ATEX Inspects

"We appreciate [removed member name] trust in us to allow us to perform their home inspection services. We did perform the infrared (thermal imaging) of the home as we promise during the home inspection. Depending on the internal temperatures of the home when we start the inspection, we either perform the infrared scanning all at once at the beginning of the inspection or we perform the scanning during the inspection, room by room. In regards to [removed member name] home inspection, based on the internal temperatures of the home, it was determined to conduct the infrared scanning all at once to prevent thermal drafts from the AC system's operation to affect the thermal readings and therefore altering the actual results of the infrared scanning process. Either heating or AC systems or turned on at the beginning of the inspection process based on the home's internal temperatures. In this case, I determined that is was better for the thermal results if the scanning was performed before the HVAC system was activated. By doing this, it prevents thermal signatures from giving false readings during the thermography process. It is based on experience in using the infrared camera and the home's internal conditions upon arrival and beginning of the inspection process."

"The thermal imaging )Infrared Scanning) was conducted on Mr. [Member name removed]'s home during the home inspection process. Mr. [Member name removed] did not attend the inspection, but ordered the inspection by phone and paid for the inspection online at our website. We perform infrared scanning as a free service during all of our home inspections. Mr. [Member name removed] mistook our infrared thermography scanning for a full energy audit inspection. We do not perform energy audits and these are totally different inspections performed by a different licensed inspector using energy auditing equipment. Energy audits are not home inspections and are not considered part of a complete home inspection by the state of Texas. With our home infrared scanning, we only include thermal images within the report if there are deficiencies found during the infrared scanning process. Mr. [Member name removed] was under the impression, not by any information provided by our company, that he would receive infrared images and energy assessments of the entire home. This is what is done when you have an energy audit performed. It would take hundreds of photos and a rather long report to provide such information if that was what we were there to do. We were hired to do a complete home inspection with infrared scanning and that is exactly what we did. We never implied either directly or indirectly that we were performing an energy audit and that hundreds or even one infrared photo of normal finding or normal results would be included in the report. It's kind of like going to the auto repair store and asking the attendant to show you all the things that are all right with you vehicle, it just doesn't work that way. Mr. [Member name removed] believed that the infrared scanning was not performed because he was not there to see it done and no normal photos showing what is not wrong were not included in the report. Mr. [Member name removed] expected to pay for a home inspection and include all the benefits of a energy audit of the entire home just because. As far as our report format, all of our photos are grouped together for easy of understanding. Our inspection starts at the front door and proceeds clock wise throughout the home followed by the attic, roof and exterior of the home. The photos within the report follow this same format so a client and their agent can take the photo section and travel through the home reviewing all the findings as they are documented within the report. In other words, you can go into the kitchen and see all the deficiencies found within that are one right after the other. Our report format is used by numerous Texas Real Estate Inspectors without any issues. We have inspected thousands of homes in the Houston area with no problems with our reports or our report format. I guess to summarize, if Mr. [Member name removed] would have been concerned enough about the home he was purchasing, he would have attended the inspection. We encourage all of our clients to attend the inspection process so they can see first hand the issues found and interact with us during the inspection process. We do realize that no all clients will be able to attend the inspection process, but we also encourage them to follow-up with us immediately if there are questions or concerns. All of Mr. [Member name removed]'s issues and concerns would have been addressed if he would have only attended the inspection. Sincerely, Robert Welch ATEX Inspects"