MC2 Home Inspections, Indianapolis Indiana

Understanding the importance of Bathroom exhaust fans

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:50:35 -0600

Bathroom ventilation systems are designed to exhaust odors and moist air to the home's exterior. Typical systems consist of a ceiling fan unit connected to a duct that terminates through the roof.

Fan Function

The fan may be controlled in one of several ways:

Most are controlled by a conventional wall switch.
A timer switch may be mounted on the wall.
A wall-mounted humidistat can be pre-set to turn the fan on and off based on different levels of relative humidity.

Newer fans may be very quiet but work just fine. Older fans may be very noisy or very quiet. If an older fan is quiet, it may not be working well. Inspectors can test for adequate fan airflow with a chemical smoke pencil or a powder puff bottle, but such tests exceed InterNACHI's Standards of Practice.

Bathroom ventilation fans should be inspected for dust buildup that can impede airflow. Particles of moisture-laden animal dander and lint are attracted to the fan because of its static charge.

Ventilation systems should be installed in all bathrooms. This includes bathrooms with windows, since windows will not be opened during the winter in cold climates.

Defects

The following conditions indicate insufficient bathroom ventilation:

Moisture stains on walls or ceilings.
Corrosion of metal.
Visible mold on walls or ceilings.
Peeling paint or wallpaper.
Frost on windows.
High levels of humidity.

The most common defect related to bathroom ventilation systems is improper termination of the duct. Vents must terminate to the home's exterior. The most common improper termination locations are:

Mid-level in the attic. These are easy to spot.
Beneath the insulation. You need to remember to look. The duct may terminate beneath the insulation or there may be no duct installed.
Beneath attic vents. The duct must terminate to the home's exterior, not beneath it.

Improperly terminated ventilation systems may appear to work fine from inside the bathroom; you have to look in the attic or on the roof. Sometimes poorly-installed ducts will loosen over time or become disconnected at joints or connections.

Ducts which leak or terminate in attics can cause problems from condensation. Warm, moist air will condense on cold attic framing, insulation or other materials. This condition has the potential to cause health or wood decay problems from mold, or to damage materials such as drywall. Moisture also reduces the effectiveness of thermal insulation.

Mold

Perhaps the most serious consequence of an improper ventilation setup is the potential accumulation of mold in attics or crawlspaces. Mold may appear as a fuzzy, thread-like, cobwebby fungus. Health problems caused by mold are related to high concentrations of spores in indoor air. "Spores" are like microscopic seeds, released by mold fungi when they reproduce. Every home has mold. Moisture levels of about 20% in porous materials will cause mold colonies to grow. Inhaling mold spores can cause health problems in those with asthma or allergies, and can cause serious or even fatal fungal infections in those with lung disease or compromised immune systems. Mold is sometimes difficult to identify visually and should be tested by a lab in order to be confidently labeled as such. Decay, which is rot, is also caused by fungi. Incipient (early) decay cannot be seen. By the time decay becomes visible; wood may have lost up to 50% of its strength.

In order to grow, mold fungi require that the following conditions are present:

Oxygen.
Temperatures between approximately 45° F and 85° F.
Food. This includes a wide variety of cellulose materials found in homes.
Moisture (typically humidity levels above 60%).

If insufficient levels of any of these requirements exist, all mold growth will stop and fungi will just go dormant. Most are difficult to actually kill.

Even though mold growth may take place in the attic, mold spores can be sucked into the living areas of a residence by low air pressure. Low air pressure is usually created by the expulsion of household air from exhaust fans in bathrooms, dryers, kitchens and heating equipment.

Improper Ventilation

Ventilation ducts must be made from appropriate materials and oriented effectively in order to ensure that stale air is properly exhausted.

Ventilation ducts must:

Terminate outdoors. Ducts should never terminate within the building envelope.
Contain a screen or louvered (angled) slats at its termination to prevent bird, rodent and insect entry.
Be as short and straight as possible and avoid turns. Longer ducts allow more time for vapor to condense and also force the exhaust fan to work harder.
Be insulated, especially in cooler climates. Cold ducts will encourage condensation.
Protrude at least several inches from the roof.
Be equipped with a roof termination cap that protects the duct from the elements.
Be installed to manufacturer's recommendations.

The following tips are helpful although not required. Ventilation ducts should:

Be made from inflexible metal, PVC, or other rigid material. Unlike dryer exhaust vents, they should not droop.

Have smooth interiors. Ridges will encourage vapor to condense, allowing water to back-flow into the exhaust fan or leak through joints onto vulnerable surfaces.

Above all else, a bathroom ventilation fan should be connected to a duct capable of venting water vapor and odors into the outdoors. Mold growth within the bathroom or attic is a clear indication of improper ventilation that must be corrected in order to avoid structural decay and respiratory health issues.

MC2 Home Inspections serving the entire Indianapolis Metro area

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:44:47 -0600

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Description and Features
MC2 Home Inspections provides complete home inspection services for the city of Indianapolis and areas surrounding. We are available 7 days a week to accommodate all of your inspection needs. Morning and afternoon appointments are available. We are fully certified, licensed and insured in the state of Indiana. We are Hoosier owned and operated located in Plainfield Indiana. We are up to date on all the newest and latest inspection tools and techniques available as well as continuing education requirements for the state of Indiana. Accredited member of the Central Indiana Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List and NACHI. We are changing the face of home inspections, one client at a time. Call today and experience the difference. Proudly serving the entire Indianapolis Metro area. Service area includes: Avon, Danville, Clayton, Clermont, Brownsburg, Pittsboro, Speedway, Plainfield, Eagle Creek, Homecroft, Bridgeport, Butler Tarkington, Broad Ripple, Beech Grove, Indianapolis, Camby, Heartland crossing, Zionsville, Lebanon, Whitestown, Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield, Cumberland, Lawrence, McCordsville, Beech Grove, New Palestine, Southport, Greenwood, Franklin, Mooresville, Monrovia, Martinsville, Whiteland, New Whiteland, Columbus, Trafalgar, Morgantown, Edinburg, Nineveh, Shelbyville, Fairland, Taylorsville and Bargersville Indiana. Marion County, Johnson County, Hendricks County, Morgan County, Boone County, Hamilton County, and portions of Hancock County Indiana. There are many home inspectors in Indianapolis to choose from. I would like to personally thank you for making MC2 Home Inspections your Indianapolis Home Inspection company of choice.
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Where oh where to drain your condensate line?

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:42:14 -0500

Ah yes what to do with your furnaces condensate line? I see this all too often while doing inspections. In this photo we can clearly see what years of draining your condensate line into your crawlspace can do. I am sure the homeowners had no idea just how serious this situation was.

You guessed it. That is a gas line directly underneath where the condensate line has been draining for years. Needless to say as soon as I lifted my mask to get a whiff, I was out of there in seconds flat!

Buying a "flipped" home. What you need to know.

Thu, 14 May 2009 06:36:01 -0500

This is the second in a series that is focused on informing the home buying public about the real dangers that lurk out there in today's real estate market that most people are unaware of.

With thousands of foreclosed homes still on the market, real estate investors are snatching these homes up at record pace. The great majority of these foreclosed homes are in pretty rough condition and need a lot of work. That is why they are being sold for such little money. Most are in need of thousands and thousands of dollars worth of repairs. Truth be told, many of them should just be demolished. Real estate investors typically purchase these homes at rock bottom prices (many times sight unseen), rehab it and turn around and sell it for profit to you the homebuyer. So what exactly are you getting when you purchase a "flipped" home? It is very important for you to remember that the entire purpose for investing in real estate is to make money. Investors typically are not concerned with the safety and well being of you and your family. They are most concerned with how much profit they can make on their investment. They will typically cut corners any way they can to make that profit, even if it is at your expense.

As a home inspector, I have inspected many homes that have been flipped by investors. There is a very common theme I see that plays out in almost every home that is being sold by an investor. Investors are very smart and know what the majority of people look for when purchasing a home. Fresh paint, new carpet, tile, countertops, cabinets and sometimes even appliances. Can you see the common denominator? If you guessed aesthetics, you are correct. It is very easy and relatively inexpensive to make a home "look good". Sadly most homebuyers write up an offer on a home based strictly off of their first impression of the home. That is where the common investor reels you in.

You have no doubt heard the expression "Lipstick on a pig". This is a very common phrase used in the real estate world, and for good reason. Most homebuyers spend approximately twenty minutes or so walking through a home prior to making an offer. At best, this provides a general impression of the overall cosmetic condition of the home. But what about the foundation, grading, electrical system, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, attic construction, insulation, ventilation, and roof conditions? Ah yes, the big ticket items that most people do not think about when walking into a home that has been flipped. The most common thought that occurs in most people is that the home looks so nice, everything must be new. Even real estate agents unknowingly add to this perception when writing up their description of the property in their listing. They will say something like "Simply gorgeous turn of the century home. Completely remodeled inside and out. Ready for you to move in and make your own. Everything is brand new. The only thing this home needs is you." That was taken from an actual listing here in town. It is no wonder that you would naturally assume that the home is in perfect condition. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the vast majority of flipped homes. The reality here in Indiana is nothing like the house flipping shows you have seen on HGTV. Far from it. I will be perfectly honest in saying that I have yet to see an investor actually flip a home here in Indiana the way they do on HGTV.

While every homebuyer wants the home they are looking at purchasing to "look nice", it is far more important that the major systems and components of the home be in newer, good working condition. Most investors will not and do not pay any attention to these big ticket items, as they are the most expensive items to repair or replace in a home. They will always cosmetically improve the home and then stop. I have literally inspected hundreds of homes that were falling apart amidst the new carpet, tile and countertops, brand new light fixtures and ceiling fans installed on ceilings that were ready to collapse, freshly painted walls that were a feeble attempt to cover up moisture stains, mold and termite damage, brand new kitchen cabinets installed right over wet and moldy drywall, brand new carpet and tile installed right over rotting subflooring. The list goes on and on.

What are some of the things you should you really be looking for when searching for a potential home? Very simple, do not concern yourself with walls that need paint or flooring that is out of date or stained. Cosmetic items should be the least of your worries. Look instead to the big ticket items. Ideally the furnace and A/C unit should be less than 10 years old. The water heater should be new to no more than 5 years old. The roof should be no more than 10 years old (this includes the gutters and downspouts). If the home has a crawlspace, it should be relatively clean. It should have proper ventilation, a vapor barrier and have no evidence of water intrusion. The supply plumbing should be all copper or PEX piping. The waste lines should be PVC or cast iron. The grading of the home should slope away from your foundation a minimum of 6 inches for the first 10 feet. The attic and basement should have proper ventilation to prevent high humidity levels which make for conditions conducive to mold growth. The electrical system should be 200 amp service to accommodate today's growing home electrical needs. These are just a few of the many considerations to take into account when looking at a potential home. It is important to keep in mind that cosmetic items such as carpet and paint cost only a fraction of what the major systems and components do.

So what can you do to protect yourself from purchasing a potential "flipped" money pit? The most important thing is to be realistic in your expectations when looking for a home. No matter what the description says or how cosmetically pleasing the home may appear, no home is perfect. The number one way to protect yourself is to hire a professional home inspector to inspect the property prior to closing. When making the initial offer on the home, make sure you add an inspection contingency in the agreement so that in the event that major deficiencies are found, you can turn and run. Do not assume for one second that just because everything looks good cosmetically that the home is in good condition and doesn't need to be inspected. Real estate Investors and sellers alike can be very clever in the ways they hide major flaws and deficiencies. Do not assume that everything you read on the sellers' disclosure list is gospel. It is a sad reality that people will do almost anything for the almighty dollar without conscious. A home inspection is the #1 consumer protection service available. A $300.00 home inspection could save you literally thousands of dollars in the long run. I see it every day.

Be careful out there.

The TRUTH about Radon

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:03:47 -0500

Here is the straight truth about Radon. The first in a series of what home owners and home buyers need to know, but don't.

No doubt if you have went to buy or sell a home, at some point the question of whether or not to have a Radon test done has come up. Below are some very interesting facts concerning Radon that the general public has probably never heard before. All information obtained came directly from EPA publications.

The EPA's 4 picocuries/cubic liter threshold is arbitrary. There have never been tests of the effects of varying amounts of radon in a residential home setting. The only tests to date have come from mine shafts in Pennsylvania where miners developed cancers, and where radon was among 25 or so radioactive elements present. The results of these findings were somehow extrapolated to homes. In other words, there has never been a single verifiable case where Radon in a residential home was linked to Cancer. Even the EPA has admitted it.

From a 1994 EPA report: "Facts Concerning Environmental Radon"

"To date the EPA has had little success in stimulating home owners to measure levels in their homes which would be the first step in the process of deciding on a course of action if a high radon level is found. This is partly because it is difficult to get people concerned that their home, a place that one looks to for security, is a potential source of hidden danger. Also, it has not yet been possible to generate convincing data on increased risk at or below 4-8 pCi/liter"

In the EPA's own words there has been no evidence of increased risk in the 4-8 range. Yet the EPA recommends remediation on any reading above 4pCi. In short, Radon mitagators charge homeowners $800 to $2000 setting up vent systems in their home for this number that appears to have been pulled out of thin air.

Finally, two most widespread claims about radon all come from one source, the EPA:

1) Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
2) 21,000 people die of lung cancer each year due to radon.

The concern here is that these two statements, long considered gospel, fail to separate smokers' vs. non smokers. Furthermore, the numbers used are on the high end of the actual findings which said 3,000 to 32,000. Therefore in my opinion it is impossible to make either claim above. There is absolutely no way to tell whether Radon or smoking caused cancer in the above claims.

Below is the sole source for these two claims which have been repeated thousands of times, so much, in fact, that they are considered gospel in the Real Estate industry. It is directly taken from the public summary of the EPA report, "Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation".

Note: "ever smokers" is defined as anyone who is smoking or has ever smoked.

"The BEIR VI committee's preferred central estimates are that about 1 in 10 of all lung cancer deaths amounting to 15,400 to 21,800 per year in the United States can be attributed to radon among ever-smokers and never-smokers together. The number of radon related lung cancer deaths resulting from (our analysis) could be as low as 3000 or as high as 32,000. Most of the radon-related lung cancers occur among ever-smokers, and because of the synergism between smoking and radon, many of the cancers in ever-smokers could be prevented by either tobacco control or reduction of radon exposure."

So...."15,400 to 21,800 per year in the United States can be attributed to Radon among ever-smokers and never-smokers together". So how could they possibly conclude that "21,000 people die in America from Radon each year?

Furthermore, if Radon truly was the second leading cause of Cancer in the United States, why then are there no public service announcements on television, radio, billboards, local news etc. like there is for smoking cigarettes? The ONLY time you ever hear about Radon is during the home buying process. There is nothing outside the realm of Real Estate that alerts the public to this "so called" danger.

Is Radon real? Absolutely. Does it pose a potential hazard to you or your family? You decide.

So you want to be a home inspector

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:25:07 -0500

I receive a lot of emails and phone calls asking me the secret to my success in such a relatively short amount of time. While I am flattered to actually be recognized as being successful, it gets to be a somewhat daunting task of answering all of the emails and voice mails I receive. I decided to write this blog to give some tips and pointers to those who are interested in entering the home inspection field. While I will not divulge all of my secrets entirely, I will spell out in detail how to get started and some of the ideas that have worked well for me personally. Please keep in mind that home inspections are area specific and what might work in one part of the country may not work so well in other parts. Also please realize that the following is solely based on my opinion and experience in the home inspection field.

First off I will say upfront, that if you are thinking that home inspections are an easy way to make money, you really should give it some more thought. While you can make good money by becoming a home inspector, the task is not an easy one by any stretch of the imagination. You should be prepared to work long, hard hours. 12-14 hours a day is not uncommon in this field. Dirty, wet and spider infested crawlspaces, 120 degree attics and many other assorted hazards are also a part of everyday life as a home inspector. It is not a profession for the faint of heart. Also you will need to remember that you are much more than just a home inspector. You are your own customer service representative, marketing representative, bookkeeper, webmaster, phone operator, educator etc. There are many things to consider prior to entering this field. Make sure you have the time, energy and willpower to accomplish the goals you set out to acheive. Okay, now let's get to the meat of how to become an inspector.

1) First and foremost you need to check with your states licensing agency to see if your state requires home inspectors to be licensed. Many states have adopted rules and regulations on becoming a home inspector and you need to be aware of what your state actually requires. While not every state requires licensing, we will assume that it will for the remainder of this blog.

2) All of your previous construction, building or engineering experience will help, but it will not give you a free ride to entering the home inspection business. You will need to become certified. In order to become certified in most states you are required to have a minimum of 60-90 hours of training by a qualified school. Some areas have local home inspection training in a classroom/field environment. There are also many reputable online courses you can take to become certified. Again you will need to do your homework in finding out if your city has a local school that offers home inspection training. If it does not, then I would suggest an online course such as PHII www.homeinspectioninstitute.com.

3) Once you have successfully passed all of your training and become certified, you will need to take the NHIE. National Home Inspector Exam. This is typically a 200 question exam that you will need to pass in order to become licensed. Information on where and when you can take this test can be found here http://www.homeinspectionexam.org/.

4) Once you have passed your training and the NHIE, the next step is obtaining insurance. In most states the minimum requirement is general liability insurance. You need to provide proof of insurance before you can obtain your state license. A typical liability policy should run you somewhere around 550.00 a year. While not required, it is a very smart idea to also obtain an E&O (Errors and omissions) policy as well as the general liability policy. The E&O will help protect you in the event that you miss something big during an inspection. It is a bit pricey, but well worth it in my opinion. It is a heck of a lot cheaper than if you didn't have it and you wind up getting sued for missing something that you should have found during an inspection. Be prepared to shell out somewhere around 2500.00 a year for a decent E&O policy.

5) Now you are certified, passed the NHIE and you are insured. You can now obtain your license. Here in Indiana for instance, the fee for obtaining a home inspector license is 400.00 every two years. You must provide the licensing agency with your school certification, the NHIE certification and your insurance binders. Pay the applicable fee and get your license.

6) Now you need to think about the tools you will need for your business. You just can't show up to your first inspection with a flashlight and a screwdriver and expect to be taken seriously. First you need a truck. Yes I said a truck. If you show up to your first inspection in a Hyundai Sonata with a ladder strapped to the roof, you will not likely be seen as being very professional. You need a truck and you need to keep it clean at all times. A professional appearance is everything in this business. Along with a clean vehicle, you also need to be wearing clean clothes. I know it sounds funny and cliché, but imagine how you would feel being the client and your inspector shows up in a rusted out old beat up pick up and he climbs out of it wearing dirty raggedy clothes. It is a good idea to have some "work shirts" made up with your business name and slogan on them. I personally recommend www.universityfashions.com . Now I am not saying that you should wear a suit and tie to your inspections. You can however look very professional in some clean jeans, work boots and a polo shirt with your business name on them. Some home inspectors will wear khakis and polo shirt, but trust me, jeans are fine, especially when you are crawling around on your hands and knees in a 12 inch crawlspace all day.

7) Next you need to think about the basic tools you will need. The obvious things that come to mind are a ladder (6 foot step ladder as well as an extension ladder), flashlights (you can never have too many of these. I highly recommend the LED flashlights), assortment of screwdrivers, a small ratchet socket set, moisture meter, receptacle and GFCI tester, fire stick, respirator, and a digital camera. These things will at least get you started. You will most likely pick up many more tools the longer you are in business.

8) You also need to think about a logo design for your business. There are many places to have a logo design custom made. You will need to do your homework in locating the right one at the right price for you.

9) Next comes the promotional material. Business cards, flyers, brochures, pens, magnets etc. I highly recommend www.vistaprint.com for all of your promotional needs.

10) Now you need to think about what kind of reporting software you are going to use. Back in the stone age inspectors used to use 3 piece carbon paper and had hand written reports. These days that kind of reporting just will not fly. Real estate agents and buyers alike will want and expect to receive your reports electronically via email. This means you will need reporting software that you can easily transfer to a PDF file. There are many inspection software programs available. My advice is not to be taken in by all of the claims these manufacturers make. Many of them all do pretty much the same thing. You can expect to pay anywhere from 200.00 upwards to 1000.00 for some of this software. Personally I use PI reports www.bestvaluereports.com. Believe it or not it is only 50.00 and is so easy to use, it is ridiculous. It is also the easiest report in the industry for your client to understand. It has no confusing legends or acronyms built in that so many of the other much higher priced software use. I have literally received hundreds of compliments on my report, why? Because anyone can look at it and understand it. Your client will appreciate it, I promise.

Okay so now you are certified, licensed and insured, you have the truck, the clothes, the tools and the reporting software. Now you can begin doing home inspections. But where is your business going to come from? Obviously you can't just sit at home and expect your phone to start ringing with inspection calls, so what do you do? For years and years since Moses was a child, home inspectors have been under the impression that the only way to get business is by wooing real estate agents. Travelling from office to office passing out business cards and flyers, trying to convince the agents that they are the best home inspector on the face of the planet, some inspectors will even bring in lunch and little Hershey kisses trying to butter up the real estate agents in the hopes that they will get a referral or better yet, the grand prize of them all, by getting on one the real estate agents "preferred list of home inspectors" that they hand out to their clients. I am here to tell you right now that you do not need to do this. I am living proof that you do not need to compromise your integrity by succumbing to this pre-historic way of marketing yourself. Not to mention the incredible waste of precious time, money and energy involved in doing this. I talk to agents all the time concerning this subject and the response I get from them is almost unanimous. It honestly makes most agents sick to their stomach watching these grown men grovel, beg and suck up to them by using childish bribes like candy or lunch in hopes of receiving a referral. Not to mention the serious conflict of interest it poses. Nope, this business is just like any other business. You have to pay your dues the old fashioned way. HARD WORK.

I am giving you the straightforward truth here in saying that there are not too many real estate agents in this country that will take a chance on a brand new inspector, it just doesn't happen that way. You can bribe them all you want, it will do you no good. Most agents (unless they are new also) have been using the same old inspector for years and simply will not jeopardize any of their deals by trying out a new inspector. Get VERY used to that idea while in your first year of business. It will make you absolutely livid that no one will try you out. After all, you worked so hard to get this far, you have the ability, knowledge and tools needed to perform, but no one will even give you the time of day. So what do you do?

When first starting out, try marketing yourself directly to the consumer instead. Bypass the real estate agents all together and go directly to the home buyer. You will save yourself a great deal of grief and blood pressure medicine by not playing the ancient "suck up" game. So how do you market directly to the consumer? Without question your number one source to reach the consumer is the Internet. 87% of all home buyers look to the internet first when selecting an agent and or inspector. Place all that precious time you would be wasting in driving from office to office into building yourself a website. I recommend www.godaddy.com. I pay only 100.00 a year for a 10 page website and created it myself. You really do not need as much technical training as you might think. Go daddy makes it very easy for anyone to create a website. Your website is your meal ticket, I promise. Learn as much as you can about building and optimizing your website in your first year. Your second year will be well worth it. Also take advantage of all of the free classified advertising on the Internet. Places like Active rain, Craigslist, Kijiji, Topix and Olx are excellent mediums to get your business and website established. My website was only up for a week before the calls started coming in. Like it or not, the Internet is where it's at, and if you are going to succeed in starting any business, you need to have a solid Internet presence. I also recommend becoming a member of the Better Business Bureau as soon as you can join (typically 6 months to a year of being in business) as well as your local Chamber of Commerce. Both of these organizations are well known to everyone and will provide you with many networking opportunities with real people in the communities they serve.

Another thing to consider is how much you are going to charge for your services. Make sure that you have a set fee structure for all of your services before the phone starts ringing. When I first started out, I went to every home inspection company in Indianapolis and found out how much they charged. I wrote everything down, studied and studied and then placed myself strategically smack dab in the middle of all of them. You do not want to be the lowest priced inspector on the block, nor do you want to be the highest priced. Too low and they will wonder why? Too high and they will think you are just out to rip them off. Other inspectors hate to hear me say this, but like it or not it is a fact. If you want to put food on your table, you need to price yourself according to your competition and not by how good you think you are.

Now it is really all up to you. You control your own destiny. Obviously all of the above fore mentioned will do you no good if you do not do a good job. You need to be a people person (whether you really are or not), you need to be professional, in your speaking, report writing and your actions. Be honest and straightforward with your findings during an inspection. (Do NOT be afraid that if you call something out that the agent involved will never use you again). Most importantly you need to be thorough. If it takes you 5 hours to do an inspection, let it take you 5 hours. Customers like and appreciate thoroughness. Customers also like conversation. Ask them about their kids, jobs etc. Take a genuine interest in your client. After all, they are paying you good money to inspect their future home. That's a pretty big deal in most people's book. Inspect their home as if you were inspecting it for yourself or a family member. You will notice over time that by doing so will pay big dividends in the end. You will start noticing that you will be getting referrals to your past clients family members, friends and coworkers who are buying a home. You will even start noticing a few calls from real estate agents who have heard about your work from your client and are impressed with your personable, professional and thorough self. It will take some time before this happens however. Be realistic in your expectations. When you first start out, do not expect to get 5 inspections a week. You will be lucky to get that in your first month. It is a very slow process, like starting any other business. It takes lots of patience, common sense and hard work. You have to beat out your competition by providing superior work and customer service. You have to give people something that they are not used to or do not expect from a home inspector. Word will spread like wildfire after your first year in business and if you do it right, and handle yourself right, you will be a successful home inspector. Good luck.

Stay one step ahead of your competition

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:01:36 -0600

Ah yes winter, most people are out right now doing their last minute Christmas shopping, visiting relatives and going to holiday parties. This is the absolute PERFECT time to update your online profiles and classified ads. It is the BEST time to post a few blogs and add more content to your websites and optimize them for 2009!!

Internet search engines never take a day off, but a lot of your competitors do. If you put the pedal to the metal right now, you will be one step ahead of everyone come January 1. I did the very same thing last year and had a record breaking January!!

The market may be slow right now, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be too.

Home Maintenance Tips

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:51:53 -0500

As we are approaching winter (which can be the most grueling season on your home, depending on where you live), take some time to do some preventative maintenance on your largest investment...your home. All too often as Inspectors, we see and inspect homes that have not been properly taken care of. If homeowners took more pride in ownership and performed some very minuscule preventative maintenance on their homes, it would make for a much more enjoyable trip to the closing table for all parties involved.

Below are just a few tips to prepare your home for the upcoming winter months.

Check and clean or replace your furnace filters on a monthly basis during the heating season.

Have your furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company (every two years for a gas or electric furnace and every year for an oil furnace).

Bleed air from the hot water radiators, and turn the gas furnace pilot light on.

Vacuum electric baseboard heaters and registers in home to remove dust, removing the grilles on forced air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.

If the heat recovery ventilator has been shut off for the summer, clean filters and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test it.

Have well water tested for quality. This should be done once a year.

Check the sump pump and line to ensure proper operation, and that there are no line obstructions or visible leaks.

If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if it needs to be emptied before spring. Tanks should be pumped out at least once every three years.

Replace window screens with storm windows, and ensure all windows, doors and skylights shut tightly, including the door between your house and garage. Replace weather stripping if necessary.

Check bottom seal on garage door, clean or replace as necessary.

Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall to prevent water from draining into the basement.

Clean leaves from gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof, and check chimneys for nests or other obstructions.

Cover the outside of air conditioners, and drain and store outdoor hoses. Close the valve to outdoor hose connection, and drain the faucet (unless it is frost proof).

Winterize landscaping by storing outdoor furniture, preparing gardens, fertilizing yard and protecting young trees or bushes with mulch for winter.

It is also recommended that you receive a Home Maintenance Inspection every two years. For about the cost of a basic car tune-up, you can learn the condition of your home and possibly save thousands of dollars by staying on top of the basic maintenance that every home needs. You take care of yourself, your kids, your pets, and your car, Your home is no different. Doesn't it make sense to take care of one of the biggest investments you own?

Tell the oil companies where to go!

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:32:36 -0500

After responding to a previous post on gas prices and their effect on our economy and businesses, I decided to do some researching for what is coming down the pipe in the next few years as far as more fuel efficient vehicles and other alternatives. I am guessing that the majority of Inspectors drive trucks of some sort. I personally drive an F150 4.6 Ex cab w/ ladder racks. I do know of a few Inspectors who have went to the more fuel efficient small foreign cars and are somehow able to shove all of their equipment into the back. Personally that is just not an option. I am a truck man, and will always be a truck man.

So in my search, I found that Ford is rumored to be producing an F150 that is supposed to get 60 mpg by using hydraulic energy as a gas saving solution. However, Ford is not confirming this and as of right now it is only a rumor. Knowing the giant American companies, they will eventually come out with this but it will probably take them 5-10 years to do so.

I continued on my quest and lo and behold, I actually found an electric truck made right here in the good ol USA (Ontario, CA.) that will be available to the public in 2010. A bit pricey at 45,000 and the bed isn't as large as one would like, BUT it is a truck and it is total electric, 0-60 in less than 10 seconds, top speed of 95mph, Plugs into a regular 220 receptacle, and goes on a charge for over 100 miles!! Supposedly when it hits the consumer market in 2010, it will have two batteries that will allow it to go 300 miles on one charge. On top of those things, it's also a cool looking little truck. Not like some of the other funky looking electric cars and trucks out there with three wheels. I went ahead and put in my reservation for one when these become available, and in the event that Ford continues to sit on their hands.

For anyone else who might be interested, check out the Phoenix SUT and the company at http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/index.php. They are currently taking reservations for the 2010 model. I talked to them a couple of days ago, and they told me the waiting list is already nearing a year, and is growing everyday!

All I can say is, It's about time!!

The 2010 Phoenix SUT

Home Inspector Convention

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:04:02 -0500

Hey everyone, The 13th annual Inspection Expo 2008 - Changing Course in Changing Times, will be held October 20-22, 2008 at the Rio All-Suites Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Early bird registration going on now (save 200.00). The Rio is also providing attendees a special room rate of 139.00 per night. If you want to stay longer, they are honoring that price up to 3 days before and 3 days after the convention. My wife and I are making an 8 day vacation out of it. Best of all, the majority of it is tax deductible.

What better place to gain more knowledge, obtain CE credits and have a great time. I just signed up today.

For more information visit http://www.home-inspect.com/expo/

An excellent resource to learn more about the Inspection process

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:18:06 -0500

I would like to share with all of you my absolute favorite show on cable television. It also just so happens to be an excellent resource of information for buyers and sellers alike to become more familiar with the Home Inspection process. I feel it would be especially beneficial for first time home buyers to watch prior to their search. After watching this show a few times, it will give you some insight to the process involved in buying a home and having it inspected. It is sure to open some eyes.

Check out:

HOUSE DETECTIVE

Saturday mornings at 8:00am
Only on

MC2 is in the house.

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:28:07 -0500

Hey Scott, thanks for the invite! Look forward to participating in your new group.

Heatmor outdoor furnace

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:42:46 -0500

Hey guys, I need some help on this one. I have an inspection this Saturday. The home was built in 1910 and has an outdoor Heatmor Furnace. I have not ran across one of these before and was wondering if anyone could shed a little light on how to inspect it, or what to look for?? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys!!

Please take care of your home

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:08:44 -0500

Hey all,

Yesterday I did an inspection on a 1991 two story home. It was a fairly expensive home that really wasn't taken care of very well by the current owners. The overall curb appeal and interior of the home seemed very inviting, however the closer I got, the more neglect I saw.

Fascia and trim boards rotting out and just painted over.
Rotted out window sills also just painted over.
Broken seals on windows.
Original A/C Unit, Furnace and Water Heater.
The A/C units vents were damaged beyond recognition. All of the fins looked as though someone had taken a butter knife and flattened them all out.
Missing insulation on the condensor lines.
The furnace and water heater were both barely hanging on to service the current residents.
Walking around the poured slab foundation I noticed gobs and gobs of silicone squished into fairly large cracks.
In testing the receptacles, 2 outlets were found with open grounds.
Up in the attic, the exhaust vents from the bathrooms were allowed to just lay on top of the insulation and exhaust into the attic instead of the roof.
The ridge vent was covered by the roofing paper down the entire seam making for very minimal ventilation.
The current owner had replaced all of the bathroom fixtures, and they looked very nice, however none of the drain pulls worked due to poor installation method.

The list goes on and on....and this home is ONLY 17 years old!

It seems to me that a lot of people just move into a home, use it for all it is worth without maintaining anything. Then they decide to sell the home, they "slap some lipstick on a pig" and call it good to go. Then the Inspector comes in and notates all of the items that are in need of repair or replacement, and all of a sudden everyone is unhappy with the Inspector.???? I realize that it all comes with the territory, but if the seller of a home just took the time and the little bit of effort it takes to maintain the home, 1) It would certainly sell a lot faster and 2) would help avoid some of the emotional roller coaster effect that comes with selling a home. A properly maintained home is everyones dream, and a home in need of lots of work is everyones nightmare.

I am sure the seller would want the same courtesy in their new home. So take care of your home people. Properly maintain it and you will get more enjoyment out of your home, and come selling time, more money out of it, and less headaches at the closing table for doing so.

Soaking the Home Inspector

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:03:36 -0500

I just read a recent post here on A.R. that prompted me to write this.

Does it ever seem to any of you that EVERYONE and their mother is out to soak the home inspector? Surely it cant be just me. I am bombarded with phone calls and emails everyday from solicitors offering me everything from top placement on Google and Yahoo for 359.00 (which are all total scams) to offering me marketing cd's and tapes for 485.00. Where does it end? I have had actual Real Estate offices call me and act like they are all interested in me and my business only to find out they just want me to fork out 600.00 just to be on their list. (Keller Williams in particular). I have had people contact me telling me they will put together an email marketing plan for me at the mere price of 850.00.

Quite honestly I am afraid to answer my phone anymore. It is absolutely ridiculous. I actually did a search on Google just 15 minutes ago for "home inspector marketing" 853,000 hits came up!! WOW!! Even here on A.R. They are all over the place, just trying to squeeze every dollar out of our wallets. Calling themselves "coaches" or "Marketing strategists" guaranteeing to increase your business by a thousand percent for a thousand dollars. It amazes me how saturated this industry is with these kinds of people. It is sickening.

Now I am not saying that some of these programs don't work, I am sure some of them actually do, but good lord almighty, whatever happened to old school, balls to the wall self marketing?

To test or not to test?

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:29:56 -0500

So I have decided to actually ask a real question related to home inspections rather than continue to harp on the conflict of interest thing (at least for a little while :-)

My question relates to the testing of Radon as an added service to the regular home inspections. I already do Mold testing, and WDI inspections and thought for a while about adding Radon monitoring. Now I have seen these Siren pro series 3 continuous Radon monitors selling on the Internet for 119.95. I have also seen my competition charging upwards to 250.00 for a 48 hour Radon test. My question is this...Why would a client pay 250.00 for a one time Radon test, when they can buy these monitors for 119.95 and monitor Radon in the home all year long?

I am not so sure I could sleep at night if I added Radon testing to my services because of this. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I missing something? Is there a difference?

Peace

Safety Siren Pro Series 3 Radon Gas Detector Monitor

Fight the good fight

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:26:04 -0500

I have decided to post this blog across all areas of Active Rain due to the seriousness of this issue. There have been many posts on here concerning this issue and it has brought up a great deal of controversial opinions from both sides. (Realtors and Inspectors). The fact that there are so many different opinions concerning this matter should only illustrate how big of a problem this really is. There have been a select few of us here on A,R that have been trying to convey this message to everyone and help them all understand the importance of this issue. What I am speaking of is the Inherit conflict of Interest between Realtors and Home Inspectors.

There is another post here on A.R. that concerns this very issue called "Are we next". In that post (down the page) is a link to an article of a new law trying to get passed in Kansas. I will post it here for those of you who have not seen it.

http://cjonline.com/stories/031008/opi_255434546.shtml

It appears that the Realtors there are actually trying to take control over the inspection Industry legally, and I think it is time we all try and do something about it.

I have already sent out this letter to my 3 state representatives, 2 congressmen, the Mayor and the Governor of the state of Indiana. I URGE anyone and everyone out there who feels the same way to do the same. It only takes a few minutes of time to do so. All you need to do is Yahoo or Google " State representative and your state" It took me a total of 15 minutes to type this up and copy and paste to my representatives. This is our bread and butter people, and we need to stand up and do something about the injustice in this industry, before we are on the wrong end of the stick. If we all just sit around and do nothing about this, we will have no one else to blame but ourselves.

Please feel free to copy and paste my letter to your state representative.

Mr Steve Buyer,

I am writing to you to express my concern over the conflict of interest that exists between real estate agents and home inspectors. I would like to see some kind of law entered in Indiana that would prohibit real estate agents/brokers from being able to recommend home inspectors to their clients.

The reason being is that agents have a vested interest in the sale of a property. The current norm is they hand out a list of 3 recommended home inspectors to their clients. Not in all cases, but in MANY, the inspectors on that list have either paid money to be on the list, or they are known as being "soft" so that the sale of the property goes through, the agents get their commissions, and the home inspector gets to remain on the list. Either way it is a serious code of ethics violation on both parties.

There is, in my opinion a great conflict of interest with the way the current system is. The biggest problem in my opinion is that a lot of real estate agents act as if they own the inspection industry (they certainly do have a huge influence on which inspectors get the most work) and now they are even trying to pass a law in Kansas #HB2315 that would give THEM certain control over the inspection industry. That is wrong. A home inspector's duty is to act as an independent, unbiased and objective third party and provide pertinent information to his/her client (usually the buyer) during a real estate transaction.

Being an independent home inspector myself, this is an issue of great concern for me and my family. Anything you could do to bring this to the forefront would greatly be appreciated by me as well as my peers that share the same belief.

Thank you for your time.

Mike Chamberlain
MC2 Home Inspections
317-605-3432

Foreclosure Inspections?

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:09:32 -0600

Hey everyone, I have a question,

After reading Scotts post about surviving when it's slow, I thought a little bit about Foreclosure inspections. This seemed to make sense to me since I live in Indiana and we are ranked numero uno in Foreclosures. I came across this website the other day http://www.foreclosurebankinspector.com/ and being the sceptic that I am, wasn't sure if this was a scam or not. I was wondering is anyone else either has seen this, knows about this, or has done this before. Is this for real?

Thanks for any feedback

Mike Chamberlain
MC2 Home Inspections
www.mc2inspections.com

Wild goose chase?

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:42:48 -0600

O.K. So I get this call on Tuesday from a woman asking me to inspect a home that she is considering buying. It was a little home, waaaayyyyyyy out in the country, probably, oh about 30-35 miles outside of my service area, but I figured well, it's a little slow right now, what the heck, I'll go ahead and do it. I took all of her information down, name, phone number etc. Then got the skinny on the house, a 1936 1 1/2 story home with a basement, approx 1200 sq ft. out in BFE. I got the address from her and repeated it several times to make sure, as it was one of "those" addresses, you know like, 105236 N. E. County Rd. 6000 W. SE. Confirmed everything for Thursday and I was good to go.

Thursday comes, I get the truck all ready and gassed up for my 1 1/2 hour jaunt to the country. I've got my Yahoo map printout with complete step by step directions on how to get there....and I'm off. An hour and a half later as I am driving down this gravel road in the middle of a cornfield, I began to get a sinking feeling in my stomach that something wasn't right. Oh I found the road all right and there actually were some homes out here. Only problem was, that none of them had the address that I was looking for. Oh I found the before address, and the after address, but what was in between was a cornfield.

So after making crop circles for about 1/2 hour, I called the client to verify everything, only to get their answering machine. So I left a very nice, professional message stating that I was out in the middle of nowhere, making crop circles, and could not locate their house, PLEASE call me back. Another 1/2 hour, 45 minutes later, no call back, having gone down every gravel road, getting stuck in a mud pit for 15 minutes, burned a half a tank of gas,and a 1/2 pack of cigarettes later, I decided to give up the fight and drag my weary behind back to the city.

I get back home, tired, beaten down, and needing a car wash badly to get all of the mud and corn husks off the side of my truck. I get greeted by my wonderful wife (god bless having a wonderful woman by your side) who was the voice of reason, telling me it could have been worse, and things weren't all THAT bad. And she was right.

Fast forward to this morning, I check my phone and I have a voice mail. Can you guess who it was? You got it, my clients husband calling me back 5 1/2 hours after the inspection was to take place. Sounding angry he told me that they waited at the house for 2 hours for me and proceeded to tell me how unhappy he was with me. The next words out of his mouth just made my jaw drop, he said, and I quote...."If you call us back, we'll give you the right address this time and directions on how to get there, so lets do it tomorrow or Saturday. If you don't call me back, I'll just call someone else to do it"

Needless to say, they will be getting someone else to do this job.

Lessons learned from me?

Always call back and confirm appointment, address and phone number
Know your service area, and stick to it
When applied with mud, corn husks are an excellent alternative to bricks as a building material

Anyone else out there have a similar story? Please share.

Peace

Mike Chamberlain
MC2 Home Inspections, Indianapolis
http://www.mc2inspections.com/

Mold issues continue to spread

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:25:23 -0600

I came across an interesting article concerning Mold lately, and I thought I would share it with everyone. Mold is becoming more and more prevelant in todays real estate transactions. As jury's continue to award damages to plaintifs across the country, it is only a matter of time until Mold really hits the forefront. I think it is in all of our best interests to become familiar with Mold, it's causes and effects as well as the inspection and remediation of it.

Homes have been razed and schools emptied in recent years, as Indiana residents and families nationwide increasingly attribute ill health and property damage to the phenomenon of mold.

Although mold in itself is nothing new, its contamination has become a financial and legal nightmare for property owners and insurance agents.

More than 10,000 mold-related lawsuits are pending across the country, and two jury awards given last year topped $30 million, according to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Whether the result of media hype and zealous trial lawyers, or a legitimate increasing awareness of a long-overlooked health risk, fear of mold contamination has seeped into the nation's consciousness.

A handful of states, including Indiana, has proposed legislation to research mold and look at how to regulate it. The federal government also is examining the problem: the Centers for Disease Control recently commissioned the Institute of Medicine to study the health effects of mold exposure.

And the Indiana Chamber will sponsor its third symposium on mold in January, one of a handful of presentations sprouting across the state. The forums are for concerned homeowners and parents, health professionals and the businesses most likely to be affected by the costs of cleaning mold contamination.

"There has been a lot of hysteria about mold," said Jack Leonard, president of the Environmental Management Institute in Indianapolis, a nonprofit training corporation affiliated with Indiana University.

Health effects

Internet sites are filled with horror stories of "toxic mold" and inspectors willing to come in -- albeit for a hefty fee -- to clean the fungi.

Leonard dismissed much of the media attention and the dire health warnings about mold, however.

"None of the lawsuits have been won on basis of its proven health effects," he said. "Proving that you got sick from a specific toxin from a specific mold is beyond where the science on mold is today."

There are more than 100,000 species of mold -- a fungus that thrives in moisture and is not typically hazardous to healthy people -- according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

"Mold is everywhere; it is the most common life form in the world," said Dr. William Baker, an assistant professor and allergy specialist at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Although it is well-documented that inhaling mold spores can worsen and cause both allergy and asthma symptoms, there is no medical proof that exposure to it results in more serious health problems, Baker said.

"All of the claims now on the Internet about mold, the memory loss, hemorrhaging, numbness -- there is just no cause and effect where those claims can be proven," he said. "Most of the claims are just not reliable complaints that we can attribute to mold exposure."

Helene Uhlman, administrator of the Hammond Health Department, said concerns about the health effects are not overblown.

"We are looking at a lot more children with asthma and allergies and at the same time learning a lot more about mold," she said. "We really didn't pay as much attention as we should have before. Now that we are finding out more and more, we know we underestimated the types and varieties of mold."

Although most experts cringe at the term "toxic mold," some molds do produce toxins.

A small group of molds -- including the notorious "black mold" called stachybotrys -- emit chemicals called mycotoxins. It is those chemicals that may be hazardous if they become airborne in large quantities.

However, all mold that is dark green or black is not the toxin-producing black mold.

For instance, the dark mold commonly found between bathroom tiles is not black mold, according to John Ruyack, program manager for the state health department's indoor and radiologic health division.

"There are toxic molds, but I wouldn't be concerned if I had a spot on the wall," he said. "But if I walked into my basement, and the entire wall was covered, I'd have serious problems.

"That would be a different story. (Mold problems) depend on levels and sensitivities," Ruyack said.

Lack of standards

That degree of uncertainty is partly why mold has become such a vexing problem.

Because there are so many different types of mold and people react so differently to them, there is not a certain level of contamination at which mold is deemed hazardous.

"Unlike lead or asbestos, there is no number to pinpoint as a marker, meaning that if your (property) is below this number you're safe," Leonard said. "There is no science that would support those kinds of guidelines."

And also unlike lead and asbestos, mold is not regulated by the state or federal government. But Leonard said the recent response to mold is reminiscent of the asbestos scare in the 1980s.

"There was initial panic and then people learned how to contain and manage it. I think mold will evolve in the same direction, but it's more of a problem," he said. "Mold is more complex to deal with than asbestos was, so it will take longer to get industry standards up and running."

In the meantime, disgruntled and sick homeowners may be left with mold damage to repair and lawsuits to be filed.

Mike Chamberlain,MICP
MC2 Home Inspections
http://www.mc2inspections.com/

Inspector vs Inspector

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:49:00 -0600

O.K. what's the deal with Home Inspectors constantly dogging each other?

As I sift through the hundreds of Home Inspector groups and blogs on A.R. There is one constant I keep seeing over and over again, and that is, Inspector after Inspector ragging on other Inspectors for whatever reason. Oh this Inspector calls himself "Certified" and he is a hack, or don't fall for all of the Acronyms after their name, they went to school at the Leroy Brown school of Home Inspections, or any moron could have found that defect. Come on guys, stop the madness. It just turns my stomach to see so many people in our profession just acting like a bunch of little kids. Is everyone really THAT arrogant? Do most Inspectors REALLY think that they are the best, the almighty expert of everything and everyone else is just a cookie cutter?

If you live in a state like I do (Indiana), where you "HAVE" to be certified and licensed to be a home Inspector, it is NOT easy to become a Home Inspector, and you ARE going to tell people you are certified and licensed, because that is the law. To become an Inspector in these states is very hard, and it is quite an accomplishment when you do become one. I for one DO tell everyone I meet.."Yes I am certified and licensed" and I am darn proud to say so. I busted my tail to get where I am, and I will be doggone if I am going to let one of my peers call me some "hack" or say that I don't deserve to be in this business.

There is enough Jealousy and hatred in this world already, we do not need this kind of behavior in this profession. Yes, we are in some competition with others in our service area, but what gives one person the right to judge another in a derogatory manner just to make themselves look like they are the Messiah of Home Inspectors?

Instead what we should be doing is banning together, and help one another. Share ideas, and experiences so that we can continue to learn and provide superior service to our clients.

Peace

Mike J Chamberlain, MICP
MC2 Home Inspections
www.mc2inspections.com

Time to say hi to everyone from Indy

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:00:11 -0600

Hey everyone,

Greetings to all of A.R. from the great state of Indiana!! I am relatively new to A.R. I've been on here for a few weeks now and I am just learning how everything works. 2008 is here and along with a new year comes the hopes that it will be a better year than the last one. My business is up and running on 6 out of 8 cylinders. Lord willing 2008 will be the year I get an 8 cylinder. I welcome any and all communication from A.R. members to help me get there.

I wish everyone the best for the new year!

Mike Chamberlain, MICP
MC2 Home Inspections
www.mc2inspections.com

MC2 Home Inspections Indianapolis

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:40:21 -0600

We are a fully certified, licensed and insured home inspection company. Proudly serving the entire Indianapolis Metro area. Indiana owned and operated. Member of NACHI and IAC2. Also an accredited member of the Central Indiana Better Business Bureau, the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce and Angie's List. Offering full service residential home inspections. Easy to read, detailed reports with digital photos are emailed in PDF format within 24 hrs. We are available 7 days a week 8:00am - 4:00pm for all of your inspection needs.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Residential Home Inspections
Pre-listing Home Inspections
Home Maintenance Inspections
Condominium Inspections
Builder Warranty Inspections
Real Estate Investor Inspections
Indiana Housing Authority Inspections
Mold Inspections and Testing
Wood Destroying Pest Inspections
Complete Water Analysis
Lead Based Paint Testing

Call today to schedule your inspection 317-605-3432 or visit us online at http://www.mc2inspections.com

Proudly serving the entire Indianapolis Metro area.

Cities Include Avon Indiana, Danville Indiana, Clayton Indiana, Clermont Indiana, Brownsburg Indiana, Speedway Indiana, Plainfield Indiana, Indianapolis Indiana, Camby Indiana, Zionsville Indiana, Lebanon Indiana, Fishers Indiana, Noblesville Indiana, Carmel Indiana, Westfield Indiana, Cumberland Indiana, Lawrence Indiana, McCordsville Indiana, Beech Grove Indiana, New Palestine Indiana, Southport Indiana, Greenwood Indiana, Mooresville Indiana, Monrovia Indiana, Whiteland Indiana, New Whiteland Indiana, and Bargersville Indiana.

Marion County, Johnson County, Hendricks County, Morgan County, Boone County, Hamilton County, and portions of Hancock County.

Mike Chamberlain, MICP
Owner/Chief inspector
MC2 Home Inspections
317-605-3432
www.mc2inspections.com

Home inspection marketing, what to do and does it work?

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:52:50 -0600

Hello,

I am relatively new to Active rain. I am a Home Inspector. I am doing a fairly aggressive marketing campaign for 2008. I thought I would do it in stages. Stage 1 was to obtain a dominant presence on the Internet, and I believe I have done that, I am listed pretty high on both Yahoo and Google. Stage 2 was (and still is) aggressive email marketing. Stage 3 is aggressive direct mail marketing, utilizing postcards, flyer's etc. and Stage 4 is to "Hit the streets" and go person to person, introducing myself to every person within a 50 mile radius of Indianapolis.

So there you have it, that's my plan anyway, does anyone out there have any other suggestions or advice? What has worked for you?

Thanks for any feedback!!

Mike

Home inspection marketing, what to do and does it work?

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:17:39 -0600

Hello,

I am relatively new to Active rain as well as the Home Inspection business. I started my company about 2 months ago, and have done a total of 6 inspections so far. I am fully trained, certified, licensed and Insured. I am doing a fairly aggressive marketing campaign. I thought I would do it in stages. Stage 1 was to obtain a dominant presence on the Internet, and I believe I have done that, I am listed pretty high on both Yahoo and Google. Stage 2 was (and still is) aggressive email marketing. Stage 3 is aggressive direct mail marketing, utilizing postcards, flyer's etc. and Stage 4 is to "Hit the streets" and go person to person, introducing myself to every Realtor within a 50 mile radius of Indianapolis.

So there you have it, that's my plan anyway, does anyone out there have any suggestions or advice on how I can get my business really going?

Thanks for any feedback!!

Mike