b'ONE-TO-ONEspent years developing my format.cause of the problem, not to assign Writing is an art form in itself. Youresponsibility for it. That said, the becomeacontentwriter.Likeamajority of my clients want me to good novel, readers hang on yourdojustthat,andIsimplywont. everyword.TherewillbethoseThespecificsofthereportwrit-who love it and those who hate it.ing process are quite lengthy. It is Reportsmustbeaccurateandmore than a short article but prob-without speculation. When specu- ably less than a book. Just remem-lationisunavoidablewhichisber, whatever you write is a matter rarethe steps needed to resolveof permanent record. If it goes into litigation, any errors will be used to discredit you, mak-ing the report worthless to yourclient Successful tile consultants likeand possibly Dave Gobis work tirelessly toproducing determine the cause of the prob- anegative lem and to develop a strategy for remediation. result.Wehavemanyinstall-ersandmanufacturerand distributorrepresentatives who aspire to be inspectors it,asamatteroffact,shouldor consultants. What advice would beexplained.Therearemanyyou give them as they get started?things we may think we know butYou really need to be the go-to dont have facts to support them.guybeforeyoustart,notafter There is usually some type of testyoustart.Itisnotanoccupa-that can provide facts to supporttion where you just decide this is youropinion,however,insomewhat I shall be and hang out your instances the testing protocol canshingle. It is also not one full of cost more than the claim. Still, itriches,asmanyaresurprisedto should be offered in the report iffind out. This is particularly true you are speculating based on yourwhen you start out with no track experience.record.Iamcurrentlycharg-You also need to keep away fromingfivetimeswhatIwaswhen assigningresponsibility,whichisIstarted,foracoupleofrea-for judges and juries. It can alsosons. First and foremost, I have a createaliabilityissueforyouiftrack record, having done 2,864 youendupbeingwrong.Yourinspections.Second,Iamtrying job is to either find or identify theto retire; otherwise it would only 64TileLetter | August 2020'