Specialist or Gereralist?

[rkeith]

What if I want to begin doing more "Healthy Home"-type inspections, should I invest in carbon dioxide/gas detection devices (I have mold testing equip. now) or does this increase my liability. I hear a lot about staying a "generalist" and do visual inspections only.
Should I limit use of such special equipment to my Mold inspections and keep the standard home inspection a visual-only one? I see this "Healthy Home" type as a new market (not tied to realestate market) but just how much new testing (and training) equip do I need?
Thanks
Rusty

[jrivera]

[quote=rkeith] should I invest in carbon dioxide/gas detection devices (I have mold testing equip. now) or does this increase my liability. quote]

Man, not like the old days of just a screw driver and a flashlight


Mic

[Erby Crofutt]

Depends on how broad you want to spread yourself.

Home Inspection is one thing.

Environmental Inspection another

Termites another

Pools another

Commercial another, etc, etc, etc.

You might want to look at carbon MONOXIDE detectors though. If you wanna do it, you should at least get some training and know what it is you're trying to detect.

[dchew]

If you decide to expand outside general home inspection, you better be qualified to do the work. Having a piece of hardware does not qualify you as specialist or expert in the field.

Personally, if you call yourself an expert in mold detection, I'd expect that you would have a college advance degree in biology or microbiology with a specialty in the growth of spores, etc. My wife spend 8 years in college studying how spores are used as biological indicators in the medical equipment/supply sterilization industry.

[Keith Swift, PhD.]

I've written about this. Click on: http://www.nachi.org/generalistsorspecialists2005.htm

If you don't want to read it, I think that it's fair to say that while inspectors may choose to think of themselves as "generalists," most of their clients and certainly the courts tend to regard them as "specialists."
P.S. You can read more about this in my book Inspect and Protect. Go to www.keithswift.com

[rkeith]

Thanks Mr. Chew, I do not call myself an "expert" at mold inspection, else no reason for the questions...right. I do have a couple of degrees however, but not in mcrobiology. Keith, I will check out your link and I enjoyed your book and it has driven me to learn more about liability and using specialized tools.
Also thanks to Erby and the rest because I
DO appreciate the advice from more experienced professionals like you guys.
Rusty

[jrivera]

Can I say that I'm "specially a generalist"

just a thought


Mic

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by rkeith

What if I want to begin doing more "Healthy Home"-type inspections... Rusty

Determining whether or not a home is "healthy" involves more than testing for two or three toxic substances, it involves learning building science and something about a number of materials commonly used in homes. Google "healthy homes" and see what you find. It's not simple. Dwight's right.
Inspectors who perform true healthy home inspections have certificates in building biology from places like this http://www.bau-biologieusa.com/index.html

If you decide to pursue this anyway, you best be very specific about the limitations of your inspection in your contract because if you wind up in court, a lawyer will dump a whole wheelbarrow full of "healthy inspection" definitions at your feet, all of which will describe a comprehensive inspection for numerous health hazards.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by kswift

I think that it's fair to say that while inspectors may choose to think of themselves as "generalists," most of their clients and certainly the courts tend to regard them as "specialists."

This is why it's very important to manage the expectations of your Clients.

When I first meet my Clients, one of the first things out of my mouth is this sentence:

"I'm a generalist, not an expert. What that means to you is that I know something about everything and everything about nothing."

That gets a chuckle, helps me break the ice, and sets their expectations the way I want them to be.

I believe in educating rather than trying to be an expert in anything or everything, which is why I created SOLUTIONS. My Clients love the effort that I put into inspections, and they really appreciate my up-front honesty in telling them that I just don't know it all and don't try to.

For the very few times when I have to go further, they get the message when I tell them that California doesn't license home inspectors. However, California does licensed electricians, plumbers, roofing contractors, chimney sweeps, engineers, and even landscapers. Yet I have to know all of that without licensing. So I have to be a generalist, almost by sheer definition.

[Gregory A. Liebig]

In Wisconsin I am also a licensed Rental Weatherization Inspector. That means that I'm licensed to perform a basic energy audit to the State standards on insulation, venting, etc. When I do a home inspection and see a potential problem with the attic venting I may run some quick calcs to to a "gut check" on an inadequate venting situation and use that for my client's benefit.

The problem comes in on the reverse. I'm contracted to do a weatherization inspection and find all sorts of potential call-outs that I would document during a home inspection that I'm not required to report for this type of inspection. I have a write in on my contract that is only for a weatherization inspeciton.

It's all about expectations. Sometimes it isn't very easy.

[brepanshek]

Hey Greg I took a class through Home Energy TuneUp to do energy audits. Is this similar to what you do? Haven't had any calls on this service, yet I really haven't marketed this either. How is yor success at this?


If you decide to expand outside general home inspection, you better be qualified to do the work. Having a piece of hardware does not qualify you as specialist or expert in the field.

I let my clients know that I am a specalist on how to take mold related samples,(if I don't give them this assurance then I best not offer this service) not a specialist on the identification of mold.

[Gregory A. Liebig]

Originally Posted by brepanshek

Hey Greg I took a class through Home Energy TuneUp to do energy audits. Is this similar to what you do? Haven't had any calls on this service, yet I really haven't marketed this either. How is yor success at this?

These are state mandated inspections for any non owner-occupied rental properties. If a rental property is purchased the owner has a 1 year stipulation to bring the property into compliance. The deed cannot be recorded until the state stamp has been issued. I've had two of them so far. The state has a maximum rate of $200 per property and then and additional $50 per unit for the initial inspection. Believe it or not, there are some inspectors that undercut that published amount, but that's a totally different issue. Go Figure

[brepanshek]

Help on where to find information if PA mandates this. Who would I call?

[Gregory A. Liebig]

WI's program is regulated by the Department of Commerce. Maybe you can try there. Wisconsin's site is here: http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/SB/S...onProgram.html

[rkeith]

Thanks guys, this information has been very "eye-opening". More training is a priority for me now.
Thanks
Rusty