Moisture Meter

[Russell J. Hensel]

Will that is EXACTLY why you should be getting INTO it! If you wait till people know about it, then your competition is LEADING the way and you are Mr. Catch up! Moisture meters and thermal infrared cameras in my opinion is not a LUXURY any more, it is a staple. I never want a person, realtor, lawyer or any other professional to have to call ANOTHER company for a service that deal with inspection services. If someone gets their foot in the door they are going to say, "Why use them and call us for these areas, why not jsut call us from the start?'

Give people another reason that you STAND OUT. I have yet to find a person who asked me if I have a bore scope. Yet, I do have a bore scope and used it several times and they are thankful and impressed that I own one.

But this is just my mentality of business. I have spent probably 10K on equipment that I use rarely, like a particulate counter. Cost my about $7 when I bought it and used it maybe 10 times in the last 18 months. A builder was having a hard time passing his air quality tests and called me it. I used the particulate counter and found the source of the high mold and it was an easy fix. Reward has been about 12K in work just from this builder.

To me business is nothing but a gamble on educated ideas and risks. But I do know that risking nothing usually means gaining the exact same in proportion!

[Justin Watts]

There are some concerns I have about the thermal imaging equipment... 1. Most home inspection agreeement contracts state that the inspection is not exhaustive. 2. What about False Positives?!?! Different temperatures can give off different readings... time of day, outside ambient temperatures,etc. etc.
3. Now, are clients going to "expect" you to find additional defects not visible to the regular "eye".

4. ARE CLIENTS WILLING TO PAY EXTRA for the thermal service????

Don't get me a wrong, the technology is awesome.... I just wonder about the balancing act between liability, expectations, and profit value of the equipment....

The best inspection tool...... is still the inspector!

[whandley]

Originally Posted by jwatts1

There are some concerns I have about the thermal imaging equipment... 1. Most home inspection agreeement contracts state that the inspection is not exhaustive. 2. What about False Positives?!?! Different temperatures can give off different readings... time of day, outside ambient temperatures,etc. etc.
3. Now, are clients going to "expect" you to find additional defects not visible to the regular "eye".

4. ARE CLIENTS WILLING TO PAY EXTRA for the thermal service????

Don't get me a wrong, the technology is awesome.... I just wonder about the balancing act between liability, expectations, and profit value of the equipment....

The best inspection tool...... is still the inspector!

Agreed!

Looking inside the inaccessible wall cavity with a borescope is outside the SOP as well. If the client, agent or myself is concerned with moisture and or water damage issues in an inaccessible area, I refer them to an independent environmental consultant for further inspection/service prior to close of escrow.

If during the course of an IR evaluation an area of issue was discovered, the subject area would need to be verified by using a mositure meter to confirm same. I normally use the moisture meter to generically take readings around tub, shower, toilet, laundry, kitchen sink and dishwasher service areas.

I just don't see the bang for my buck with
equipment and training costs at this time. Clients are constantly shopping for lower prices on all transaction related services. Trying to get the client to spend another couple hundred for an IR evaluation won't be an easy task in this current market environment.

[Justin Watts]

You are right Will,
So many low ballers in the market right now... Even paying an average fee for an inspection is TOO high for them. It gets really old... A lot of clients out there EXPECT a lot but want to PAY VERY LITTLE!

I will not be paying 5k for a thermal imager anytime soon....