There’s a reason why homes that have been used as meth labs usually require professional abatement. Entering the building even once can be a health risk. But would you know how to spot a meth lab in the middle of suburbia, or anywhere else for that matter?

Some clues are like a warning sign flashing up ahead. And some are a little more subtle. Even if the exterior doesn’t speak volumes, as many meth labs do, there are clues inside that can help you make a quick decision to head outside for fresh air while you call the authorities.

A Ramshackle House Should Arouse Suspicion

Time was, a run-down house meant that the owners probably fell on hard times. Maybe they abandoned it or simply stopped caring about upkeep. But nowadays, a ratty-looking house should arouse suspicion.

There’s no real reason that a meth house should be in disrepair, but the fact is that many of them are. Maybe it’s because shabby houses are sometimes abandoned, which makes them prime pickings. Or maybe the owners really did fall on hard times and resorted to manufacturing meth.

Whatever the reason for an unkempt appearance, shabby houses should cause you to look a little closer when you pull into the drive. In many cases, there are enough clues outside to merit a call to the police and keep you safe outside.

The Grounds of a Meth House are Also Hazardous

You might be outside, but that doesn’t mean you’re entirely safe. The hazard of meth isn’t just the drug, but also in the ingredients used to make it and the extremely dangerous byproducts. Home inspector, Wayne Meyer, writes for ASHI Reporter that 5 – 7 pounds of waste remains after manufacturing just 1 pound of the drug. And waste is sometimes discarded outside.

Here are some clues:

An unusual amount of trash, bagged or otherwise Strong chemical odors such as ammonia, acetone or even a cat urine smell Burned or scarred areas on the ground, perhaps with chemical residue Dead or dying plant life Burn pits or barrels Packaging from cold medicine, antifreeze, ammonia, alcohol, ether, paint thinner, propane, battery acid, muriatic acid, drain opener, rock salt, diet medication, wooden matches, iodine crystals, and numerous others Windows that appear to be blacked out

Most, if not all, surfaces and finishes require full replacement after meth abatement is complete.

Indoor Tipoffs are Usually Abundant

If the exterior of the home gave you no pause, the interior probably will in a meth house. The first thing that you’ll likely notice is the same chemical odors that you could have encountered outside. In fact, all of the signs that might be outdoors could be contained inside. That includes the trash, empty packaging and even burn marks.

Kitchens and bathrooms are meth hotspots, so evidence of a lab is likely to be found in one of those areas. If the house looks relatively tidy but the odors persist, check under sinks for a mini meth lab containing the same chemicals. Red stains, particularly in sinks, on floors and across countertops, should be your sign to get to safety and call the authorities.

A meth house is almost a total loss once you consider the abatement required to make it safe and habitable again. Ventilation is only the beginning. Cleanup crews work wearing hazmat suits to prevent contamination. And in some cases, demolition is the only answer.

Abatement includes removal of every piece of furniture, wallpaper, drapes, carpets, and anything else that could have absorbed the meth vapors during manufacture. In many cases, no surface in the home is safe. If successful, it might be restored by a combination of chemical neutralization, washing and sealing of residual contaminants. But local authorities have the final say.

Home inspectors encounter a great many hazards on the job. But few are as dangerous as a meth house. Breathing chemical waste fumes puts your health at risk from the minute you walk through the door.

If you’re ever in doubt, don’t take a chance. Make the call to police or find out if another agency in your area is responsible for meth lab identification and handling. You might miss out on payment for an inspection, but your lungs will thank you.

Every home inspector needs insurance, but you might not have all that you need. General Liability doesn’t cover everything. In fact, it specifically doesn’t cover some of the most serious claims. That’s why you also need Errors and Omissions insurance.

If you’ve considered working without Errors and Omissions insurance, it’s a good idea to rethink that approach. It’s available and affordable. And the combination of both insurance policies could protect your business from substantial loss.

General Liability Insurance Protects Against Certain Damages

Imagine that you’re inspecting a house. You’ve moved a step ladder to reach a fixture, but the ladder tips into an expensive mirror that’s mounted on the wall. Who’s going to clean up the mess? More important, who will pay for it?

Liability insurance covers you against accidental damage and bodily injury that you’re responsible for. If you accidentally track mud into a white rug, scratch a painted wall or cause other damage in or around a house, this insurance ensures you don’t have to come out of pocket to reimburse the homeowner.

GL Insurance Considerations

Accidents, by definition, aren’t predictable. The safest and most conscientious inspector in America could make a misstep and find himself holding the bill.

Claims against GL insurance are usually moderate, according to ASHI Reporter. But bear in mind that GL policies usually contain a “professional liability” exclusion. Read the fine print. And don’t be afraid to shop around. As ASHI explains, what one insurer covers, another one might not.

Errors and Omissions Insurance Gives Broader Protection

Errors and Omissions, more commonly called E&O insurance, covers problems with your work. What if you overlook a defect that turns out to be costly for the buyer? Or what if you make a mistake with the scope of a defect and inadvertently influence the sale? That’s where E&O steps in. And it’s a good thing, too.

Everyone is capable of an oversight, and anyone can misinterpret a home defect. But instead of a clear and defined repair cost like you’d have from visible damage, the scope of what E&O covers is much broader. It’s an unpleasant topic, but it’s also an important one. E&O insurance could one day save your business from the sweeping effects of a lawsuit.

E&O Insurance Considerations

Most of the costly insurance claims fall under E&O, says ASHI. That’s because the scope of potential damage is broad and difficult to calculate. While GL insurance covers bodily injury in your scope of work, E&O covers bodily injury as a result of your work. For example, if you drop a tool and hit the homeowner’s toe, that’s a GL claim. But if you advise that a staircase is safe and it later collapses underfoot, that could be a claim against your E&O.

The potential for an E&O claim is throughout every home that you inspect. That’s why GL insurance isn’t enough. An oversight could be as simple as a defective appliance or as frightening as a severe injury. And the financial ramifications without E&O could be at least as damaging to you as the injury or omission is to the homeowner.

GL and E&O insurance make up the well-rounded home inspector’s coverage. While it’s possible to work with only GL, at least in some markets, it’s not a good idea. Home inspector attorney Joe Ferry says going without E&O puts everything that you own at risk. All that it takes is one oversight or accident to create a snowball effect that causes loss to the homeowner and ultimately to you.

Insurance can be expensive, but it’s worthwhile. Just remember, the investment that you make now could save your business and even your home if the worst should ever happen. GL and E&O work together to keep your business and finances safe.

Inspections aren’t just for buying and selling. There are a lot of reasons why a homeowner might want a home inspection, and the changing of seasons is one of them. With summer in full swing, it’s a good time to ramp up business. Promote the importance of finding out whether a home is solid and well insulated, and whether the HVAC system isn’t on its last legs.

Summertime Home Inspections Help Find Air Leaks

Summer accounts for one of the largest electricity draws that homeowners have all year long. With temperatures soaring, air conditioners get a workout. But sometimes AC systems work harder than they have to because the house is full of air leaks.

Cool, conditioned air is expensive. With a home inspection, the owner can learn whether the attic insulation is up to snuff and whether there are any gaps around windows and doors that let heat in.

If stuffiness is a problem, the home’s ventilation might be inadequate. The same applies to a damp interior, which can also lead to mold and mildew. When you point out obvious air leaks and find ventilation issues, you help the homeowner stay more comfortable and save money.

Air Conditioning Problems Spell Big Trouble

There are a few ways that an AC system might let your client down. If it hasn’t been maintained, it might be ready for replacement. That’s a costly problem. But when performed early enough, an inspection lets the owner catch it instead of being blindsided when the air one day goes out.

Although home inspectors aren’t usually HVAC specialists, some defects need very little investigation. For example, certain noises coming from one of the units might indicate a leaf stuck in a fan or a major system failure in the works.

A summertime home inspection lets the owner deal with AC defects before they become full-blown disasters. And that saves money on major repairs or premature system replacement in the long run.

A Roof Inspection Spots Weather Damage

Every time summer comes around, some parts of the country seem to experience weather that’s increasingly severe. Heavy thunderstorms are a summer calling card, and some states deal with tornadoes and hurricanes. An inspection spots roofing damage before it costs a mint to repair.

Any time a tree branch lands on the roof or high winds lift the edges of shingles, there’s a chance for widespread damage. But even with a slight problem, such as a missing shingle, water from the next storm might make its way indoors.

With a summer roof inspection, your client can protect one of the most important systems in the whole house. Most roofing materials last a minimum of 10-15 years. An inspection lets the owner consider a repair instead of waiting until water is dripping into the attic.

The home systems affected by summer weather encompass almost everything. Siding can take on storm damage, and windows and doors might develop leaks that make air conditioning work harder. And if the attic is poorly ventilated, your client might feel like he lives in an oven. It’s also a great time to have areas such as the chimney inspected. After all, the client isn’t using it.

After the inspection is done and purchase paperwork signed, families might take a while to really settle in and make a new house a home. But with fall on the horizon, it’s a good idea for new homeowners to give the house a once-over.

Offer these 10 home maintenance tips to all of your customers and help them settle in for the fall and winter more comfortably.

#1: Check Weatherstripping at Doors and Windows

Unless the weatherstripping is brand new, it could probably benefit from replacement. A year of opening and closing doors and windows, not to mention abuse from heat and cold, can break down the soft, flexible materials and cause them to fail.

#2: Inspect and Clean Storm Windows

Storm windows protect against the abuses of rain, sleet, snow, UV rays and air leaks. But tracks can fill with dirt and debris, the glass might wobble, and air leaks might still find their way in around the perimeter. Check every storm window to ensure proper function, and give them a good cleaning before winter arrives.

#3: Clean out Gutters

The gutters might be in perfect condition, but they won’t be for long if they’re filled with leaves, twigs and bird nests. Gutter cleaning is a relatively simple job that yields important benefits. If they’re full, water will have nowhere to go besides over the edge and even underneath the shingles.

#4: Freshen Caulk Around Windows and Doors

Caulk is one of those inexpensive miracle products. It seals air leaks and makes seams look tidy and clean. Check caulk around windows and doors and replace areas that need it. Ensure customers know never to caulk the weep hole on the bottom edge of some windows.

#5: Order a Chimney Inspection

If the house has a working fireplace or wood-burning stove, this is the time for a chimney or stove pipe inspection. Creosote can build up over one season, dramatically increasing the risk of chimney fire the next time logs are lit.

#6: Detach and Clean the Dryer Vent

Fall doesn’t pose any more of a dryer lint hazard than other times of the year. But it’s a good idea to make vent hose inspection part of the seasonal maintenance routine. If the hose is flexible, this is a good time to replace it instead of spending time on cleaning every crevice.

#7: Inspect Attic Vent Screens

Cooler weather can drive critters inside where it’s warmer. So attic screens need a little attention before the wide open space becomes a winter hotel for raccoons, squirrels and other unwanted wildlife.

#8: Call for HVAC Seasonal Maintenance

The home inspection checked the HVAC function, but the coming winter months could benefit from a thorough service and maintenance call by a licensed HVAC technician. If there are any lurking issues, they’ll spot and correct them before the temperatures dip.

#9: Check Attic Insulation

New homeowners will have no idea about the home’s energy efficiency until they’ve lived there for at least a year. But they can beef it up in almost any case by adding new insulation to the attic floor. Be sure they know that loose insulation and unfaced insulation batts are the only appropriate ways to layer more material over what’s already there.

#10: Clear Away Leaves and Debris

Is any vision of fall really complete without an image of raking leaves? It can seem like a never-ending battle. But it’s an important one to wage. Leaves piled up next to the house foundation hold in water and can attract pests.

Summer might be the perfect time for home improvement, but fall is ideal for maintenance. Not only is the weather beginning to cool, but there are certain projects that need attention before winter sets in.

New homeowners, especially first-time buyers, can probably use all of the advice they can get. With a little bit of coaching, you can guide them toward the proper way to care for their new investment.

Any location that’s pummeled by a hurricane can fall prey to unscrupulous folks looking to make a fast buck. But armed with a residential inspection report, homeowners will know for certain whether a roof replacement or another major repair is necessary or not.

Homes can take a serious beating through hurricane season. Even if a category 4 doesn’t make landfall, the related storm activity can batter and flood properties along the coastline and further inland. When FEMA isn’t coming to the rescue, a home inspection can help put homeowners on the right path toward storm damage repair.

Here are some common problems that you might encounter on the job.

Extensive Roof Damage

Driving rains, high winds and hail can really do a number on any home’s roof. Unlike other exposed areas of a house, it gets no protection. Not all roof damage is serious, which is good news for the homeowner. And roof inspection services can determine the difference.

Expect:

Lifted or broken shingles Hailstone marks Damaged flashing Fallen debris damage Loose or missing soffits and fascia boards Damaged gutters and downspouts

Lifted, Broken or Severely Damaged Siding

High winds and flying debris make up the most damaging threats during a hurricane. If a tree branch breaks and winds throw it against the house, siding might be dented, lifted or entirely missing.

Expect:

Loose siding boards or panels Hailstone or debris holes in stucco Water infiltration, including around windows Loose or missing trim

Broken Windows

Most experienced coastal dwellers board up their windows before a major system comes through. But not every window is accessible. And sometimes, the protective materials cause additional damage once they’re removed.

Expect:

Broken glass inside and out Damaged window flashing Holes through siding or window frames (from storm-proofing material anchors) Hazy glass that looks undamaged, but might have broken seals

Basement Flooding

Basements are rare in some coastal areas, but fairly common in others. If the storm surge reaches the house or rainfall causes flooding, a perfectly dry basement might fall prey to water damage.

Expect:

Standing water contaminated with chemicals and biohazards Noticeably cold walls and floors that look dry but feel damp Mold and mildew growth

Waterlogged Appliances

When flood waters reach appliances, they might suffer permanent damage. If they’re still plugged in after the water recedes, they pose an immediate electrical shock hazard. Unfortunately, this includes the home’s HVAC system. Money Pit says that in most cases, flooded appliances require replacement and you can’t safely inspect them.

Expect:

Shock- or electrocution-hazard conditions unless appliances are unplugged or disconnected Electrical sparks and fires Signs of charring on or around appliances

Flooded Electrical Wiring

When flood waters rise high enough to reach electrical outlets, the whole home is at risk of fire until the electrical main is shut off. It’s usually not safe to assume that it’s safe when the power is out through the area. If the city restores power, the home you’re inspecting might become unsafe very quickly. In extreme cases, the home’s wiring might require replacement. But in many cases, it’s repairable.

Expect:

Waterlogged outlets Blown fuses and tripped breakers Charring on or near all electrical wiring

Cracked or Weakened Foundation

With all of the water that a hurricane brings, it’s no wonder so many homes suffer foundation damage. When waters rise, the ground that supports the foundation gets weak. If it shifts, the foundation might crack or buckle. It’s not safe to enter a crawlspace under these conditions. Inspectapedia says it’s smart to stay alert for signs of total structural collapse.

Expect:

Contaminated standing water Cracks Bulging blocks or bricks Soil erosion

A residential inspection usually happens just before the sale of a house. But many other situations merit an inspection, particularly the aftermath of a damaging storm.

If there’s a disaster declaration, government agencies will handle the inspection work. But for areas that have no government aid, a qualified, experienced home inspector can help homeowners get on the path toward repairs.

The right home inspection app lets you offer a prompt, concise inspection report that shows homeowners the scope of storm-related damage. That’s what Home Inspection Report can do. Fill in the form as you work using a mobile device. And then send it to your customer from anywhere you have service.