthevalueoflocaleventsandtheSEOthatisattachedtoit.Onewaytoleveragelocaleventsistorentasmallboothattheeventandshareimagestosocialmediafromthatevent(don'tforgettouseyourhashtag).You'llneedtofigureouthowtoreachpeopleonalocallevelanddrivethemtoyourbusiness.Thereareplentyoflocaleventsthathappenoverthesummertotakeadvantageof.UseInstagramorFacebookto"checkin"totheseeventsBysharingpicturesfromalocalevent(andusingthehashtag)anytimesomeonelooksateventimages,yourpictureswillcomeup.Makesureyourcompanyinfomakesitintosomeofthephotos.

GreatPhotosClearphotosaren'tnewtosocialmedia,however,thephrase"apicturespeaksathousandwords"doesbarementioning.Summertimemeansbarbecues.Sharearecipeandtakephotosofsaidfoodintheprocess.Alsosharetipsonmaintainingagrill,distancetothehome,useondecks,etc.willhelppotentialandexistingcustomers.Remember,postsgetsharedandretweetedonTwitterabout150%moreoftenwhentheyhaveimagesinthem.

GIFsandEmojisThismaycomeasashock,butmillennialspreferusingemojis,gifs(animatedimages)andstickersoverthewrittenword.Toreachthisdemographic,you'llneedtolearntocommunicateutilizingtheseicons.Youcanutilizeyourknowledgeofpopculturefromthe1980sand1990stoutilizeicons,WingDingsandotherimagestohelpyou

wethinkaboutIW,let'slookaheadtoOctoberforourLeadershipDevelopmentConferencethisOctober25-27,2018inDesPlaines,IL.Thisisshapinguptobeatrulyawesomeevent.Oureducationteamhasputtogetheragreateventandyou'llneedtomaryourcalendarnowtomakesureyoudon'tmissthisevent.

Weneedyourinput!

Pleaseletusknowhowyou'dliketoreceivetheASHIReporter.

FilloutthisquicksurveyandbeenteredtowinaboxofASHIswag.

decipherthisgeneration'sweblanguage(rememberthepopiconPrincewhochangedhisnametoasymbol?)

CausesManycompaniesembracesocialcausesyear-roundcenteringaroundwhateverthelatestsocialcausemaybe.Agoodtimetogetinvolvedisthesummer,butmakesureyoufollowitthrough(sponsoralocalrun/race;sponsorthelocalanimalshelterorfindacauseclosertoyourheart).Yourbrandingandlogoinconjunctionwithlocalcausesgoesalongwaytohumanizeyourbusiness.

Don'tBeTooSeriousSummerisafuntimeofyear.Peopleliketoseepicturesofpeoplehavingfun,barbecues,brightcolorfulpictures.Youdon'tneedtotakelifetooseriously(however,youshouldalwaystakeyourjobseriously).Showyourbrandinafunway.Takeadvantageofthistimeofyear.Showyourhomeinspectionphotos,butmaybeshowyourselfkickingbackinahammockorlawnchairafteraharddayofwork.

SocialMediaisaneverchanginglandscapeandtokeepupwiththelatesttrendsrequiresyoutospendmoretimeonlinethanonroofs.Thesesixtrendscanhelpyoueachyearespeciallywhenrealizingwhatyoucandotopromoteyourbusinessandyourbrandregardlessofthesocialmediabeingused.Youshouldalsotrytostayup-to-dateonthelatesttrendingtopicsandhashtagsastheymayhelpyouprovidegreatcontentandbringinnewandrecurringbusiness,Asuccessfulsocialmediamarketingseasonisallaboutseeingwhatthelatesttrendsare,tryingnewthings,andlettingyourselfthinkoutsidethebox.

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