Thermal cameras ?

[David A. Andersen]

That's one of the reasons why home inspections must be as accurate as possible. Americans buy into homes by taking loans out on their kids! If you miss something and it costs $500 to repair they may end up going into foreclosure!
Then you get sued for more than the house is worth!

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

Originally Posted by Rudolf Reusse

Can any one please explain to me why colleagues suddenly feel the urge to buy expensive thermal cameras to carry out "visual" home inspections in a depressed real estate market?

Rudolf Reusse - Toronto

Depressed market? Are you sure you live in Toronto?

[Rob A. Parker]

Just passed my level one last night. Took the ITC coarse first week in AUG.and sent in the field test part of the coarse on Tuesday of this week and recieved an e-mail from ITC last night confirming that I passd.

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

Originally Posted by rparker

Just passed my level one last night. Took the ITC coarse first week in AUG.and sent in the field test part of the coarse on Tuesday of this week and recieved an e-mail from ITC last night confirming that I passd.

Congratulations Rob!!!

[Rob A. Parker]

Thanks Mario Next step is to start marketing it, so I can pay for the camera. With the other half of the company doing Eco-Energy should not be to hard.

[Rudolf Reusse]

The fact that home inspectors are investing thousands of dollars to buy thermal cameras to hopefully generate some extra income from a different source - indicates that they are obviously not very busy. This type of camera is certainly not required to perform ordinary home inspection - where one is only obligated to report what the "naked eye" can see.

RUDOLF REUSSE - Home Inspector since 1976 - TORONTO

[David A. Andersen]

Do you own a computer?

Why? It's not "required" to be a Home Inspector!

Just because you do not elect to participate in this program, there is no reason to downplay the significance of its existence. If you review this bulletin board, I don't think you will find a single home inspector that has an infrared camera, state that they feel they can do just fine without owning one. Once you realize what it is that you "can't see", you won't leave home without it.

As for a home inspectors purchasing this technology when business is slow, this is the perfect time to do so. The necessary resources to become an adequate thermographer require considerable time for training, absorption of the training material and experimentation in application.

Just maybe, when things pick back up they will have additional expertise to perform in this profession that will lead them ahead of the pack, as any additional education and ancillary service will do for any home inspector.

If you don't go along with the program, just turn your head and avoid the embarrassment of your lack of technical knowledge.

Sorry, just my humble opinion.

[Rob A. Parker]

Rudolf you are correct that a home inspection is a limited visuale inspection of the readily accessible aspects of the building. But what happen when you come a cross evidence of moisture leak whether it's in a finished basement a ceiling, wall or roof, at least with an IR camera the inspector can help his,her client in trying to identify the cause of the problem, and what repairs may be needed to correct the problem before they complete the deal for the house.
I hope to use my camera for air leakage and lack of or missing insulation for the the Eco-engery evaluation and not only home inspection.
I have done home inspections where the shower wall appears to be wet from leaking tiles, tub surround or pipes, and the client wants to know how bad it is before they sign on the dotted line for the property. I had a home inspection not too long ago before I bought my camera and the shower walls showed very wet with my moisture meter, and the client wanted to know just how bad it was. With moisture you can not really tell how bad it is or how far the moistur has traveled in the walls, called an inspector I know who has an IR camera he set up an appoint with my client to do a scan of the bathroom area and he found it to be much worse than we thought. That is one of reason I have bought an IR camera to better serve my clients and to make some extra cash in doing so.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by rparker

Rudolf you are correct that a home inspection is a limited visuale inspection of the readily accessible aspects of the building. But what happen when you come a cross evidence of moisture leak whether it's in a finished basement a ceiling, wall or roof, at least with an IR camera the inspector can help his,her client in trying to identify the cause of the problem, and what repairs may be needed to correct the problem before they complete the deal for the house.
I hope to use my camera for air leakage and lack of or missing insulation for the the Eco-engery evaluation and not only home inspection.
I have done home inspections where the shower wall appears to be wet from leaking tiles, tub surround or pipes, and the client wants to know how bad it is before they sign on the dotted line for the property. I had a home inspection not too long ago before I bought my camera and the shower walls showed very wet with my moisture meter, and the client wanted to know just how bad it was. With moisture you can not really tell how bad it is or how far the moistur has traveled in the walls, called an inspector I know who has an IR camera he set up an appoint with my client to do a scan of the bathroom area and he found it to be much worse than we thought. That is one of reason I have bought an IR camera to better serve my clients and to make some extra cash in doing so.

Who are you doing Eco-energy audits for...or for yourself?

[Rob A. Parker]

Brian work under contract for Amerispec

[Rudolf Reusse]

I am surprised to have unintentionally created an uproar. I certainly was not aware of the fact that the sudden buying spree for thermal cameras has been triggered by some program offered to gullible home inspectors how to operate and interpret this type of equipment to willingly increase their exposure to liabilities.

RUDOLF REUSSE - Home Inspectors since 1976 - TORONTO

[Rob A. Parker]

Rudolf There is no program offered to gullible home inspectors to buy these cameras. The choice to buy is up to the home inspector as is the training to use them. I personally spent 4 days in Toronto taking a coarse put on by ITC to become a Level One Thermographer which meets ASTM standards, buy taking this training I believe I have lowered my exposure to liabilites more than those who may have bought a camera and are using it with out any training at all.

[David A. Andersen]

Here we go with those wives tales about increased liability!

I'll tell you about liability, it's when you walk away from the house and say everything is nifty thrifty fine and dandy and then a few weeks/months the client has issues and contacts their lawyer. Everybody thinks a home inspector can see all, know all and do all and will sue you accordingly.

The only time you increase your liability is when you buy a $5000 camera and go out and use it without any earthly idea of what the heck you're doing. Report something unnecessary and cause the client a loss. Then your not only liable but negligent.

Let's not bring all this stuff up again. We have already been through this in past posts. If you don't have anything specific that we all can learn from, just don't worry about what we do. I for one don't care how much liability a lawyer can dream up, I bought my camera to reduce my liability and that is exactly what it does.

[klott]

Originally Posted by Rudolf Reusse

I am surprised to have unintentionally created an uproar. I certainly was not aware of the fact that the sudden buying spree for thermal cameras has been triggered by some program offered to gullible home inspectors how to operate and interpret this type of equipment to willingly increase their exposure to liabilities.

RUDOLF REUSSE - Home Inspectors since 1976 - TORONTO

I don't believe you are surprised at all, in fact I think the only reason you come here is to cause trouble. Your ego is a definite liability.

[Nick Gromicko]

IR cameras are part of the growing green movement: www.nachi.org/green.htm

Catch up.