Prioritizing Integrity & Safety

I believe it is essential for home inspectors to gain insights from their peers regarding the experiences and journeys that lead to success in the home and commercial inspection industry. It is particularly important for emerging inspectors to learn from seasoned professionals, especially those who are now retired, about the key elements that contribute to their success as well as the challenges that can undermine an inspector’s career and business.

The ASHI Reporter is a helpful tool in which inspectors can exchange information and communicate. I hope articles like these, and encouragement for other ASHI inspectors past and present to submit articles and ideas, will motivate others to engage and participate in this valuable exchange of knowledge.

In my retirement practice, I undertake specialized and forensic assignments involving properties that are part of civil and criminal litigation, which extends beyond traditional home inspections. With this article, I have included photos of a set of stairs I recently evaluated for a law firm. Throughout my years as a home and commercial building inspector, I have rarely encountered a situation as precarious and unsafe as the staircase in this home, currently undergoing renovation. 

Due to miscalculations in the dimensions necessary to construct the staircase to code, the contractor failed to adhere to the required riser height and tread depth for safe passage in compliance with current building regulations. To accommodate the proper length of the staircase, which would have resulted in the stringers encroaching upon half the hallway width at the base, the contractor had to cut each stair tread. Consequently, individuals must navigate the stairs by placing their feet in alternating cutouts, which presents a significant safety hazard. Additionally, one of the stringers was improperly situated on top of two electrical receptacle boxes on the floor, thereby obstructing the installation of the bottom step.

Advice 

As a retired ASHI member, my advice to home inspectors and those entering the home and commercial inspection industry is straightforward: Never sell your integrity and knowledge to the low bidder. If you sell yourself cheap, people see you as cheap. Doing so can tarnish your reputation among clients and business associates, revealing your true character and values.

Your clients serve as ambassadors, sharing positive experiences about your work even when a field of characters attempt to impugn your integrity. Conversely, if you engage in unethical practices, those same clients will be quick to expose your dishonesty, lack of expertise, and ultimate motives. This undermines your credibility and diminishes the likelihood of referrals from clients and agents, who understand you and the true nature of your work.

Build a successful business and earn the respect of your clients. It is essential to maintain rigorous standards and perform each inspection assignment with profound scrutiny. Prioritizing integrity in your professional conduct is crucial for long-term respect and success.

Evolution of a Career 

During my active membership, I greatly valued the trust and camaraderie fostered among ASHI members across the US. To the best of my knowledge, in 1973, I was the first home inspector in the state of Georgia. In the late 1970s, I played a pivotal role in organizing home inspectors and forming the Georgia Board of Professional Home Inspectors, which ultimately led to the formation of the Georgia Association of Home Inspectors (GAHI). Along with my colleague and friend, Joe Cooper, a home inspector, we organized the inaugural meeting of home inspectors at Houlihan’s restaurant in Atlanta. This event brought together 16 inspectors for an evening of networking, dinner, and camaraderie.

As the first liaison between the GAHI and then-Governor Zell Miller’s office, I also served as chairman of the GAHI education committee, where I established the first school for home inspectors interested in becoming certified in Georgia’s mandated building codes. This initiative was aimed to equip inspectors with the necessary skills to successfully pass Georgia’s brutal exam in mandated building codes for certification. The school is named in honor of my friend Tim Birch, who was the inaugural instructor. Tragically, Tim passed away shortly after the school’s launch; however, our efforts significantly improved the code certification examination pass rate from 12 to 80% on first attempt.

My academic foundation in building codes and inspections, residential and commercial, was cultivated at the University of Georgia (UGA), where I participated in the inaugural Georgia State Building Code examination and earned UGA certifications in building codes and inspector certification in residential and commercial building applications. Following this achievement, I served as a building code discussion leader for architects, engineers, attorneys, and home inspectors for the following three-and-a-half years. 

Later, I studied basic wood science at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and became a certified professional hardwood floor inspector. I successfully passed the Federal Expert Witness Processing Program under the scrutiny of appointed federal attorneys. My structure and wood flooring credentials were approved by Senior Federal Judge Marvin Shoob and are registered in the US Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the Atlanta Division. This launched another leg of my business—expert witness testimony and litigation support services—which involves networking with approximately 300 trial lawyers.  

As my career and acquired education progressed, I shifted my focus from routine inspections to serving a more affluent clientele, often spanning state lines and acquiring business from clients in foreign countries. A former employer of mine was a first cousin of President Carter, which provided me with unique opportunities within elite circles. My area of expertise drew a clientele consisting of individuals who either owned or were purchasing luxury and mega homes, as well as those involved in civil and criminal litigation. This level of clients anticipated and expected a higher standard of service than is typically offered by general home inspectors. 

To cater to this discerning market, I announced my Rolls-Royce class service, joined the international Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club, invested in a gorgeous Rolls-Royce, outfitted it with my clients’ preferred beverage and music, and communicated the advantages of transportation in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce over traditional taxi service when in town. This approach resonated well with high-end clientele demanding quality and secrecy, leading to fruitful business relationships. The rest is history. 

“No individual should be exposed to extreme incompetence or the hazardous conditions discovered during the inspection and depicted in the photo images,” Retired ASHI Inspector Jeff Pope says. “Vulnerable occupants, including children and the elderly, as well as anyone who travels up and down these steps, may fall victim at any time, regardless of their awareness of the risk and danger present. This discovery is just another reason why there should be more emphasis placed on litigation support by active ASHI inspectors.” 

Opinions or statements of authors are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of ASHI, its agents, or editors. Always check with your local governmental agency and independently verify for accuracy, completeness, and reliability.