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As the New Year approaches, I want to wish each and every one of you a happy and prosperous new year. I'm proud to say that January 1st, 2007 will mark TIJ's fifth anniversary, and that this newsletter now reaches thousands of inspectors across the Continent and overseas. We are now the world's largest independent resource for home inspectors.

TIJ's success is due to you, the inspectors in the TIJ family. By submitting articles to TIJ, participating on TIJ's forums and freely sharing what you know with other inspectors, you help all home inspectors to become better at what we do. Ultimately, that improves our overall professional image and credibility in the eyes of consumers. Without you, TIJ is nothing, so I'm eternally grateful to each and every one of you for your participation.

Lest I forget, I also want to thank our sponsors - DevWave Software, Home Inspector Essentials and OREP E&O Insurance - for the continued support that keeps TIJ free for all our users. A special thanks to DevWave who sponsor our bandwidth and are responsible for 100% of the site programming that makes TIJ what it is.

Though TIJ has grown, its mission statement remains the same - to inform and educate home inspectors, thereby helping them to become better inspectors and ultimately increase their bottom line. I hope to be able to continue to do that for many years to come.

Happy New Year!

Mike O'Handley, Editor

TIJ Members Get 10% Off Home Inspector Tools Posted: Fri, 22 Dec 2006
Home Inspector Essentials Holiday Special "It doesn't matter if you've been naughty or nice, call with your wish and you'll get the best price!" Home Inspector Essentials, is currently offering all TIJ subscribers a 10% discount on anything in their online store. Sorry thermal imaging products do not qualify...

Why Headers Without Lateral Support Twist Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2006
By Ted J. Osterberger, P.E.; David M. Nelson, P.E.; and Frank E. Woeste, Ph.D., P.E. Lateral support of deep multiple-ply beams to prevent twisting in service is extremely important to ensure proper product application. Without lateral support on the compression side, the natural tendency of a...

FLIR ITC Announces Its 2007 Course Schedule Posted: Tue, 12 Dec 2006
Boston - December 12
FLIR Systems, Inc. has announced the 2007 schedule for the fully certified infrared training courses offered by its dedicated Infrared Training Center (ITC). The ITC will offer courses at its headquarters in North Billerica, MA, just a few miles north of Boston, and in citi...

Johnny Learns the Truth About Home Inspections Posted: Fri, 24 Nov 2006
By Mike O'Handley - Editor, TIJ
Johnny just got into the business and has been told that the average inspector in his area does about 400 inspections a year. Being a realist, he figures that's an inflated figure and plans to shoot for 200 jobs a year. He wants to net $60K after overhead and...

Understanding Finances: The Bean Team Posted: Thu, 23 Nov 2006
By Ellen Rohr
The following story is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. If you think this story is about you...you are probably right.
The Martyr and the Intimidator
Leslie is the owner of a roofing company, a business she inherited from her father. Back in the d...

2007 NAHB International Builder's Show Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
Washington - November 20 More than 100,000 housing professionals are expected to descend on Orlando, Fla., for the 2007 International Builders' Show (IBS). Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the housing industry's largest annual light construction trade show and exhibitio...

WIN Inspections Offers Veterans a Leg Up Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
RISMEDIA, November 9, 2006 In honor Veterans Day and the men and women who have bravely served our country, WIN Home Inspection has announced that it now offers a 25% discount on the franchise fee for qualifying military veterans in cooperation with the VetFran program. WIN had previously offered...

BuildScanIR Network Partners with Infraspection Posted: Tue, 21 Nov 2006
Greensboro, NC - November 03 
BuildScanIR Network, the largest group of private infrared (IR) thermographers in North America, announces a partnership with Infraspection Institute, the industry's premier on-line training experts, to provide infrared training and certification for its members. ...

PHS Home Services Going After Sellers Market Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2006
CINCINNATI, OH - October 10, 2006
Packaged Home Solutions, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: PKGH) www.packagedhomesolutions.com -- ("PHS" or "The Company"), has formed PHS Home Services, Inc. (www.PHSHomeServices.com) as a subsidiary. This subsidiary has introduced an innovative "Designed to Sell" (DTS) package...

Pocket PC Inspector Feedback Needed Posted: Fri, 17 Nov 2006
Inspect Express is putting the final touches on its stand alone Pocket PC Inspection Software and is looking for a few inspectors to provide some feedback and testing on a variety of different Pocket PC's platforms. The new product will be of ...

Scott Electric Co. Recalls Counterfeit Breakers Posted: Thu, 16 Nov 2006
Washington D.C. - November 16 Today, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Scott Electric Company Inc., of Greensburg, PA, recalled about 30,000 counterfeit "Square D" circuit breakers made in China and sold by Scott distributorships throughout Pennsylvania and Texas from May 2005 to...

To view TIJ's older articles Click here... 

Need a New Laptop: Think About a Hummer Posted: Tue, 12 Dec 2006
In this review on HGTVPro.com, a professional remodeler puts one of Itronix's new ruggedized Hummer brand laptops through 6 weeks of hell and does everything he can to break it. Apparently, Panasonic's Toughbook computers finally have a...

BC HI's Are In A Tizzy Over Minister's Attitude Posted: Tue, 12 Dec 2006
Home inspectors in British Columbia are pretty steamed at the attitude toward home inspectors displayed by that province's Solicitor General, Mr. John Les. In this series of articles and videos, inspectors explain how Les disrespected them, and even went so far as to say that he'd tried to...

Mandatory H.I. Certification Is Real in the U.K. Posted: Tue, 12 Dec 2006
Although the mandatory aspect of home condition reports (HCR's) has been removed from the new requirement for home information packs (HIPs) in the U.K., the government is still requiring home inspectors who will be doing voluntary HCR's and energy audits to submit to a nationwide certification...

ABC Puts Arizona Inspectors Under the Microscope Posted: Tue, 05 Dec 2006
In this ABC News piece, an investigative news team in Phoenix uses hidden cameras and a previously inspected home to compare the thoroughness of 5 different home inspection companies...

Inspector Misses a Recalled Product Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
In this Barry Stone Q & A, a consumer asks Barry Stone whether here home inspector should have known about a major furnace recall...

Article Details 44 Ways to Shave Energy Costs Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
This article in this month's issue of Popular Mechanics Magazine details dozens of ways that homeowners can shave energy costs and a printable copy would make an excellent handout for clients...

Report Focuses on Lack of Inspector Regulations Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
This Kiro& (Seattle) news report focuses on the lack of any sort of regulation for home inspectors in Washington State...

Grainger Acquires Professional Equipment Inc. Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
According to an AP report in Kiplinger Forcasts.com, W.W. Grainger announced that it intends to purchase Professional Equipment Inc. and Construction Book Express...

The Builder Isn't Wrapped Too Tight Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
In this November 12th article in The Cincinnati Inquirer an Ohio couple is in a dispute with a bulder over a $124,000 repair to a leaking brick veneer home that, according to a home inspector hired by the couple, hasn't got any underlayment or through-wall flashings behind the brick...

Weak Cell Phone Reception at Home? Get a Booster! Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
Most of us get good cell phone reception at home. However, there are a some who need to walk outside onto a deck or walk up and down their streets to get a good signal. For these folks, a cell phone booster may be the answer. An article in this month's HGTVPro describes the pros and cons of one...

To view TIJ's news archives Click here... 

ASHI Inspection World 2007 Event Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007
2007 International ACHR Exposition in Dallas Event Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007
2007 NAHB International Builder's Show Event Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2007
NAHI 2007 National Education Conference in Vegas Event Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007
A.I.B.S. Annual Conference - Adelaide, Australia Event Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2007
NADCA 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition Event Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2007
2007 ACI Home Performance Conference in Cleveland Event Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007
NACHI Annual Convention 2007 Event Date: Thu, 17 May 2007
NEHA 71st Annual Education Conference & Exposition Event Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007

If any organization has an event to submit for the next newsletter, it can be submitted here. 

Want to beef up your information/educational inventory? Every issue of TIJ Update, we'll be adding links to newly discovered pubs of interest to home inspectors that are free on the internet for downloading:

Free Guide: Stucco Over APA-Rated Wood Panels Posted: Tue, 12 Dec 2006
This guide from the APA - Engineered Wood Association describes how and why to apply APA rated sheathing as a substrate for stucco to assure a superior, long-lasting finish. To download a free pdf. copy of the guide click here. Editor's note: You must be a "member" to download free online...

TIJ Consolidates Its Free Downloads Forums Posted: Sun, 26 Nov 2006
In order to ensure that our readers aren't inadvertently missing useful information, and to make it easier for TIJ's member's to post information to the site, we've eliminated the Free Online Education Forum, that had been located in the Association and Training Forums area, and have rolled all of...

Free Downloadable Truss Joist Framer's Pocket Guide Posted: Thu, 23 Nov 2006
For those that haven't seen a manual for Engineered Joists, Truss Joist has a Framer’s Pocket Guide to the iLevel™ Trus Joist® Frameworks® Building System. You can download the guide now in PDF format by clicking here. Many thanks to Terry McCann, Harbor Light Inspection services, Sagamore...

RPA Offers a Great Selection of Online Training Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
The Radiant Panel Association (RPA) recently debuted it's online training program - RPA Campus - and has already developed a plethora of home study courses, live online seminars and pre-recorded seminars, dealing with radiant heating systems, that inspectors can take advantage of from the comfort of...

Free Online Traditional Stucco Basics Course Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2006
Traditional Stucco Basics for the Architectural Specifier is a free on-line course available at Residential Architect Online's distance learning site. the course includes the basics of stucco assemblies, the benefits and limitations, reviews the building code standards driving stucco...

Crown Boilers Recalled for CO Poisoning Hazard Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2006
Washington, DC - Release #07-063 On December 19th, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Crown Boiler Company of Philadelphia, PA, recalled about 400 Bermuda BSI and Cayman CWI series boilers due to a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard. Consumers are warned to stop using ...

Square D Recalls Switch for Electrocution Hazard Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2006
Washington, DC - Release #07-062 On December 15th, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Square D Company of Palatine, IL, announced a voluntary recall of about 27,600 general duty safety switches. According to the manufacturer, consumers should stop using these...

Emerson Electric Recalls Hazardous Ceiling Fans Posted: Tue, 12 Dec 2006
Washington, DC - Release #07-047 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturer named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed...

Scott Electric Co. Recalls Counterfeit Breakers Posted: Thu, 16 Nov 2006
Washington, DC - Release #07-036 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed...

Weil-McLain Recalls Boilers for CO Hazard Posted: Tue, 31 Oct 2006
Washington, DC - Release #07-020 Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Weil Mclain of Michigan City, IN, announced a voluntary recall of gas boilers due to a carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard. According to the CPSC release, these boilers are made for...

ITT & CPSC Recall Fire Suppression Pumps Posted: Wed, 25 Oct 2006
Washington DC - Release #07-018 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of 3,000 additional fire suppression system pumps sold under the brand names Goulds Pumps, Bell & Gossett and Red Jacket Water Products...

Gas & LP Water Heaters; Major Brands Posted: Sun, 01 Oct 2006
Recall for Robert Shaw gas control valves, which are on a lot of major brand water heaters. Including: American Pro Line, Bradford White, GE, Hotpoint, Lochinvar, Rheem, Whirlpool, etc...

More Home Inspection Related Recalls... 

General Information: info@inspectorsjournal.com
Editorial responses: editor@inspectorsjournal.com
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