e010731 Is a pre-move planner that includes advertising sent to clients a violation of the CoE?

Identifier: e010731

Date: 12/06/2001

Question

So, we plan to send the homebuyer the Pre-Move Planner using the Home Inspector's addresses from the pending sale. Advertisers in the Pre-Move Planner also have the option of sending a follow-up piece under their own branding to the homebuyer, but we handle the fulfillment to protect the customer list. The Home Inspector receives a fixed payment per address and a share of advertising revenues generated. . . . We have tried to build a system that protects this customer data: it supports marketing for a limited, controlled number of advertisers in the Pre-Move Planner and is not shared indiscriminately. NONE of the Home Inspection information about condition, features, etc. gathered during the inspection is collected or used in any way." Under the current ASHI Code of Ethics, would the above program be a violation?

Response

The practice as described is not strictly prohibited by the current ASHI Code of Ethics. However, members who promote their inspections as "confidential" but also sell client information (without consent) might be viewed as violating CoE #2.