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Libertyinspectiongroup.com 610.717.3082 SEPTEMBER 2018
HOME INSPECTION THE BIGGEST SURPRISES I’VE DISCOVERED ON THE JOB ADVENTURES IN
O ver more than 11 years and hundreds of home inspections, my team at Liberty Inspection Group has seen a fair share of, let’s say, interesting stuff. While I haven’t come across any mummified cats or creepy doll collections like I’ve read about on the internet, I’ve encountered a fair few critters and other surprises. The most common thing we see worth writing home about are the animals. Once, after making my way through almost an entire property without much to note, I climbed the ladder to the attic, switched on my flashlight, and was met with 4 pairs of beady little black eyes staring back at me. Four squirrels had made a cozy home out of the insulated space, and with the way they scattered when they realized an interloper was in their midst, they might as well have screamed “Boo!” in my face. I’m not normally squeamish about rodents, but when you get into the focused rhythm of a home inspection, it’s pretty easy to get startled. And every once in a while I’ll come across a nasty black snake in the attic, which is my signal to recommend the client get an exterminator involved. Once, I parked in front of a pretty ordinary bank-owned property, performed the outdoor visual inspection with my team, and headed inside. Everything seemed pretty kosher, until we made our way to the basement and discovered an unkempt, likely drugged-out squatter, zonked out on a beaten-up mattress. At that point, there wasn’t much to do besides high-tail it out of there, let the bank know the situation, and reschedule the inspection. Thankfully, our team didn’t have to be the ones to throw the poor guy out, though I do sometimes wonder what became of him after.
By far, though, most of the things we encounter that are genuine hazards to buyers are shoddy do-it-yourself projects. I’ve encountered entire electrical systems done up by an intrepid — often underskilled — husband, rickety wires sticking out all over the place. For a lot of people, up until the point that it’s time to sell, they don’t much care about safety. If it works, it works, after all. Our job isn’t to alarm the client with a massive list of miniscule problems. Whether there’s a fist-sized hole leaking water into the upstairs, black mold creeping up the basement stairs, or bricks falling off the front facade, there’s always a solution to the problem, and we’re eager to offer advice. We do our best to stay well within the realm of reason, while being an advocate for our clients. Of course, if the house is a bomb, we’re going to say it’s a bomb in the report, but we’re not about to hunt down fake problems and make you pay for the solutions. Years and years ago, it was pretty common for an inspector to find something wrong with your heater and, lo and behold, tell you they had one up to code they could sell you right in their truck. We don’t mess around with those kinds of conflicts of interest. We just do everything we can to provide a thorough, honest account of everything we see, and to detect any potential issues before they become a dangerous headache for a potential buyer. And if that search puts me up against the occasional horde of squirrels, so be it.
–-Chris Earley
Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082 | Page 1
The Perils of the ‘Overpromise, Underdeliver’ Mentality
DON’T SET YOUR TEAM UP FOR FAILURE
RECRUITING The competitive job market has led to aggressive headhunting for top candidates. But in some cases, aggressive recruiters promise grandiose perks and unsustainable work environments. Just as with a sales client, overpromising and underdelivering is a sure way to set new employees up for failure. When you perpetuate a facade of what your company can actually provide, you open the door for disappointment and regret. The consequences become evident when employees leave or cultivate negativity within your team. So how do you avoid these pitfalls? The best place to start is by bonding the actions of your company and its teams to the values that make your business successful. Another key is to have confidence in the culture of your company. Many leaders succumb to the idea of overpromising and underdelivering out of fear. If you’ve created a dynamic that breeds creativity, accomplishment, and growth, you’ll never have to make promises in the first place.
While trying to woo your next big client, it can be easy to get caught up in doing whatever it takes to close a sale. What starts as a simple pitch can quickly turn into promising the moon if you let it. Starting down this slippery slope creates unreasonable expectations and sets your relationship with your prospect up for failure. When you overpromise and underdeliver, you develop a system of dysfunction that fosters lukewarm clients you won't retain. But lost sales won’t be the only consequence; you’ll also form a culture of dysfunction within your team. RETENTION Employee retention should be at the top of every business owner’s mind. Depending on your industry, a new hire can cost thousands — even tens of thousands — of dollars. In light of today’s strong economy and low unemployment rate, many large businesses have shifted their hiring strategies to poach talent from small companies. This threat of losing employees causes many small-business owners to overpromise and underdeliver in their internal communications. Making promises you can’t keep to employees results in a high turnover rate, low morale, and lack of trust. "I have used multiple inspectors with this company and all have been wonderful. Most recently, Tyler inspected an investment property for one of my clients. He is thorough and seems to love what he does. I will continue to use this company and recommend them to my clients." -Jaimee B. "Chris did our inspection a few weeks ago for our first home purchase. He was incredibly professional and knowledgeable. He showed up before us and had already inspected the roof, but brought us up to speed when we got there. He didn't hesitate to explain every little detail and make us aware of all the basics we would need to know as new homeowners. I was grateful for his patience and willingness to educate. Would totally recommend this company." –Chelsea G. OUR CUSTOMERS SAY IT BEST
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3 RED FLAGS INEXPERIENCED INSPECTORS MISS
HVAC FAILURE HVAC systems can be notoriously finicky. While they may work fine when the temperatures are mild, they can go haywire the instant the heat turns up. Inspectors may not be able to see the future, but a skilled inspector can zero in on the telltale signs that an HVAC system is in danger of imminent failure or malfunction. If you’re looking for a home inspector who will leave no stone unturned, look no further than Liberty Inspection Group. Give us a call at 610.717.3082 and give yourself the peace of mind that only the best in the business can provide.
When your reputation and financial destiny are on the line, you need a home inspector on your side who’s beyond thorough — you want someone with years of experience and hundreds of happy past clients. Though they’ll do their best, lesser inspectors will often miss red flags that aren't as obvious as mold or a broken roof. But that doesn’t make these issues any less hazardous. Here are three of the most common problems that underqualified inspectors frequently overlook. LEAKS You might think that a problematic leak on a property would be pretty obvious, and often they are, but sometimes they’re extremely difficult to spot. If the plumbing system hasn’t been used for a while, or the leak simply has gone away, the signs of a leak can be nearly invisible. But if you have an inspection team on your side with a keen eye and a lot of training, they’ll pick up on even the subtlest signs of leakage. SEWER LINE DAMAGE Sewer line inspection is a tricky business. With a cursory glance, it’s easy to miss problems that may not be visible right away but will reveal themselves years in the future, costing owners a fortune in repairs. While sewer line inspection is typically not included in an ordinary inspection, it’s often a good idea to add it into your inspection package, especially with older buildings. You want to make sure your inspector has a comprehensive process to detect every potential issue.
LATE-SUMMER PANZANELLA
INGREDIENTS
•
1 small loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups) 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• • • • •
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds
Ingredients:
• • •
20 basil leaves, chopped
2 large tomatoes, cubed 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cubed
Salt, to taste Vinaigrette
DIRECTIONS
your favorite vinaigrette and mix again. 3. Serve immediately or let sit 30 minutes for the flavors to meld together.
1. Place a large sauté pan over
medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add bread and 1 teaspoon
salt, and toss often for 10 minutes or until toasted. 2. In a large bowl, mix vegetables and herbs. Toss in bread and
Directions:
Inspired by Food Network
Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082 | Page 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1180 SETON PARKWAY, SUITE 330 KYLE, TX 78640
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PAGE 1 Chris Earley on His Weirdest Finds in the Biz PAGE 2 Why ‘Overpromise, Underdeliver’ Is Never a Good Strategy Our Customers Say It Best PAGE 3 Beware the Inexperienced Inspector Late-Summer Panzanella PAGE 4 Have You Heard About Mauritius?
A S E C R E T I S L A N D O F A D V E N T U R E MARVELOUS MAURITIUS
WALK THROUGH HISTORY
Just over 1,000 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean lies the small island of Mauritius. The island is often overlooked by the rest of the world. Most people are more likely to have heard of the island’s most famous extinct occupant, the dodo bird, than the island itself. This is shocking when you discover howmuch fun there is to be had in this tropical wonderland.
More than a tropical escape, Mauritius is an island full of history and culture, so there are plenty of opportunities to learn about the island’s layered past. You can visit one of the historical rummeries or explore Mauritius’ two UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites. You can also check out Aapravasi Ghat, the Immigration Depot, and Le Mourne Brabant.
ADVENTURE AWAITS
TASTE THE MEMORIES
Looking for fun in the sun? Start your trip to Mauritius with a hike up the lush Lion Mountain, or take time to snap a photo of the Seven Coloured Earths, where volcanic soil has created sand dunes of seven distinct colors. And what’s a trip to an island without the beach? Beautiful coral reefs surround Mauritius, keeping sharks away from the pristine beaches. Island guests and locals can fearlessly scuba dive around the brilliant reefs, swimwith dolphins, kite surf, and find lots of other ways to enjoy the warm ocean waters.
A day spent playing on an island is always better with great food. Influenced by its French, Creole, Indian, and Chinese heritage, Mauritius offers a vast menu of delicious dishes to try, from curry to dim sum. And the rich soil and bountiful ocean provide more than enough fresh fruit and seafood to go around. Despite its amazing vacation potential, Mauritius is all but unheard of to people in the United States. This means travelers can find amazing five-star resorts at unbeatable prices! With this in mind, isn’t it time you got to know the island of Mauritius?
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