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 son.
When one home inspector picked up the phone to hear an angry client yelling on the line, he wasn’t surprised. As a home inspector of 25 years and the owner of a multi-inspector firm, he’d had upset clients before. But there was something different about this call. The client wasn’t accusing them of missing mold…
Read MoreLet me introduce you to two home inspectors. Both faced mold claims, and both lacked adequate insurance coverage to protect them from the claim but for different reasons. Meet Dirk. Dirk’s client called after their 11-year-old son began experiencing respiratory problems for months after moving into the house. After the inspection, they’d discovered mold, and…
Read MoreImagine: Your daughter is getting married. You plan an intimate luncheon for close relatives and friends to celebrate. Your daughter is excited–a bit too excited. As she tells people she’s getting married, she invites them to the party. When the wedding and luncheon day arrives, your small gathering of 30 has turned into a party…
Read MoreImagine: While inspecting an upper unit of a luxury apartment complex, you left the tub running and caused water damage to that unit and the several beneath. One of the tenants below was a serious fashion designer, whose entire collection for their upcoming show was ruined. Another tenant was an elderly widow with Alzheimer’s who…
Read MoreTen home inspectors walk into a bar. Each of the 10 inspectors works in a different part of the country, all with different levels of experience and expertise. Hours pass by–the 10 home inspectors enjoying their drinks and chatting about business in their home states. As they’re closing their tabs, a lawyer approaches and hands…
Read MoreTwo home inspectors receive claims for unidentified water intrusion. Both are at fault. And yet, one home inspector pays $1,500 to resolve the issue while another pays $5,000. The difference between the two: their deductibles. As the example above shows us, it isn’t just the cost at renewal (your premium) that matters. You should also…
Read MoreYou probably think you’re good at your job. And, by most standards, you’re probably right. You’re detail oriented and perform thorough inspections. Your reports are useful and demonstrate your technical expertise while communicating information in a way your clients can understand. You know your limitations and are truthful when you don’t know something. You recognize…
Read MoreGeneral Liability vs Errors and Omissions Insurance: What They Are and Why Home Inspectors Need Both
It was a warm summer day and a family was gathered together for a party in the backyard of a newly purchased home. As the 15 of them posed for a group photo on the deck, the deck collapsed. Most of the people were injured–some severely. One woman was hospitalized for five days with multiple…
Read MoreErrors and Omissions Claims Examples: How professional liability insurance works for home inspectors
In the words of InspectorPro broker Aaron Menlove: “It happens all the time.” We get a phone call from someone who doesn’t carry insurance. While they were confident they didn’t need insurance before, they since had to face a claim on their own, and it didn’t go so well. Perhaps they weren’t sure how to…
Read MoreIf pre-inspection agreements are your first line of defense, inspection photos are a close second. Capturing what was (and wasn’t) there on inspection day, photos are one of the primary stumbling blocks to meritless accusations. As home inspector insurance providers, we at InspectorPro believe you cannot take too many pictures. After all, the more photos…
Read MoreOver the past few decades, how home inspectors produce inspection reports has changed dramatically. In the late 70s, home inspectors were producing handwritten, 12-page custom checklists and narrative reports on carbonless copy paper with a Polaroid picture attached. In the 90s, inspectors were still using pre-printed checklists, but many had started producing their own templates…
Read MoreIn the age of virtual home tours, it’s commonplace for home buyers to survey potential purchases through clicks and drags of their computer mouses. But even before the coronavirus pandemic and the accompanying competitive housing market seen in the past few years, some home inspectors were utilizing 360 cameras to better serve customers and manage…
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