The inspectors: when a home is sold, an 'expert' is often paid to inspect the pool. Learn how to incorporate this lucrative service into your business

Pool & Spa News, Nov 1, 2004 by Bob Dumas

* Deck equipment

Toff checks the anchors and rails for grounding and bonding concerns. He takes a look at the junction boxes and depth of the pool lights, too.

* The equipment pad

The pump, filter and heater should be visually inspected for obvious problems. "We look for leaks or to see if anything is missing. For example, sometimes there is no timer," Ostrowski says. "We look at the main pump, the booster pump, making sure there is water flow. We check out the filter pressure and note it."

* The electrical system

Be sure the breakers are operating and that there are no electrical hazards. "If something like ground wires are not attached, I will make a note of it," Ostrowski says.

* The pool

Inspectors look to see if drain covers are intact and in place. In gunite pools, they may note any major plaster or specialty finish problems, such as delamination.

* Diving boards

Some techs get skittish around diving boards. Not Toff. He inspects them for cracks and then measures, using manufacturers' standards, to see if they are appropriate for the pool.

Ostrowski, on the other hand, won't go near them. "I always recommend that the diving board be removed," he says. "I won't even work on them. If someone gets hurt and you didn't remove it--well, we're in California and it's a pretty litigious state."

Service techs can offer other, more detailed inspections at higher prices as well, such as pressure testing when plumbing integrity is in question and checking pool litters for leaks.

Writing up your reports

Some technicians use a simple checklist on a clipboard during the inspection; others bring along a laptop computer to record more detailed information. Once the inspection is complete, you'll need to take the information you've gathered and write a report.

Experts say it is important not to use absolutes when writing a report. Choose words such as "could" and "may." "In my wording, I try not to be so specific that I paint myself into a comer," Broga says. "It's specific enough to be helpful, but vague enough not to [make me liable]."

Ostrowski agrees, noting that those involved in the sale of the home can get cranky if they feel you're being overcritical. "Yeah, I use words like 'should,' 'may' and 'might,' and try to be as ambiguous as I can be or I can leave myself open to lawsuits," he says. "If there is an obvious problem, then you can use absolutes."

Toff doesn't worn, too much about the liability, especially because doing inspections has become his full-time job. "I have obtained professional liability insurance that insures the words that I'm saying [and writing]," he explains. "It took me three years to get it."

He is approved for multimillion-dollar coverage and pays out approximately 10 percent of his gross earnings for the premiums. "Regular liability insurance won't protect you," he says. "It doesn't protect what you say."

As for his reports, Toff says not only are they professional-looking, but they also act as a marketing tool. "I package [the report] so that people will pay attention," Toff says. "It has a lot of photos. Every time I do a report, it gets exposed to six or seven other people who see it. So word-of-mouth [referral] is big."