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Professional Engineer, Home Inspector, ASHI Member, NAHI Member, Writer

Tom presents home show seminars for the general public and provides technical workshops at national conventions for home inspectors. He also gives presentations to builders, remodelers, attorneys, and others with home-related interests.

Upcoming Appearances

No shows booked at the moment.

Speaker Biography: Tom Feiza – Mr. Fix-It

Tom is a “recovering” registered professional engineer (PE, BSME) with more than 40 years of construction and engineering management experience. He’s known as “Mr. Fix-It” to loyal readers, callers to his weekly radio show, viewers for his TV appearances, and audiences at home shows and conventions. His Saturday morning radio call-in show on AM620 WTMJ (Milwaukee WI) draws more than 45,000 listeners each hour. During the week, Tom is a home inspector with more than 20 years and 8,000 inspections under his belt.

Tom has published books on home repair and operation: How To Operate Your Home, Home Journal, Home Systems Guide, Basic Home Systems, Home Systems Illustrated, My Home, My Home – Mi Casa, and Just Fix It. Tom also provides illustrations, newsletters, e-mail marketing materials, and articles for home inspector marketing; he has customers in every state and Canada.

Presentations for Home Inspectors, Attorneys, and related Building Professionals

Overview of Presentations:

Write It Up – Describe That Defect

How would an experienced home inspector write up that defect? In this seminar, you will review photographs of home defects and learn how experienced inspectors document them. Tom Feiza and other experienced inspectors (optional) provide the specific write-ups they use within the context of national standards and a typical code of ethics. You will receive wording and disclaimer statements that accurately notify buyers of the defect while protecting the home inspector. We allow time for audience input and discussion.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Provide home inspectors with answers and detailed report documentation on a variety of specific defects.
  • Provide specific wording and disclaimers used by experienced inspectors while utilizing typical standards and code of ethics.
  • Encourage audience participation and share ideas on defects and documentation, because there is never just one correct answer.

1½ to 2 hours, with optional increase to 4 hours. Formal presentation with PowerPoint, overhead visuals, and handouts.

Write It Up – Describe That Defect (PDF)
Write It Up – Describe That Defect (Word)

Basement Inspections – Proper Reporting and Avoiding Headaches

Basements present a huge liability for home inspectors because numerous basement problems exist and repairs are very expensive. Learn basement inspection techniques from an inspector who has reported on more than 7,000 basements and routinely works as an expert witness on basement problems. This session covers methods of properly inspecting a basement and documenting conditions. It includes statements that limit your liability. Discover how to document inspection restrictions and make referrals to a specialist. Review actual defects and potential repairs, and learn how they should be documented.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to properly inspect a basement, analyze basic defects, document various conditions, and decide when to make referrals to specialists.
  • Learn about basement construction, causes of defects, and possible repair techniques.
  • Review actual basement defects and home inspector documentation; study how legal cases were resolved.

1½ to 2 hours. Formal presentation with PowerPoint, overhead visuals, and handouts. 

Basement Inspections – Proper Reporting and Avoiding Headaches (PDF)
Basement Inspections – Proper Reporting and Avoiding Headaches (Word)

Water Intrusion Into Buildings – Forensic Investigations

How does water flow? Let me count the ways. Home inspectors know that the three major causes of home structural and operational failures are water, water, and water. They often identify these problems during a home inspection. But how does a professional engineer approach water intrusion and analyze the problems? How does water really flow? How do engineers explain these problems to insurance companies, attorneys, and irate homeowners? Who is at fault when water damage occurs? Learn how a professional engineer and home inspector approaches water problems and traces the causes and solutions.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the scientific principles of water movement and how these relate to building systems.
  • Understand construction principles and problem conditions that control or create water intrusion.
  • We don’t build them like we used to! Learn what has changed, making water a more serious problem in newer construction.

1½ to 2 hours, with optional increase to 4 hours, including testing tools and moisture problem case studies. Formal presentation with PowerPoint, overhead visuals, and handouts.

Water Intrusion Into Buildings – Forensic Investigations (PDF)
Water Intrusion Into Buildings – Forensic Investigations (Word)

Effective Marketing Using Internet, Print, TV, and Radio

Any home inspector can use the media for free and effective marketing. But how do you get your big break? Is it all luck? You can jump-start your mass media marketing efforts by following the lead of an experienced media professional. Home inspector and ASHI member Tom Feiza (Mr. Fix-It) has been working in radio, television, and print media for more than 20 years, and he is here to share his secrets. Find out how Tom markets his home inspection business and how he developed successful media ventures. You’ll learn media savvy from an experienced home inspector, not a marketing consultant. You’ll also find out about the latest Internet marketing channels, with special focus on email marketing.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Discover media marketing ideas specifically designed for your home inspection business.
  • Learn how to work with the media, with guidance from an expert who has more than 20 years of home-inspection marketing experience.
  • Investigate Internet marketing channels you can’t afford to ignore.

1½ hours. Formal presentation with PowerPoint, overhead visuals, and handouts.

Effective Marketing Using Internet, Print, TV, and Radio (PDF)
Effective Marketing Using Internet, Print, TV, and Radio (Word)

Asphalt Shingle Roofs / Attics – Proper Inspection and Reporting

Home inspectors get sued for leaky basements and leaky roofs. Roofs are expensive to replace, and a water leak can do major damage – including the dreaded M word (mold). Learn to identify roofing materials and proper installation techniques; find out how to recognize a worn or defective roof. Review ventilation requirements for roofs and bathrooms. Analyze inspection and reporting techniques from the perspective of an experienced inspector and legal expert witness. This presentation includes case studies and actual legal outcomes.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to identify pitched roof materials, ventilation methods, damage, and defects.
  • Learn how to report on roof and attic ventilation defects and issues.
  • View common defects and related documentation.

1½ hours. Formal presentation with PowerPoint.

Asphalt Shingle Roofs / Attics – Proper Inspection and Reporting (PDF)
Asphalt Shingle Roofs / Attics – Proper Inspection and Reporting (Word)

Heating Systems – Inspecting New (95%) and Old Systems

Heating systems have changed dramatically over the years. As an inspector, you must be familiar with both old and new systems. This seminar covers the basics of everything from old systems to new high-efficiency forced air heating systems. What has changed in the switch from 60% systems to 85% systems to new 95+% systems with ECM motors? Learn about new controls, including static pressure control, and how they work. Understand potential defects, what you must inspect, and how to properly document heating systems. Photos and illustrations will identify systems and defects.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the scientific principles/design of old and new heating systems.
  • Understand how new systems and controls work.
  • Learn how to identify defects and properly report on heating systems.

2 hours. Formal presentation with PowerPoint.

Heating Systems – Inspecting New (95%) and Old Systems (PDF)
Heating Systems – Inspecting New (95%) and Old Systems (Word)

Understanding and Inspecting Forced Air Heating Systems

Inspecting forced air heating systems requires understanding the science of energy and heat transfer. This seminar covers the basics of all systems from older ones to new high-efficiency forced air heating systems. What changed from a 60% system to an 85% system to new 95+% systems with ECM motors? What is static pressure control? How do those new controls work? What potential defects should you look for? How do you properly report on and document heating systems? Photos and illustrations will identify systems and defects.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the scientific principles of energy and heat transfer.
  • Understand how older and new systems and controls work.
  • Learn how to identify defects and properly report on forced air heating systems.

2 hours. Formal presentation with PowerPoint.

Understanding and Inspecting Forced Air Heating Systems (PDF)
Understanding and Inspecting Forced Air Heating Systems (Word)

Understanding and Inspecting Hydronic (Boiler) Heating Systems

Conducting inspections of hydronic (boiler) heating systems requires an understanding of the science of energy, fluids, and heat transfer. This seminar covers the basics of old gravity/open systems as well as new high-efficiency condensing heating systems. What has changed as standards evolved from gravity systems to pumped systems to the new condensing systems? Learn about venting, new controls, heating domestic hot water, and potential defects. Review what you should check and how to properly report on a hydronic system. Photos and illustrations will identify systems and defects.

Primary Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the scientific principles/design of heat transfer with water.
  • Understand older and new systems and their controls.
  • Learn how to properly report on hydronic heating systems and identify defects.

2 hours. Formal presentation with PowerPoint.

Understanding and Inspecting Hydronic (Boiler) Heating Systems (PDF)
Understanding and Inspecting Hydronic (Boiler) Heating Systems (Word)