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Bob, Accuracy is good. So is concision. I don't see where the term has been misused. Sure, the implication is that existing HI boilerplate is equivalent to crappy writing. The existing boilerplate produced by some large companies might well serve to make the terms 'boilerplate' and 'crappy writing' synonymous, but certainly good boilerplate has its place - the legal profession is a perfect example. Bonnie was recommending improvement of boilerplate, not its deletion. I believe a large part of improving existing boilerplate is to recognize that the audience is a homeowner who just wants to get the plain truth. And nothing but the truth. So help me home inspector. The legal documents I have seen are pretty much the opposite of what the homeowner wants.

Bonnie, You are an oasis in our desert! Unfortunately, those making the money in report writing offer peanut butter, and everybody is getting peanut breath. Like Mike said, time - lots and lots of time.

Mike and James, Thanks for the sanity check. Mike, I understand what you are saying. Wish I could say that I see your vision becoming a reality, but there is no evidence.

I'm looking for that icon with the head hitting the wall.

Still won't happen; they'll check a box, or punch in something meaningless. If you look @ enough (other folks) HI reports, you'll notice that almost none of them have any information conveyed in simple sentences. There's reasons for all the report software products; folks can't write. I completely agree with you and Les. But then I must ask, "What purpose, this thread?"

Les, you make a good point. Perhaps we will all be Texans some day (not that there's anything wrong with that.) If that's true, and it may well be, then what are most inspectors bringing to the table? The ability to match boilerplate to what he's looking at? No boilerplate can cover every situation. At some point, the inspector is going to have to write an original thought. What then?

Darren posted excellent examples. Like he said, those examples were on someone's web page. The author was showcasing his best! What is reflected by these reports is often the degree to which the author paid attention in high school. When I taught 7th and 8th grade math in NY, I loved to see things like, "A circle is a line that goes on forever and ever, and the ends meet." A 13 year old is learning to express abstract thought. But when you see similar things in a 'professional report' it loses its 'cuteness'. These issues aren't resolved by seminars. These issues are better handled by creating an actual profession - with real entrance requirements. I know of no organization that comes close to doing that today. So that's what we get.

Problems: 1.) Inspector-speak! Many inspectors are coming into the 'profession' with no qualifications. They rely on canned software that is full of bloated boilerplate to write their reports. Such boilerplate is full of disclaimers and fluff rather than information. 2.) Grammar. Those parts they do write on their own is, simply, embarrassing. 3.) Spelling. Further embarrassment. 4.) The 'regulars' on this forum are the exception. They are qualified and have much to say (if you haven't noticed.)

Oh, I'm sure there are some Colts fans. Everybody pretty much roots for their home team. I live in Buffalo, so there's always next year. I'll be happy either way. I have a slight preference for Manning (Colts) because I grew up in New Orleans when his dad was a Saint. Good people.

Saints! All the way. Lese le bon temp role!!!

Hi Steven, It's not how you phrase it. It's a matter of stating the facts. If there is only one lateral, then by definition, there is only one service. Can't rephrase that (no matter how incompetently I tried). But then, complete the picture with information about the distribution of this single service. What fuses/CBs protect the unit you are inspecting? Are there multiple meters? What is your professional opinion as to the ability of the single service to provide adequately for all units?

20 degrees is often a warm spell in Buffalo. Condensation - especially in new homes - is commonly seen here. Building materials release a great deal of moisture during the first year of occupancy. If you have a humidifier - turn it off or lower it (duh). Most importantly, and something we learn quickly up here, is to provide ventilation to your windows. Window treatments that do not allow air flow across the window surface profoundly effect condensation. We like a very dark room for sleep, so we pull the shades every night. When we awaken, the first thing we do is raise the shades so that the condensation will evaporate. During the 9 hours or so that we sleep, the condensation forms just on the glass, but if we leave the shades down night and day, the condensation builds and drips onto the sill. Our windows are double-pane, with wood interior trim, so we have generally open window treatments.

Because there is only one service lateral.

Yes, there is only one service to a dwelling. Still, the report is written for a client who probably knows squat about 'service,' so you report 300A (or 400 if you can confirm) service and then describe the panels for the completed picture. I sit corrected. Thanks Jim! Nope. A single service can have multiple main panels. It can even have multiple meters. As a general rule, a building can only have one service. There are several exceptions to this rule, but none of them apply to dwellings. Read all about it in 230.2. - Jim Katen, Oregon

Hi Bonnie! Don't know how you found us, but we are honored to see you here. We wish your book was required reading by every home inspector. It just spoles are image too have so meny who kant write!!! (Seriously, it riles us.)

Good point. That has helped me make a dark, seemingly empty picture come to life.

Chris, I used to think I knew what a client would think. I don't. I'm still amazed when someone pays too much for a house I tore apart in my report. Don't we all feel better when they run like they are supposed to from a POS? Life estimating tables? It is all SWAG! (scientific wild ass guess). I've seen 3 year old water heaters blow, new roofs leak, and much more. I report what average life expectancy is, but that means some fail sooner, some later. You are a very diligent person, and that makes you one of the good guys, but you may want to recite the Serenity prayer a few times. We provide a standard of care, not a standard of worry. Deep breaths...

Kurt: Seen a couple in some old homes donated to Habitat, but haven't seen one during an inspection. Are they just not cost-effective? They still seem like a good idea.

Bill: Good thinking! I get dirty inspecting attics, HVAC, plumbing, sumps, etc., so I don't carry a laptop, or even a handheld. I own both, but I don't use them on site. Tried it - didn't like it. The most valuable tool any of us has is tucked conveniently between our ears. I keep a small paper pad & pen in my pocket (like they used on Dragnet). I used to carry an 8.5 X 11 pad, but it either got in the way or misplaced. The paper pad may give way to a tiny digital voice recorder, but access to information on the recorder is serial, while my notes are accessed randomly, so I'll probably keep the paper pad. Besides, a tiny paper pad doesn't complain when I sit on it, lay on it, or throw it at a mouse. The paper pad is mainly used for recording data-plate info. My headlamp gets a lot more use than I thought it would when I bought it - keeps both hands free. Not much of a fashion statement, but it was a great buy. (Wish I could say it messes up my hair.) I take lots of pictures. Picture-taking is an art form. I take full-room pictures for my own use/memory/legal archives, while close-ups usually go into my reports. Of course I take a nice picture of the house to use at the beginning of my report. A picture is worth a 1024 words. This is the only sensitive equipment I carry - it's worth the care. Reports could be written on site, but I do a much better job at my desk. My desktop has a 17" LCD and I am amazed at the details I can see when zooming in on a picture. I work to balance thoroughness, precision and concision, so my reports take more time to write than I want to admit. A pocket of my tool bag is reserved for spare flashlight/headlamp/camera/instrumentation batteries. I've never been embarrassed by poor planning. Personality! Not discussed much on forums, but it's probably our most valuable tool. Each of us knows to leave the client feeling they have a smart new friend. Now, I need to go get some Dr Scholl's and a squirt bottle. Hey Les - no small parts/choke hazzards on those flashlights. A yo-yo for the yo-yo - I like the subtle message.

We all understand the frustration. There are no magic bullets, but Scott's a sharpshooter with the tools available. Good luck!

I would have replied earlier, but I have been too busy pushing, pulling, panning and intersecting. Waaaayyy Coool! Thanks Kurt!

Les, Good summary. It's true - Mike, Walter, Hansen, Cramer, Katen, and the rest of the best know what needs to happen. But the world is what it is. Each state is an empire unto itself. Politics and economics drive us locally, making a national standard intractable. Some states want inspectors who are licensed GC's. NY doesn't license contractors but it lets PE's become HI's without further education or testing - which is fine, since the education and testing provided by NY (like others) is sadly inadequate. The final worth of this business rests with each of us as individuals. But, if you are reading this, you aren't someone who needs to needs to read this. There's the rub. While striving to learn from the masters, I also play a small part in improving our 'profession' by rejecting meaningless certification. Don't much like Kool-aid anyway.

Mike & Bill: One of the coolest things about this forum is how people express their feelings with respect. You two exemplify that. Since I come from an engineering bent, I may well have a different terminology. The following link is an example of where I come from: http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=JSENDH000125000001000003000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes Thanks That's what I used to call it until I was scolded by folks that have access to, and study, primary documents pertaining to old buildings. Only recent generations refer to a tenon as a "tongue".

Strictly speaking, I believe that's called 'Fork and Tongue'

Jimmy: Paz y amor had better mean "peace & love", and not "all my love"!!! Don't get silly down there. Mike: The China opportunity sounds kinda cool. Still, it is a communist government - oh yeah, that's not a problem anymore.