ASHI Secretary Frank Lesh is working with the Chicago Tribune on a story for the “New Homes” section about identifying problems with new construction, particularly model homes.
Inspecting new homes also is the focus of a story for the Chicago suburban Daily Herald, and is being developed with the help of ASHI Director Chuck Bellefontaine, Chicagoland Home and Building Inspections, Bolingbrook, Ill. And new is the focus for a story in the works at Realtytimes.com, with ASHI Past President Mike Casey, Inspection Training and Associates, Haymarket, Va., and ASHI President-Elect Don Norman, HouseMaster Home Inspection Services, Bridgeton, Mo., providing input.
Checking out the technology
Don Norman is also teaming up with ASHI Vice President Joe Corsetto, Shelterworks, Dover, N.J., and the business reporter at the Times Record (Arkansas) on a story about the benefits of new infrared and thermal imaging.
Expectations addressed
An article by ASHI Member Mark Oldroyd, A Realty Check, Wildwood, Mo., appeared in the real estate section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In the article, “A home inspection can prove to be invaluable,” Oldroyd explained what to expect from a home inspection and why to hire an ASHI inspector to do it.
The Chicago Tribune ran the in-depth article, “Inspected…but not detected.” The sub-head explained, “Buyers find a professional checkup doesn’t guarantee a defect-free home.” Rich Matzen, then ASHI President, contributed to the article. He said, “Home inspection is by definition a visual inspection of readily accessible components.” Matzen operates Home Buyers Inspections in Seattle, Wash.
Grabbing headlines
The headline in the business section of The Daily News, Iron Mountain-Kingsford, Mich. read, “Home inspection business opens in IM.” ASHI Member Joe Arcaro, HouseTek Professional Home Inspections, Iron Mountain, Mich. welcomed the publicity and shared the spotlight with ASHI. He said, “Obtaining an ASHI inspector increases a homeowner’s chances of getting a professional who is experienced and knowledgeable,” also suggesting readers check ASHI.org on the Internet.
Arlene Puentes, who is an ASHI Candidate with logo use, was featured in the Poughkeepsie Journal’s “Celebrating women section.” The owner of October Home Inspections in Kingston, N.Y., related how she turned her love for building into a career, and advised young women interested in entering the field, “It’s not an easy field to enter, but it’s not a field that can’t be entered. It is a tremendous responsibly and a lot of work, but I want women to understand that there are options. It may be difficult, but if you put in the time, you will get what you want.”
C. Colin Albert, P.E., of Albert Consulting Engineering Services, Brooklyn, N.Y., first contributed to the New York Times article, “ABC’s (and XYZ’s) of Home Buying.” His advice about having a home inspected continues to be heard because the newspaper reprinted the article as a booklet. In addition, Albert spoke at two New York Times Homebuyers’ Seminars.
ASHI Director Jim Rooney, Freestate Home Inspections, Annapolis, Md., is a regular columnist for newspapers in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. He reports the circulation for his columns is approximately 400,000 and that he is rated right behind “Dilbert” as a reader favorite. Of course, ASHI is mentioned regularly.
Publicis Dialogue, ASHI’s public relations consulting firm, continues to write and distribute press releases, which are picked up by publications across the county each month. The firm also organizes media tours for ASHI’s leaders, has been instrumental in the development of The ASHI Experience and provides the Society with the professional services required to promote ASHI through the media. Nevertheless, the basic factor responsible for the Society’s current high profile is the willingness of individual ASHI inspectors to participate in and support media activities—as usual, the credit goes to the Membership.
