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.

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…

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…

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…

4 Tips for Vacation Rental Inspections

By Stephanie Jaynes / June 1, 2025

More space and privacy. Flexible check-ins and outs. More amenities. Cost savings for longer stays and larger groups. Authentic local experiences. A chance to prepare your own meals. Kid and pet friendliness. These are just some of the reasons why travelers are opting for vacation rentals over hotels. “There’s been a big shift in the…

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…

Home Inspection Cosmetic Defects and Issues

By Stephanie Jaynes / May 15, 2025

Shortly after moving into their new home, some buyers had the carpets cleaned. They noticed a spot in the primary bedroom that looked different from the rest. Pulling the carpet up, they noticed a raised section of the floor which was causing depressions on either side of a bowed floor joist.  The buyers told their…

4 Most Common Causes of Premature Roof Failure

By Stephanie Jaynes / May 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, Uli Sommers of Sommers Home Inspections in Oregon discusses premature roof failure. Since 2013, Sommers has applied her two-decade remodeling background as a residential home inspector. She has served in…

Crawlspace Ventilation:Essential Insights to Better Guide Your Clients

By Stephanie Jaynes / April 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, retired inspector Tom Lauhon discusses crawlspace ventilation. As a home inspector of 36 years, educator at the Midwest Inspectors Institute for 30 years, and prior member of the Examination Board…

How to Set Real Estate Agents’ Expectations as a Home Inspector

By Stephanie Jaynes / March 15, 2025

Imagine this: You pull up to your inspection, and the real estate agent is late letting you in. When they finally arrive, they’re frazzled and eager for you to be done as soon as possible. “You should be done in 30 minutes, right?” they ask without looking up from their phone. After some back and…

Telegraphing Roof Concerns With Closed-Cell Foam Insulation:What to Know for Your Next Attic Ventilation Inspection

By Stephanie Jaynes / March 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, Lisa Alajajian Giroux of HomeQuest Consultants in Massachusetts shares how spray foam insulation can lead to roof defects and claims. Alajajian Giroux is a former ASHI President and the 2026…

6 Ways to Manage Risk With Tiny Home Inspections

By Stephanie Jaynes / February 1, 2025

“Welcome to your very own cabin in the woods! Escape the hustle and bustle and surround yourself with the peace and quiet of nature,” read the tiny home’s Zillow listing. With a fresh, robin’s egg blue exterior and buffalo check furnishings that screamed “farmhouse chic,” the “cabin” looked warm, trendy, and inviting. To the typical…

Electrical-Upgrades-Turned-Claims:How Increased Electrical Consumption Affects Home Inspectors

By Stephanie Jaynes / February 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, Jonathan Hallmark of Hallmark Inspections, LLC in Texas shares how a client’s desire for electrical upgrades turned into a claim. He then utilizes his 10 years of teaching and 20…