Stephanie Jaynes

Marketing Director Stephanie Jaynes simplifies complex insurance and legal concepts to help home inspectors protect their livelihood and avoid unnecessary risk. Her articles have appeared in publications like the ASHI Reporter, CREIA Inspector Magazine, and the InspectorPro Blog. She’s been a guest on NACHI TV, Spectora Spotlight, The ASHI Online Learning Center, The Successful Home Inspector Podcast, Today’s Home Inspector, and the Home Inspection Authority Podcast. Stephanie received her Bachelor of Arts from Mills College with a major in creative writing and a minor in journalism. She has also earned her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation from The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys trying new recipes and taking walks with her husband and sons.

Environmental inspection and environmental testing for homes advocate James Jones III of Home & Commercial Inspections LLC in Ohio.

The Environmental Inspections Boom:How Younger Buyers Are Changing the Game

By Stephanie Jaynes / December 1, 2025

Welcome to the Inspection Insider. Here, seasoned home inspectors share their expertise and experience to help you improve your own inspections. For decades, homebuyers accepted standard inspections as the norm. But that’s changing. A growing number of buyers—especially from the Millennial and Gen Z generations—are asking tougher questions, doing their own research, and demanding more…

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Fiber cement siding expert Henry Sander of Heartland Home Inspections in Illinois.

A Home Inspector’s Basic Guide to Fiber Cement Siding Inspections

By Stephanie Jaynes / November 1, 2025

Welcome to the Inspection Insider. Here, seasoned home inspectors share their technical expertise and experience to help you improve your own inspections. Fiber cement siding has become a favored material for residential exteriors due to its durability against the elements, resistance to pests, and capability to mimic traditional wood or stucco finishes.  Nonetheless, despite its…

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Man in t-shirt and jeans reclines on couch while reading laptop, pensive, as if thinking about an insurance company who wants his inspection report.

An insurance company wants my inspection report. Should I give them a copy?

By Stephanie Jaynes / October 6, 2025

Help, a homeowners insurance company is asking for my inspection report! “I completed an inspection last week, and the customer has an insurance agent pricing homeowners insurance for them. The insurance company wants my inspection report. They also sent me a form requesting me to sign off on HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing, stating all…

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William Morrison of Morrison Plus Property Inspections in California

Dryer Vent Fire Hazards:The Overlooked Danger in Your Clients’ Homes:

By Stephanie Jaynes / October 1, 2025

Welcome to the Inspection Insider. Here, seasoned home inspectors share their technical expertise and experience to help you improve your own inspections. When homeowners think about fire safety, their minds often turn to the kitchen, faulty wiring, or space heaters. Rarely does anyone consider the laundry room a potential threat.  Yet one of the most…

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Inspector examines sewer pipe video inspection camera feed during sewer scope inspection

Sewer Scope Inspections:An investment for your business

By Stephanie Jaynes / September 15, 2025

Home inspectors, may your clients be warned: Having a damaged sewer line can really stink. Unnoticed sewage exposure from broken or blocked lines can expose home dwellers to health hazards like bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. Compromised sewage lines can also cause flooding, sinkholes, mold, and foundation cracks and shifts. Once manifested, these problems can…

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Home buyer or real estate agent signs pre-inspection agreement

Your Pre-Inspection Agreement:Signatures

By Stephanie Jaynes / September 15, 2025

Why does the client have to sign your pre–inspection agreement before the inspection? Signatures matter. They provide evidence that the signers agreed to the terms of the contract. When facing claims, signatures may be all you have to prove that your clients knew (or should have known) what was and wasn’t covered during your home…

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New construction foundation inspection pro Ken Zhang of Inspextro Home Inspection in New York.

Foundation Issues in New Construction:What Inspectors Need to Know

By Stephanie Jaynes / September 1, 2025

Welcome to the Inspection Insider. Here, seasoned home inspectors share their technical expertise and experience to help you improve your own inspections.  In this post, Ken Zhang of Inspextro Home Inspection in New York discusses foundation issues in new construction. Zhang is a Certified Master Inspector who serves both English and Chinese-speaking buyers in New…

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A floating home community in Seattle with multiple, colorful floating houses, anchored boats, and a small plane flying overhead.

Beyond the Dock:A Home Inspector’s Guide to Floating Home Inspections

By Stephanie Jaynes / August 1, 2025

Crawlspaces with flourishing racoon families. Attics with live wires dangling from the rafters. Foundations sinking sideways. As a home inspector, you’ve seen everything a traditional dwelling has to offer. But what happens when the home isn’t on land? Floating homes are a unique breed of residence. While they may look serene bobbing gently on the…

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Grading and landscaping pro inspector Dan Pierce of Property Inspections Plus in Arizona

Grading and Landscaping:Why It’s More Important Than Your Fancy Throw Pillows

By Stephanie Jaynes / August 1, 2025

Welcome to the Inspection Insider. Here, seasoned home inspectors share their technical expertise and experience to help you improve your own inspections.  In this post, Dan Pierce of Property Inspections Plus in Arizona discusses grading and landscaping. A Certified Master Inspector with a background in landscaping, Pierce specializes in pinpointing water intrusion and termite infestations.…

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One person holds out a phone while another person uses their finger to leave electronic signatures on the phone screen (i.e., electronic contract signing).

The Checkbox:An Inspector’s Electronic Signature Cautionary Tale

By Stephanie Jaynes / July 15, 2025

The following is a real home inspection claim from our archives. To protect the insured’s identity, all identifiable characteristics from this claim—including names, associations, and locations—have been altered or removed. Five years. That’s how long one California home inspector had been using their home inspection software to schedule appointments and obtain signed pre-inspection agreements. The…

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Swimming pool inspector Jon Bolton of Launchpad Home Group in Florida

Pool Inspections 101:What Home Inspectors Check for and How to Limit Your Liability

By Stephanie Jaynes / July 1, 2025

Welcome to the Inspection Insider. Here, seasoned home inspectors share their technical expertise and experience to help you improve your own inspections.  In this post, Jon Bolton of Launchpad Home Group in Florida discusses swimming pool inspections. Bolton has been performing home inspections since 1998. He received his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from…

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David Mortensen of Discovery Inspection Services in Alaska next to article title “Housing Codes in Home Inspection Reports.”

Housing Codes in Home Inspection Reports: Striking the Right Balance

By Stephanie Jaynes / June 1, 2025

Welcome to the Inspection Insider. Here, seasoned home inspectors share their technical expertise and experience to help you improve your own inspections.  In this post, David Mortensen of Discovery Inspection Services in Alaska discusses citing housing codes in home inspection reports. For over 30 years, Mortensen has worked in the home construction industry doing remodeling…

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