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Managing RiskLiability is another important consideration. The ASHIStandard of Practice (SOP) exists to establish a minimuminspection requirement and decrease liability, accordingto Tom Lauhon, chairman of the ASHI StandardsCommittee—which maintains, updates, and createsnew standards for the Association. The SOP states youare only required to “inspect readily accessible, visuallyobservable, installed systems and components” (ASHISOP 2.2.A.). Since the SOP limits your inspections tonon-invasive examination, using a pin-type moisturemeter would exceed your SOP.Lauhon acknowledges that most home inspectors wantto—and, perhaps, need to—exceed the SOP. He claimshe doesn’t know any inspectors who perform to theminimum standards and remain in business for a year.Thus, it’s up to every inspector to weigh the benefits ofexceeding each standard against the increased liability.“You can go as far beyond the standards as you feelcomfortable. But, when you do, you accept additionalliability,” Lauhon said.Since invasive and noninvasive meters are better indifferent situations, some home inspectors opt to haveboth types in their toolbelt. Regardless of whether youchoose one or both types, look for brands and models thatare reliable and durable. Not all moisture meters holdup well to daily use. Purchasing a quality meter that isconsistent, accurate, and sturdy is worth the investment.LIMIT YOUR LIABILITY.When it comes to electrical testers, limiting your liabilityhappens in three ways: Staying safe, communicatingclearly, and insuring equipment. We discuss each in moredetail below.DON’T OVERPROMISE.Like all the tools in your arsenal, moisture meters aren’tperfect. They do not and cannot provide definitivediagnostic results, and so you shouldn’t report yourfindings as such. Avoid absolutes in your reporting and,instead, opt for words like “may” and “can” to describewhat your moisture meter’s reading might indicate.Furthermore, improve the integrity and reliability of yourfindings by supplementing your moisture meter readingswith additional supporting facts. For example, note thediscoloration of the wall and the difference in surfacetemperature detected by your thermal imaging camera.Lastly, your clients may not have an accurateunderstanding of what moisture and dampness mightmean. Explain how excess moisture can affect the home,but don’t make conclusions without substantial evidence.For example, moisture meters cannot detect mold.However, since high moisture can promote mold growth,high readings may indicate the potential for mold. In suchcases, it’s appropriate to recommend further evaluationthrough mold sampling.CALIBRATE YOUR METER OFTEN.Are you the type of person who files away user manualsand never looks at them? If you are, you may want tochange your habits. According to our claims team, ifyou fail to monitor, adjust, or maintain your equipment,including your moisture meters, you have liability forclaims caused by the tools’ failure. That’s why it’s soimportant to take care of your equipment.Most manufacturers specify how to take care of your toolsand equipment, such as: telling you when and how oftento change parts, clean components, and get calibrated.Take these instructions seriously and you’re less likely torun into failures.Ranwell says the vast majority of moisture meters canbe checked in the field. In fact, he recommends homeinspectors calibrate their moisture meters before eachinspection.“Check the calibration of your meter before each use,”Ranwell wrote in “Home Inspection Training: Using aMoisture Meter,” available on the Protimeter website. “Asimple process that only takes a few seconds, a calibrationcheck ensures your meter is ready to take accuratemeasurements.”For more information on calibration, read Ranwell’s blogpost “Digital Moisture Meter Calibration for Accuracyin Home Inspections.”TAKE MULTIPLE MEASUREMENTS—INCLUDINGMEASUREMENTS OF DRY MATERIALS.Ever hear of a “baseline” in statistics? Before collectingand analyzing numbers, statisticians establish astandard number (or baseline) to reference during theircomparisons. As a home inspector, you can use the sameprinciple with your moisture meter.JUNE 2022 www.ASHI.org9

Managing RiskBefore testing an area you suspect to be damp, get areading on an area that’s dry. By using the dry area’sreading as a baseline, you are better equipped to analyzemoist areas.If you do collect a high moisture reading somewhere on theproperty, don’t stop there. Take multiple measurements ofthe same area to ensure that it is, in fact, damp.USE THE SAME METER EVERY TIME.MOISTURE METERS: A PIECE OF A DAMP PUZZLEJust as different areas of the property will emit differentreadings, so can various moisture meters. Differentbrands have different measurement scales, which canlead to inconsistencies across your reports. What’smore, remembering how one meter behaves in contrastto another can be tricky. Thus, industry experts suggeststicking to one brand of moisture meter.10“One of the best things you can do to conduct inspectionsefficiently is to use the exact same meters—and thisincludes any backups or spares,” wrote Ranwell in thetraining blog post mentioned earlier. “With identicalmoisture meters, you’ll never waste time figuring out howa moisture meter works because it’s completely differentfrom the one you used last time.”Furthermore, knowing what your moisture meter cando and how to interpret its findings can prevent claims.Hurtado says inspectors who are new to using a particularmeter or meters generally can make mistakes if they aren’tcareful. For example, they could attribute high levels ofmoisture to a concrete wall with a normal level of moisturefor such a porous building material. Or an inspector mayhit a metal corner bead at the corner of a window and sayit’s a leak. You can avoid such errors by using the samemoisture meter and educating yourself on that meter’scapabilities.BE CONSISTENT.Just as you should use the same moisture meter everytime, you should use it in the same places and ways everytime. At InspectorPro, we have had numerous claims inwhich an inspector utilized a moisture meter in one areaof the property but did not use it in other areas. Afterthe inspection, those other areas developed evidence ofwater intrusion. In such instances, the claimant arguedthat if the inspector had utilized the moisture meter inthose other locations, the conditions would have beendiscovered prior to purchase.ASHI Reporter JUNE 2022To avoid such claims, you need to develop a standard forhow you (and any other inspectors in your business) usemoisture meters. Test in the same places, in the sameways, and for the same reasons.For extra protection, our claims team suggests includinga disclosure in your inspection agreements and reports.State that the use of tools like moisture meters is outsideof your SOP and, as such, their utilization is at your solediscretion and isn’t a bargained-for component of theinspection.CARRY EQUIPMENT COVERAGE.Formally known as inland marine coverage or acommercial property floater, equipment coverage insuresyour inspection tools and equipment. Unlike standardproperty insurance, inland marine coverage protects yourtools and equipment regardless of their location. This isimportant in the home inspection industry since, ratherthan housing your tools and equipment in an office, youusually have your materials in your work vehicle or oninspection sites.If you own inexpensive moisture meters, you may thinkit isn’t worth carrying equipment coverage for them.However, for any items worth less than 1,000, ourequipment coverage allows you to cover the propertyas miscellaneous tools, so long as the total value of allthose miscellaneous tools doesn’t exceed 3,000. Addingtogether all the items in your toolkit and inspectionvehicle, you’d be surprised how much equipment youcan insure against loss, damage, and theft. What’s more,through InspectorPro with the ASHI Advantage, ASHImembers can get up to 20,000 in equipment coveragefor just 200 per year.To learn more about inland marine coverage, readInspectorPro’s article “How to protect your tools andequipment,” available online. Current clients can requestequipment coverage by contacting their InspectorProbrokers. Prospective clients can apply for insurance viaInspectorPro’s online application.MOISTURE METERS FOR HOME INSPECTORSInterested in offering your clients more informationregarding their properties’ potential for moisture intrusionand damage? Consider using a moisture meter to enhanceyour inspection methods.InspectorPro Insurance is aproud ASHI Affiliate member.

Do you have an idea for anarticle in the ASHI Reporter?The Reporter is always looking for new articles, and we encourage ASHI members to call upon their experience andknowledge to submit articles to be considered for publication. Here are some upcoming topics being featured in future issues:Send your article ideas or submissions to stories@ashi.org. Thank you!UPCOMING ISSUE TOPICS AND ARTICLE DUE DATESAUGUST 2022SEPTEMBER 2022OCTOBER 2022Main Topic: ElectricalSpecial Focus:Exterior — Stone VeneerMain Topic: SafetySpecial Focus: Getting InvolvedMain Topic: Crawl Spaces, Base- Main Topic: InspectionWorldSpecial Focus:ments, and FoundationsRecognizing VeteransSpecial Focus:Lessons LearnedArticles Due: September 15thArticles Due: August 15thArticles Due: June 15thArticles Due: July 15thNOVEMBER 2022JUNE 2022 www.ASHI.org11

SMART INSPECTOR SCIENCENEVER, EVER MISS THESESTAIRWAY PROBLEMSNEVER, EVER, EVER MISS ISSUES WITH STEPS DURINGYOUR INSPECTION. PEOPLE FALL ON STAIRWAYS ANDGET HURT!SETTLED WALKPhoto 1 shows a precast concrete stairway at an entrance. Apartfrom rust stains where the railing meets the concrete, this lookspretty good, right? Upon closer examination, though, you’ll seevariations in the rise of the steps—and does that handrail have aproper gripping surface?In Photo 3, I am measuring the rise of about 10 inches in an entrancestairway. Look closely at the sidewalk in the foreground. There’s ahorizontal line of concrete debris just above the sidewalk. That iswhere the walk was originally poured. The entrance stoop rests ona footing and has not moved over time—but the sidewalk, restingon soil, has moved. This is an important safety item to note in yourreport, along with a similar photo.Photo 1. Precast Steps — Good?Photo 3. Settled WalkwayTYPICAL PRECAST STEPSThe closer look in Photo 2 shows a height variation of at least 1 inchfrom one riser to another. This is a safety issue that should alwaysbe documented. You need to protect the buyer and yourself.ALL BAD, AND EASY TO SEE WHYPhoto 4 shows a set of stairs I call “all bad.” The rise is notuniform. Handrails are missing. The cuts in the stringer are toodeep, and the stringer is showing a crack. The fresh coat ofpaint on the treads creates a slippery surface.Photo 2. Precast Steps — Bad!Photo 4. All Bad Steps12ASHI Reporter JUNE 2022

Opinions or statements of authors are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinionsor positions of ASHI, its agents, or editors. Always check with your local governmental agency andindependently verify for accuracy, completeness, and reliability.Tom Feiza has been a professional home inspector since 1992 and hasa degree in engineering. Through HowToOperateYourHome.com (htoyh.com) he provides high-quality books and marketing materials that helpprofessional home inspectors educate their customers. Copyright 2022by Tom Feiza, Mr. Fix-It, Inc. Reproduced with permissionPEOPLE CAN FALL EVEN ON PERFECTLYDESIGNED AND INSTALLED STEPS,SO DON’T EVER MISS AN ISSUE WITHSTEPS THAT AREN’T PERFECT.WHAT TO LOOK FORWalk the steps and use the handrail. You will automatically noticeany variation in the rise, inadequate depth of treads, and a loosehandrail or one with an improper gripping surface.By Tom Feiza, Mr. Fix-It, Inc.,HowToOperateYourHome.comWORST-CASE SCENARIO: A FALL AND A LAWSUITLook at Photo 5 and you will understand why the owner and theirinsurance company were sued. The rise is not consistent. Therailings are short of the bottom step and lack a proper handrailgripping surface. What you can’t see is that the railings are loose,swaying from side to side due to rust. An amateurish patch hasbeen applied to one post. When I looked at this for the insurancecompany, I didn’t even need to prepare a report. I just told theirattorney to bring out the checkbook.Illustration M087 shows basic requirements for stairs. You shouldalso know the specific requirements in your area. Most municipalities require the variation in the rise to be less than 3/8 inch;a specific rise and run; and a handrail at a specific height withan easily graspable surface.Photo 5. Liability LawsuitTHE TAKEAWAYSteps are one of the most dangerous areas of a home. People canfall even on perfectly designed and installed steps, so don’t evermiss an issue with steps that aren’t perfect. This could present ahuge liability, and many issues are difficult and expensive to correct.To learn more, attend Tom’s technical presentations ateducational sessions for ASHI chapters and local groups.Tom can also provide his knowledge for your educationalevent; contact him at Tom@htoyh.com.Illustration: M087 Stair RequirementsHow to Operate Your Home is aproud ASHI Affiliate member.JUNE 2022 www.ASHI.org13

Home Inspector ResourcesSO MANY RESOURCESBy Laura Rote, EditorDISCLAIMER: Information about Affiliate Members comes from the Members’ ownASHI profiles and their individual websites. For additional information, reach outto each Affiliate Member directly.ASHI and its large network of professional, certifiedhome inspectors are committed to maintaining highstandards across the profession—and the organizationis also committed to supporting its members in theirhome inspection careers. As part of that commitment,the ASHI Affiliate Member program is a way that homeinspectors can access the products and services theyneed to enhance their businesses.“Affiliates are essential because they are a fantasticway for our Home Inspector Members to learn aboutservices and products that can help them serve theirclients in the best way possible,” said James Thomas,ASHI Executive Director. “For Affiliates, the membersof ASHI offer an opportunity to teach those who maybe unaware of the different options that can help themgrow their business and become better at their craft.”The list of ASHI Affiliate Members is always growing,and you can peruse at any time at homeinspector.org/Affiliates/Listing. Affiliate Members update their info onthe ASHI website. Here is a more detailed look at someof the current ASHI Affiliate Members.14ASHI Reporter JUNE 2022

Home Inspector ResourcesMEET OUR AFFILIATESCALL CENTERSAmerica’s Call CenterAn Affiliate Member since 2003, America’s Call Center offersintegrated customer service and call handling solutions exclusivelyfor home inspectors. They also offer lead management, competitiveresearch, and more. americascallcenter.comEDUCATIONAmerican Home Inspectors TrainingAmerican Home Inspectors Training (AHIT) has been providinghome inspection training, certifications, continuing education,and professional development courses since 1993. Each course istaught by successful home inspection entrepreneurs, providingin-depth training to help home inspectors establish and market theirbusiness. Choose from more than 70 live training locations acrossthe US. ahit.comCarson Dunlop & Associates, Ltd.Carson Dunlop & Associates, Ltd. offers HORIZON Home InspectionSoftware to get home inspectors up and running quickly withtop-notch reports. Carson offers home inspection software as wellas integrated scheduling and other business services, educationcourses and training, and more. Setup time is minimal, andyou’ll have more than 6,000 report items already ready to use.carsondunlop.com/horizonExamination Board of Professional Home InspectorsThe National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) is the originalexam for the home inspection profession. It is the only independent,psychometrically-sound home inspector exam in the US thathas also achieved independent accreditation. Home inspectorswho pass the NHIE are career-ready with proven competence.nationalhomeinspectorexam.orgHow to Operate Your Home, Mr. Fix-It Inc.Tom Feiza, aka Mr. Fix-It, has been a professional home inspectorsince 1992. Mr. Fix-It provides a bevy of services—from homeownermanuals and illustration and image packages to referral andmarketing products and content for print, web, and social media.How to Operate Your Home can help home inspectors maximizetheir leads while providing homeowners with an in-depth guide toowning and operating homes effectively and efficiently.HowToOperateYourHome.comMcKissock 100% EducationMcKissock started in 1990 as a pioneer in appraisal education.Today they serve hundreds of thousands of professionals eachyear, including home inspectors, real estate professionals, propertyappraisers, land surveyors, and engineers. McKissock offers a widerange of education and professional development courses across anationally accredited platform. mckissock.com/home-inspection.Professional Home Inspection InstituteThe Professional Home Inspection Institute (PHII) PHII hassuccessfully trained and certified more than 35,000 homeinspectors in the US and Canada over two-plus decades. PHIIprovides a national online home inspection course home inspectorscan complete at their own pace, and they can attend face-to-facehome inspector field training at PHII’s classroom location for noadditional fee. All students receive free online home inspectionreport software for unlimited devices, plus a free business websitewith online credit card processing and online home inspectionreport delivery. homeinspectioninstitute.comFRANCHISEHomeTeam Inspection ServiceHomeTeam Inspection Service utilizes a team of professionalinspectors for a faster, more accurate home inspection in half thetime of a traditional inspection, without using alarming reportlanguage. hometeam.comHOME WARRANTYComplete Protection Home WarrantyA Complete Protection 120-day warranty is valid for 120 days fromthe day of inspection. Having a warranty in place provides peaceof mind to home inspectors’ clients and can help a business standout from the competition. Complete Protection has been offeringaward-winning service to home inspectors in the US and Canadasince 2006. completehomewarranty.comResidential Warranty ServicesThe Inspector Services Group provides services to home inspectorsthroughout the US and Canada to provide a better home inspection,decrease liabilities, and increase home inspection values with amenu of optional add-on services. They offer many services to helpinspectors add value to their business while increasing profitabilityand reducing liability. Services run the gamut from their 90-daywarranty to roof protection to call center services and more.inspectionsuccess.netINSURANCEInspectorPro InsuranceInspectorPro Insurance offers reasonably priced coveragetailored to each home inspector’s needs. Some of their benefitsinclude free pre-claims assistance, early reporting discounts,diminishing deductibles, and risk management education.inspectorproinsurance.comNorman-Spencer Agency LLCNorman-Spencer helps home inspectors get professional andgeneral liability insurance. Coverage includes mold inspection,infrared thermography, radon coverage, termite coverage, pool andspa, built-in kitchen appliance, exterior insulation finishing systemcoverage, stucco coverage, and e-inspectorsJUNE 2022 www.ASHI.org15

Home Inspector ResourcesOREPOREP specializes in placing errors and omissions and generalliability insurance and providing valuable benefits to real estateappraisers, home inspectors, real estate agents and brokers,mortgage field service professionals, energy raters/auditors, andothers. orep.orgPEST CONTROLKritter-CapKritter-Cap calls itself the safest and most positive non-violent methodof eliminating mice from getting in the attic. Kritter-Cap is designed tofit inside of the corner post of a vinyl sided home. These corner postsare not sealed and generally are open to the attic, which can allowmice, bees, wasps, hornets, small squirrels, snakes, and other rodentsdirect access to the attic. krittercaps.comRADON/MOLD/ASBESTOS/WATER TESTINGAirThings America IncEstablished in 2008, AirThings is a global tech company led byscientists, engineers, developers, and

FEATURES 6 Moisture Meters: A Piece of a Damp Puzzle Stephanie Jaynes, Marketing Director, . Phone: 847-954-3187 Email: communications@ashi.org ASHI REPORTER - ISSN 1076-1942 - the official publication of the American Society of Home . homequest1@comcast.net Bronson Anderson, Treasurer Waynesboro, VA, 540-932-7557 2inspect4u@gmail.com