Home Inspection Events of 2011

2011 was a very eventful year for the Home Inspection Industry.  As you know, we have been keeping you update on many of the changes that have occurred in order to assist you in becoming better informed consumers. 

We would like to provide you with a brief recap of Industry changes which have changed the Home Inspector Profession and how they affect consumer interaction:  

• 3/18/2011:  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued new guidance for both identification and remediation of homes affected by Chinese Drywall.  
  • The significance of the identification guidance confirmed that the comprehensive protocol utilized by Kross Inspectors is a proven method in identifying homes with problem drywall.  After performing over 11,000 of these Inspections, our protocol has always exceeded  minimum guidances issued by the CPSC.  
• 7/1/2011:  Licensing Enforcement of Home Inspectors goes into effect.  
  • With the enforcement of the licensing law, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation also began enforcing regulations applicable to Licensed Home Inspectors:
    • Home Inspectors must deliver a copy of their license and the Scope of the Inspection to Clients PRIOR to commencing or accepting an assignment for a Home Inspection.  
      • Compliance of this regulation is mandatory.  Kross Inspectors provides the most efficient method of delivering compliance materials by doing so electronically.  As part of our order process, we deliver our Inspection Agreement which includes a link to the Inspector's on line license and a copy of the Standard of Practice in which we perform Inspections (Scope of Inspection).  This eliminates the long wait of having to mail or fax a copy of the license prior to accepting an assignment.  Kross Inspectors was the FIRST Home Inspection Company to be in full compliance with the law.  
    • Home Inspectors may not perform or offer to perform any repairs to a home on which the Inspector or Inspector's company has prepared a Home Inspection Report.  
      • Kross Inspectors has maintained a strict company policy to this effect for years.  We have always seen this as a conflict of interest that induces the Inspector to falsify reports for financial gain.  
    • Home Inspectors may not offer or deliver any compensation, inducement, or reward to any broker or agent for the referral of an Inspected property.  
      • Kross Inspectors has NEVER compensated a Real Estate Broker or Agent for the referral of an assignment.  However, many Realtors have helped their Clients save on Inspection Fees by learning of special discounts offered in Realtor privileged communications such as this newsletter!  The Realtor looks like a hero to Clients and helps everyone maintain a Superior level of Ethics and Professionalism in the process! 

• 8/1/2011:  Home Inspectors Observe Significant Increase In Mold Activity In Vacant Homes
  • A study of Air Quality surveys conducted in vacant homes Inspected by Kross Inspectors shows that approximately 40% of these homes have elevated mold spore counts!  (The majority of these homes surveyed DID NOT display any surface mold or water damage!)
• 11/1/2011:  Studies Show Higher Demand For IMMEDIATE Delivery Of Inspection Reports
  • Kross Inspectors began delivering Inspection Reports ON SITE via email in March of 2011.  Since that time, our Inspection demand has increased by 15%!  Not only can we deliver reports ON SITE by being the ONLY Inspection firm to use the KwikReports Application in South West Florida, but our staff of Professional Inspectors are able to be ON SITE within 24 Hours of request!  We understand that “Time is of the essence”!

Now, What’s in store for 2012?  To be continued……..(Tune back to the same station next week to learn what changes in the Home Inspection Industry are in store for Consumers in 2012!)

*Don’t forget!  Receive $25 OFF of our Home Inspection, Chinese Drywall, and Mold Inspection fees by visiting www.krossinspectors.com or call (239) 677-4403 and ask for $25 OFF! 

FREE RecallChek With All Full Home Inspections!  

Common sense tells us that a Home Inspector cannot see everything that is wrong within a property in which he or she is inspecting.  Many flaws are hidden or even worse, not yet found as it has not yet malfunctioned.  One of the most common hidden defects not discovered during a typical Home Inspection is a known factory defect within an appliance or major manufactured system. 

Hidden defects can create many hazards that can surface at any time:

• Personal Injury
• Fire
• Electrical Shock
• Water Damage
• Personal Property Damage

These are only a few problems that can occur when a known manufacturer defect goes uncorrected. 

But Wait!  How can the Inspector miss it, if it is a “known” defect?

The answer is simple.  The defect is only “known” if the Inspector performs a RecallChek on the installed appliances.  A RecallChek report will discover any recalls issued by the manufacturer and can save consumers from the hazards above and also money from repairing many inoperable appliances!

RecallChek Reports are now FREE from Kross Inspectors! To find out more about how to obtain a FREE RecallChek Report with a Home Inspection, visit our RecallChek site at www.krossinspectors.com/recall or call our office at (239) 677-4403. 

Name That Deficiency 

It's your turn to be the Inspector!

 

Each week, we offer Consumers and Real Estate Professionals the chance to  "Stand in the Inspector's shoes!"

 

At the end of each Inspection, our Inspectors give the Clients and Realtors a "Walk Through" in order to offer maintenance tips and to point out items observed during the Inspection.  Often these items are not so obvious to the untrained eye!

 

Test your Inspection skills by taking a look at the photo below:

 

 

 

 

Take a moment to review the photo above.  Enter your guess as to what deficiency is showing in the photo by clicking on the photo or email Inspector@krossinspectors.com (Clicking on the photo will take you to our site where you can view a larger image).

 

Good Luck!  This week's winner will receive a roll over gift, a $100 Visa Gift Card!

 

 

The Answer to last weeks question was:

NO DEFICIENCY!  The aerator for the water system was installed on a platform in order to provide extra water pressure to the home. The home owner intended to use "gravity" to increase the pressure!  Although this is not a deficiency, a much easier way to increase pressure is to install a pressure tank!