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.
While renovating the deck of their recently purchased home, some home inspection clients discovered wood rot plaguing their back deck. As contractors removed the old granite countertops (presumably for an outdoor kitchen) to replace them, the deck broke, revealing the deteriorated main beams and support stringers. Rather than continue with their deck expansion, the new…
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The following is a real home inspector general liability pre-claim from our archives. The inspector has given us permission to reveal his identity and to use direct quotes from our post-pre-claim interview. Pre-claims assistance is exactly what it sounds like: It’s free help responding to unhappy clients in a way that may prevent said clients from…
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This past October, home inspector Randy Sipe approached us, his insurance provider, to ask if he could write an article for our readers. After nearly 20 years of inspecting claims-free, Sipe had received a meritless allegation. Sipe wanted to share his firsthand experience with a frivolous lawsuit to encourage his peers—particularly those who believe they’re…
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In North Carolina, a home inspector performed an inspection on a property that had been vacant for about 18 months. During the home inspection, the inspector ran the water in the various fixtures, including the shower directly above the kitchen. The inspector photographed the kitchen, including the ceiling, which, at the time, showed no signs…
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In our Inspector Spotlight series, we take a closer look at individual inspectors making an impact on the inspection industry. Most home inspectors agree that women are underrepresented in the inspection industry. However, just how few female home inspectors there are is difficult to pinpoint. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, women…
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Over two years after performing a home and pest inspection, a Florida home inspector received a claim. In it, his client alleged that he failed to identify a termite infestation in the home, which the client discovered after removing drywall to renovate. Removing the drywall revealed significant termite damage to the entire wall, from the…
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In a recent claim, claimants alleged that a home inspector failed to detect structural deficiencies in the property. The claimants alleged that the inspector failed to identify that the wrong sized boards were used for the span of the ceiling, the boards were spanned incorrectly, and that the boards were incorrectly seated on the…
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Welcome to our first home inspector profile. In our new series of profiles, we take a closer look at individual inspectors making an impact on the inspection industry. For military veteran Bronson Anderson, it was difficult to transition from military service to the private world. A former infantryman in Iraq, there were not many ways…
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Last fall, one of our home inspectors received a claim alleging that he failed to identify the existence of polybutylene pipes during his inspection of a condominium two months earlier. The property did, in fact, have polybutylene pipes. However, the pipes were located in the attic, which was not included within the scope of the…
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Last year, we published an article featuring the top five claims home inspectors face each year and what you can do to mitigate your risk. One year later, those allegations—water damage, roof issues, foundation defects, mold, and plumbing problems—continue to be common. We revisit each claim type by looking at recent claims from our archives…
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In Massachusetts, claimants alleged that a home inspector missed over $30,000 in property damages. According to the claimants, the inspector failed to identify a bow in the exterior wall along with resulting water, structural, and pest damage. The crawlspace that exhibited most of the issues was inaccessible at the time of the inspection, and the…
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Even if you’re not inspecting for mold—but especially if you are—it’s important for home inspectors to know how to avoid a mold claim. Why are mold claims common? Regardless of whether or not you decide to perform mold screenings, clients can file mold claims against you. Mold claims are the fourth most common type of…
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