50,000 retail outlets to recommend NACHI members exclusively.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by rbennett

Paul

Think I will check out one of the kits and see if it has any down sides

Maybe it can't be done wrong

rlb

Good point Robert.......maybe some inspectors will see about selling them and making some money that way on them....kinda be the first source for them to their clients when doing an inspection....so even the guys who do not do mold inspections can profit as well...

Nick needs to get discounts for members.....probably already has that...

[wforsyth]

I've seen these kits for a long time. They were out there no matter what. Now, they just have a reference to you on it. Bonus.

I think the kits are very low tech and probably refer the person to a professional for further evaluation. It isn't the same type of test as what you perform, I think it's just a front door type of test. But I am open to being wrong on that.

I think they are excellent advertising and a big help to getting the word out about NACHI home inspectors to people who may not have heard of us otherwise.

[phinsperger]

Originally Posted by gbell

These kits have been available for some time. You have always been in competition with them.

Yes, but at least they weren't endorsed by my own association.

I have never gotton a lead from www.InspectorSEEK.com so putting that on the back is of zero benifit to me.

[phinsperger]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

I think the kits are very low tech and probably refer the person to a professional for further evaluation. It isn't the same type of test as what you perform, I think it's just a front door type of test.

HI's doing mould sampling are also just a front door type of test. Presenting your mould sampling services as anything more is what gets HI's in to trouble.

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by phinsperger

HI's doing mould sampling are also just a front door type of test. Presenting your mould sampling services as anything more is what gets HI's in to trouble.

Okay, let's say I think the tests are a front door to HI doing further collections. What I'm saying is these tests are for a different type of collecting a HI would do.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

Okay, let's say I think the tests are a front door to HI doing further testing. What I'm saying is these tests don't do the same type of testing a HI would.

HIs do not test....they merely collect samples and send them to a lab. Just like the purchaser of the test kit will do.

[wforsyth]

Sigh.....

semantics...

lol....teehee....that's what I meant....lol....lol....lol....

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

semantics...

lol....teehee....that's what I meant....lol....lol....lol....

Nope...more than semantics.

Much more than semantics. A very major difference that can mean a whole lot to anyone offering this service.

[Nick Gromicko]

The homeowners who purchase test kits to test their home for anything (particularly mold, but also radon) seek to contact a professional inspector if the results indicate any potential problems. If you've ever run a lab that sells retal test kits (and I have), home owners always ask who to contact next after a problem is initially discovered. Home tests, which have been around for years, are lead generators for inspectors, and now they are lead generators for exclusively NACHI members.

[rskinner]

I agree Paul. Especially for you and your new equipment. It's a great idea over all, but it may harm folks like you trying to earn a living off sampling.

[bdoles2]

FYI...

You can exclude Chase-Pitkins as one of the major retailers, they exited the business earlier in the year.

[phinsperger]

[quote=rskinner]I agree Paul. Especially for you and your new equipment. [quote]

Originally Posted by gromicko

The homeowners who purchase test kits to test their home for anything (particularly mold, but also radon) seek to contact a professional inspector if the results indicate any potential problems.

Change "inspector" to "specialist".

Originally Posted by gromicko

... Home tests, which have been around for years, are lead generators for inspectors,....

They are lead generators for specialists. Not inspectors.


I need the home inspector to tell me where the problems are. Once I know that I call the specialist in that field for further evaluation and remediation

I test my home for radon and it comes back positive I call the radon remediation guy. I don't need the home inspector at that point.


I test my home for asbestos and it comes back positive I call the asbestos remediation guy. I don't need the home inspector at that point.


I test my home for CO and it comes back positive I call the HVAC guy. I don't need the home inspector at that point.


I test my home for mould and it comes back positive I call the mould remediation guy. I don't need the home inspector at that point.


I test my home for _____ and it comes back positive I call the ______ guy. I don't need the home inspector at that point.

etc.

etc.

[Nick Gromicko]

Paul, you are incorrect. They don't go straight to repair contractors, especially with mold. With mold they almost always seek a professional opinion from an inspector after doing their own test. Mostly they call an inspector to get a professional look at it and more information. Radon might be an exception, since there is nothing to inspect (visually see), where a homeowner would go straight from a retail test kit to a second set of retail tests and then to a mitigator. Almost no one tests for asbestos (where one sends a sample to a lab to confirm). And most people worried about CO buy a CO detector (similar to smoke detectors) and so never buy CO retail kits at all.

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by gromicko

The homeowners who purchase test kits to test their home for anything (particularly mold, but also radon) seek to contact a professional inspector if the results indicate any potential problems. If you've ever run a lab that sells retal test kits (and I have), home owners always ask who to contact next after a problem is initially discovered. Home tests, which have been around for years, are lead generators for inspectors, and now they are lead generators for exclusively NACHI members.

Thanks Nick. That's what I was trying to say.

[ldapkus]

Home inspectors may be able to determine the source of the moisture intrusion, moisture that the mold needs to thrive on. Find the source of the problem then refer to specialists. For those out there that don't want to do mold sampling, please refer your clients to me so that I can have the lab make the confirmation.