The condition of a person’s home has the potential to greatly affect their quality of life, for better or worse. If you’re passionate about helping others, have a keen eye for detail, and are interested in the construction industry, a career in home improvement could be perfect for you. You can play an essential role in a client’s home buying process, highlighting issues that could guide price negotiations in addition to giving your clients an estimate for the repairs they’ll have to do once they move in. 

In many cases, home inspectors use their expertise to detect problems that could cause major safety concerns when left unfixed. If you’re considering this career path, you may be wondering what signs you should be looking out for. Here are some signs of poor home workmanship to take note of outside, inside, and in the foundation of your clients’ homes. 

Signs of Poor Workmanship on the Outside of a Home 

When you begin your home inspection on the outside of a client’s home, the windows, doors, patios, decks, and concrete surfacing should be your main focus. Look at the way windows are sealed; if you notice condensation between the glass on thermal windows, this is a sign of a failed seal. This can result in higher energy bills for your clients, mould and mildew growth which can affect air quality over time, and draftiness. Doors with seal failure might create the same energy efficiency problem as windows. 

Watch out for cracks in the walking surface of patios and where they intersect with the wall of the house. Throughout your home inspector career, watch for concrete cracks as well, as this can be an indication of soil that was not properly prepared before the concrete was installed. 

Signs of Poor Workmanship to Look for Inside a House

Inside your clients’ homes, look for cracks in the drywall, as this can indicate soil movement or structural issues. Watch for uneven floorboards, tile cracks, water marks under the carpet or linoleum, and discoloration–these can all indicate water infiltration that occurs as a result of cracks in the foundation. Pay attention to the temperature inside the house. If there’s a problem controlling the temperature inside, faulty HVAC systems are likely to blame. Observe how the switches and electrical outlets work as well. 

Signs of a Bad Foundation to Watch for During Your Home Inspection Career 

As you’ll learn in home inspection training, many of the most common and detrimental problems in a house are difficult to observe right away. For example, construction flaws in a house’s foundation can be difficult to spot at first. Check for sagging floors, peeling wallpaper, damp crawl spaces, protruding nails, doors that won’t close properly, and cabinets and countertops that separate from the walls. Here at the North American Trade Schools, we teach students about every component and system within a house, including roofing, structure, electrical, heating, air conditioning/heat pumps, plumbing, exterior, insulation, and interior so that their clients can rely on their consulting services. 

Ready to become a home inspector? 

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As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer in the Northern hemisphere, we’re getting excited for all the joy that summer brings. Homeowners might feel carefree after making it through a long winter. However, they often tend to forget that just like in the colder months, houses can experience plenty of damage during the heat of the summer. Issues can arise in roofs, piping systems, floors, foundations, furniture, and decor. 

At the North American Trade Schools, you’ll build the skills you need to provide clients with a professional and thorough home inspection. With your experience, you’ll also be able to offer your clients advice for protecting against and dealing with damage inflicted by summer temperatures and sun. Keep reading to discover four types of damage caused by warm summer weather. 

You May Identify Roof Damage After Home Inspector Training

Like snow and ice, the sun can also affect the condition of your client’s roof. In homes with attics, heat and humidity can get trapped due to poor air circulation, causing the hot air to build up under the roof. This humidity can cause damage to roofs by weakening them, causing shingles to deteriorate faster and creating mold growth. 

Students pursuing home inspector training learn about a variety of roofing topics, including how to inspect roofs and identify the warning signs of wear and tear. Students will also learn about sloped and flat roof construction, and the biggest causes of common roof problems, including heat and humidity. During your home inspector career, look out for signs of roof deterioration due to the summer weather.

Dry Soil Can Ruin the Foundations of a House

If you’re working in places prone to extremely high temperatures, it’s essential to know how to inspect the foundation of a house for signs of heat damage. When the weather is hot and dry in the summer, the soil around a home may dry out and shrink. This causes the soil to separate from the footing, or the lowest component of the foundation located 12 inches beneath the frost line of the soil. In a home inspection program, you’ll learn how to spot the signs of soil separation, enabling you to help homeowners identify potentially dangerous damage to their house’s foundation once you begin your career.

High Water Usage Can Burst Pipes and Plumbing 

When temperatures rise, unfortunately, so does the risk of a pipe bursting. After you become a home inspector, your clients may experience summer plumbing issues, both due to the higher water usage or excessive dryness in the air which accompany summer. These factors can cause loosely-sealed pipes to leak or burst, leading to ruptured or disconnected water lines.

During your time at NATS, you will learn how to inspect plumbing systems in order to check for signs of leakage, wear and tear, or other issues. There are four major components to review when inspecting plumbing systems, these are:

• Supply piping
• Water heaters
• Waste piping
• Plumbing fixtures 

As an inspector, it will be your job to thoroughly examine each of these components, determining if anything needs to be fixed.

Hardwood Floors Grow and Shrink as Temperatures Change

Hardwood floors are also susceptible to damage from summer weather. Similar to a living organism, hardwood floors grow and shrink as temperatures change. When it gets hot and humid, these floors will swell up, as the moisture in the air fills the gaps under the baseboards. 

At NATS, our Insulation and Interiors course teaches our students how to inspect early signs of damage within interior housing elements, including flooring. As a home inspector, you can use your training to identify affected hardwood floors. Additionally, you can help your clients prevent damage to their flooring by advising them to close their windows and turn on their air conditioning during high-humidity weather conditions.

Interested in a home inspector career?

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As an aspiring home inspector, you’ll be the go-to person when it comes to helping home buyers make informed decisions about their new homes. Your services will be needed to inspect the condition of homes and any signs of defects. Often, those signs will be around the insulation of a house. Knowing when the insulation needs replacing is important to ensure that the temperature is regulated properly throughout the house. 

At NATS, you’ll get hands-on training in home inspection. You’ll learn about the systems and components of a house, which include roofing, structure, electrical, air conditioning and heat pumps, plumbing, insulation and more. You’ll learn what problems to look for when performing a home inspection–and insulation problems are some of them. Read on for a look at some of the common insulation problems you’ll encounter. 

Expect to See Animal Damage to the Insulation During Your Home Inspector Career

Properly inspecting your customers’ homes for insulation can save them a lot of money down the line. It’s important to inspect the interior and exterior of the house when it comes to insulation, especially for damage caused by pests. Fiberglass insulation–the most common form of insulation found in homes–is at risk of becoming a shelter for unwanted visitors that roam around the walls of your customers’ homes. Throughout your home inspector career, you’ll become accustomed to the signs of insulation damage caused by animals. Many rodents like squirrels, mice and rats can create cracks or gaps in the insulation, causing heat to escape to the outside. To verify the source of the problem, look for signs of animal droppings and hair, as well as broken fiberglass outside and inside your customers’ homes.

Mould Build-Up in a Home’s Insulation

Another insulation problem you’ll probably encounter after you become a home inspector is mould build-up. Mouldy insulation is costly to fix if not caught early and can cause severe health complications for your customers, especially for those who suffer from respiratory problems or allergies. 

Mould can be caused by water damage to the walls, basement, roof or other parts of a house. The condensation and dampness of cold walls will eventually cause the insulation to develop mould, which can spread around your customer’s home. As you inspect your customer’s home, look out for any black, grey or green patches on the walls, floors and insulation. If these are visible, your customers have a mould problem on their hands that needs to be addressed right away. 

Out With the Old and In With the New

When inspecting your customers’ homes, you may also notice that the insulation has deteriorated over time. Insulation, just like anything else, doesn’t last forever. Insulation usually lasts between 15 years to 20 years, before it needs inspecting and replacing. You’ll probably notice drafts, mould and ineffective heating transfer throughout the house when it’s time for the insulation to be replaced. You should advise your customers not to take matters into their own hands when replacing fiberglass insulation, due to the health risks associated with breathing in asbestos and fiberglass particles. While inspecting your customers’ homes, ensure that you inspect the basement, attic and duct for any signs of wear and tear. 

Are you interested in home inspector training?

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It’s normal to feel a  bit nervous before an interview—especially if it’s for a job you really want. Preparing for any job interview can be stressful, but with the proper guidance and preparation, you can ace your interview with flying colours. In fact, we’ve collected a few helpful tips that you can use as you prepare to begin your new career.

Read on to learn how you can prepare for an upcoming home inspector interview!

1. Demonstrate Your Attention to Detail After Your Home Inspector Training

During a home inspector job interview, it’s a good idea to showcase your ability to pay attention to details. Paying attention to details is a pretty important aspect of working as a home inspector, since it’ll be up to you to spot any issues or red flags about the property. After you’ve completed your pre-apprenticeship home inspector training and have started interviewing for different jobs, you might be asked questions that have to do with this skill. If you can share examples of times when you paid careful attention to detail, then it’ll help you demonstrate why you would be a great fit for the position. 

2. Showcase Your Communication Skills

Brushing up on your communication skills is also a good idea before any interview. Fortunately, your training will help you develop and improve your communication skills. Why? Turns out, having good communication skills is important for your home inspector career. Whether writing out reports or communicating with clients, your communication skills will serve you well throughout your career.

To help you prepare for your interview, you can do practice sessions with a friend or family member. You can practice your answers to common interview questions, as well as get comfortable talking about your education and work experience. By taking the time to practice a bit before your interview, you’ll improve your confidence. This can in turn help you feel more comfortable and less nervous during the interview, as well as improve your chances of leaving a good impression. 

3. Take the Time to Research the Company

When preparing for an interview, it’s always a good idea to do a bit of research and preparation beforehand. In addition to the time you spend brushing up on your communication skills, you’ll also want to spend some time looking over the company website. You can make note of things like the work culture, the type of work involved, the team, and other important pieces of information. It’s also a good idea to look over the job description again. This will help you get a good idea of what you can expect if you were to take the job. It can also help you determine if there are any questions that you would like to ask the interviewer. The interviewer might also be impressed that you took the time to do your research, which can help you stand out against the competition.

Want to become a home inspector?

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Spring weather is right around the corner, and with it comes certain types of weather known for causing certain types of damage. As an aspiring home inspector, you’ll help home buyers make informed decisions about their new homes. Your keen eye, in-depth training, and investigative skills will help you spot all kinds of potential issues, including damage that can spring up when the winter thaws. Spring weather brings with it storms, lightning, and hail. Temperatures might be milder, but the damage spring weather can bring may wreak havoc on a house. 

Read on to discover what damages to look for during the spring!

Spot Spring-Related Roof Damage After Your Home Inspector Training

When you go with your clients to inspect a new home, especially during the spring, it’s always important to thoroughly inspect the roof for potential issues. Spring weather can mean heavy storms, and the roof usually takes the full brunt of any damage caused by these weather events. If you notice any leaks or roof shingles missing during home inspections after you complete your home inspector training, then that’s an unfortunate indicator that spring storms have caused some damage. You’ll also have to inspect the home’s attic to check for any signs of dark water stains forming, as well as for any sunlight coming in through the roof.

Make Sure to Inspect a Home’s Siding 

When you become a home inspector, you’ll get to carefully inspect the exterior of many different homes. A home’s siding is there to prevent the exterior walls from the elements making their way to the interior side of the house. The siding keeps your client’s home insulated during the winter and summer. It also protects your client’s home from moisture and mold buildup that can rot the foundation of the house and cause structural damage in the process. A siding inspection is therefore necessary, to ensure that no damage was sustained during the spring thaw. Storms and heavy rain can sometimes cause cracking, denting, or splits in the siding. As a result, you’ll want to see if there are missing, damaged, or loose pieces. 

Clogged Gutters Are an Important Issue to Catch

In the event of a heavy spring storm, a house’s gutters have an important role to play. They help make sure that water drains properly and doesn’t damage the rest of the house. Gutters are an essential part of maintaining and protecting the exterior of a home and preventing rainwater from making its way into the interior. As a result, you’ll want to check gutters to make sure that they aren’t damaged or clogged. If they are, it’ll be important for you to check for signs of water damage and other issues that might be affecting the property. 

When gutters are clogged, the property becomes susceptible to erosion, leaks, and other water-related damages during the spring season. If you notice any areas where the gutters are broken or sagging, causing water to build up, then advise your clients that immediate repairs need to be done.

Are you interested in a home inspector career?

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Becoming a home inspector is a rewarding career that comes with many benefits. You’ll get to use your observation and critical thinking skills as you inspect different homes for problems. You’ll get to travel to different locations to do your inspections. And you’ll also have the satisfaction of seeing new homeowners make the right decision on their dream homes.

Some homes, whether new or old, may have some red flags that’ll have to be assessed properly before purchase. It’ll be up to you to help homeowners make informed decisions on what issues they can live with, what counts as a dealbreaker, and what may require essential repairs right away before moving in day.

At NATS, you’ll receive hands-on training in roofing, electrical, heating, and much more. This will prepare you to inspect homes with confidence.

Read on to discover what red flags to watch out for as a home inspector!

Watch Out for Cracks and Gaps After Your Home Inspector Training

Large cracks and gaps are one important red flag you should always look out for. They can appear around a home’s garage, deck, and patio—as well as in driveways, sidewalks, and several other spots.

Spotting these issues during an inspection can help uncover bigger problems affecting the property. For example, gaps between doors, pipes, or windows usually indicate a water intrusion. And when cracks are visible in concrete, that may indicate that there is an improper installation issue or soil problem. After your home inspector training, you might often find yourself on the lookout for these kinds of issues!

Watch Out for Drainage Issues

Another major red flag to look out for when you become a home inspector is water drainage issues. During inspections, you’ll want to check that water drains away from the house rather than towards it. To do that, you’ll have to inspect all the gutters of the house to ensure that they’re set up correctly. Shoddy gutters with missing downspouts, for example, could indicate that the soil around the foundation might not be in the greatest shape, as water could have washed some of it away. Even if no deeper issues are present and the buyer does opt for the house, they’ll need to know that this is a problem that needs to be fixed sooner rather than later.

Unwanted Humidity Inside the House Could Be a Sign of Trouble

Moisture buildup inside of a house is another pretty important red flag to watch out for. Why? Because over time, moisture can cause rotting, mildew, and mold. Improperly insulated windows are one common culprit behind this issue. If during a home inspection you see water droplets building up on the inside of a window, that’s a telltale sign that there are issues with the window and maybe even other deeper problems going on. Of course, there are many other ways for humidity to accumulate in unwanted places, so this is one thing you’ll want to be on the lookout for when inspecting many different parts of a house.

Are you interested in a home inspector career?

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Home inspection comes with a long checklist for evaluating the condition and safety of a home and putting a home buyer’s mind at ease before they make their big purchase. For an aspiring home inspector, performing an evaluation of a property’s plumbing, electrical, mechanical and structural competency is of vital importance and can determine whether a property passes the inspection or not.

At the North American Trade Schools (NATS), we provide an aspiring home inspector with hands-on training in the materials used in the construction of each house system and what to look for during a home inspection. Read on to discover the three signs of non-performance to look out for when you start your career!

1. Inspect Electrical Problems After Your Home Inspector Training

Electrical problems sometimes go unnoticed by a home buyer, and it is up to a home inspector to assess the electrical system of the house. A house with working electricity does not mean that all electrical components are up to standard. As a home inspector, you’ll have to look at electrical issues that are considered fire hazards, which include worn out electrical wiring, overloaded electrical circuits and exposed wiring. After your home inspector training at NATS, you’ll be prepared to inspect and determine the safety of electrical systems and check for faulty or missing GFCI electrical outlets, which need to be placed in all garages, laundry rooms, washrooms and any area that may get damp around the house.

2. Roofing Problems Are a Major Concern

Roofs can usually last 15 to 50 years before they start to deteriorate–depending on the material used, the weather conditions and ventilation. Therefore, a thorough roof inspection is of major importance when you become a home inspector. It will help prevent any serious issues from occurring, like pest infestation or water leaks through ceilings, and can save a homeowner time and money on major repairs down the line. You’ll be prepared to inspect roofs after completing our Home Inspection Program and identify when a roof needs repairs or replacement. Some of the signs to look out for during your inspection include cracks and rust on flashing, moisture in the attic or ceiling, loose or missing shingles and unevenness or soft areas.

3. Water Leaks Due to Plumbing Issues

Plumbing issues can be hard to identify and require a professional home inspector to thoroughly investigate the plumbing system around the property. The home inspector will be able to assess any issues or damages caused by the plumbing system installed inside the house by checking for minor leaks and rusted pipes. If you discover leaks of clogging in the pipes, you should investigate whether the plumbing around the house has polybutylene piping, broken or rusted pipes, high water pressure, galvanized pipes or sediment build-up. That way, you can make an informed recommendation on whether to repair or replace a home’s plumbing system.

Interested in starting a home inspector career?

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As a home inspector, you’ll be able to identify any issues facing a house buyer as you help them to make informed decisions about their prospective home. One issue home buyers usually face is the issue of retaining walls, and as a home inspector, it will be up to you to look out for the signs of retaining wall damage. Retaining walls are designed to support soil from drifting downwards–which if ignored, will create extensive damage in landscaping and lead to costly repairs.

At North American Trade Schools (NATS), we provide you with training in the skilled field of home inspection. Our training programs equip students with the most current theoretical and practical training required to become successful in the field. Read on to discover what signs to look out for in retaining wall damage when you become a home inspector.

Watch Out for Bowing or Cracking

As a home inspector, you’ll be able to identify common retaining wall damages when inspecting a property. Some of these signs may include cracking, bowing, leaning, bulging, and buckling. Identifying these problems requires the proper hands-on training, which NATS can provide through our home inspector training program, in which you’ll learn under experienced instructors and inside real world labs that simulate a working environment.

Our training program will prepare you to identify these signs of retaining wall damage and provide you with the expertise to advise home buyers on when it’s time to retrofit the wall with anchor bolts to prevent the wall from collapsing.

Become a Home Inspector and Identify Poor Drainage That Saves Home Buyers Money

One of the main signs of retaining wall damage is poor drainage. Weep holes are small holes that facilitate the flow of water after rain, and if these holes are clogged due to draining aggregate or improperly graded soil, they result in poor drainage. The hydrostatic pressure that builds up behind the retaining wall will end up saturating the soil, and the retaining wall itself will eventually break, as it won’t be able to handle such a heavy load build-up. When you become a home inspector after graduating from a training program, you’ll be able to predict and assess any issues that may arise with the retaining walls.

Poor Quality and Lack of Reinforcement is a Bad Combination for Retaining Walls

When you choose a career as a home inspector, you should always have the home buyer’s best interest at heart. By making careful assessments and recommendations, you can save your client a lot of money in the long run. Sometimes, retaining wall damage can occur due to improper use of materials, a lack of reinforcements, or both.

When the retaining wall is built using cheap methods to cut corners, such as the use of a poor concrete mix or improper steel reinforcement, the wall will be unable to handle the expected load it was designed for.

When you attend the home inspection program at NATS, you will become an expert in identifying faults due to old age, deferred maintenance, weather damage, and poor workmanship. At the same time, knowing how to remedy these problems will help to distinguish your skills in the field of construction and home maintenance.

Interested in starting a home inspector career?

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It’s hard for a business to stall in growth when the customer service is outstanding. Providing excellent customer service is one of the best ways to both attract and retain customers. Consumers are generally busy, and want their needs met with ease so they can move on to the next project on their list. When you treat each customer with the value and respect they deserve, they are happy to pay for your services.

Home inspections often come during stressful times while moving or renovating homes–creating a snowball effect of projects and to-do lists for the customer. Remaining professionalism and reaching compromises–even with the most stressed out and difficult customers–may help you retain their business. No matter the situation, customer service that exceeds expectations is essential for a successful home inspection business. Read on to learn the benefits of a great customer service plan.

Better Understand the Local Market

When you take the time to learn about the local market, you can better serve your customers while growing your home inspector career. To develop an effective, solid plan of action with each client, you need to determine how the local real estate market is operating.

It’s best practice to spend some time to figure out what types of clients are buying and selling in your area. Gaining insight on these individuals will help you better serve your existing clients–making sure their homes attract the right buyer by ticking all of the boxes. Taking a look around the local market will also help you become familiar with common problems that are found in each neighborhood so you can properly prepare. Going this extra mile in your customer service will relinquish any unnecessary worries your clients may have–creating a smooth overall experience.

Retain Clients When You Become a Home Inspector

A huge benefit of excellent customer service is an increased client retention rate. Generally, the cost of acquiring new customers is more than the cost of nurturing existing relationships–making client retention a great priority to have. Real estate agents are often mutually beneficial clients, as they are constantly viewing homes that may need inspections and would benefit from an ongoing relationship with you when you become a home inspector.

The best way to retain these customers is by displaying great customer service. When a client knows that they are truly getting the service they are paying for, and feel valued and respected in the process, they will keep coming back.

Focus on fostering these relationships with existing clients by making sure they’re fully satisfied with every step of the project, and asking how you can better serve them. Keep an open line of communication with your client list, follow up with them throughout the process, and always make sure they feel valued with your time and commitment to them individually.

Serve People First for Success

Serve people first, and your business second. A successful business never loses sight of being human. Above all the projects and business plans, you are serving other humans who want to feel a personal connection to what they’re paying for, making sure it’s the right purchase for them.

Some businesses lose sight of this personal touch as they strive to be ever more efficient, reliable, fast, and affordable. When it comes down to it, many consumers would gladly pay more for great customer service, knowing that the business cares about their satisfaction and is taking care of their needs.

Lead your projects with your skill and knowledge, and really “wow” the client with your kindness and genuine desire to help them in their journey to a better home. When you display your mastery of home inspection and careful consideration for each client’s needs, you will be giving the highest level of customer service they could ask for.

Interested in starting home inspector training?

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If you’re seeking a career as a home inspector, you’ll be helping buyers to get a good idea of the condition of the house they’re about to purchase. During your home inspection career, one important part of the home you’ll be assessing is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. HVAC systems can be expensive to repair or replace, thus making it important for prospective homeowners to determine whether these systems are in good working order. Below, discover some tips to help you properly evaluate heating and ventilation systems within a home throughout your career as a home inspector.

After Home Inspector Training, Conduct a Visual Assessment First

Once you become a home inspector, the first thing you’ll want to do when beginning to inspect a home’s heating and ventilation system is to perform a visual assessment of the system itself. In most cases, a visual assessment can be very informative about the condition of the system itself. A visual inspection will allow you to flag any superficial problems, in addition to determining the system’s age and general performance. During your visual assessment, check the condition of the air filters–ensuring that they aren’t clogged with debris. Additionally, inspect the internal areas of the system to determine whether there’s a buildup of soot. If there’s an excessive amount of dust and soot, this can negatively impact the efficiency of the system. Lastly, inspect the blower motors and the fan belts, as these components may need to be replaced if they show significant signs of damage.

Perform Test-Starts to See How the System Operates

Once your visual inspection is complete, you can move on to test the performance of the HVAC systems. First, you can test-start the furnace to ensure that the temperature is correctly reflected on the thermostat, and that the furnace is firing properly. This test shows how the furnace is performing–helping future homeowners to know whether the right amount of heat is being delivered into the home. Next, you can check the safety switches within the system to ensure that they’re functioning correctly. Without working safety switches, homeowners are at risk of their heating system expelling pollutants into their air in their home. When these tests demonstrate that the furnace, thermostat, and safety switches are working properly, the heating system can be deemed both healthy and efficient.

Look Out for These Common Issues

As a professional with home inspector training, being familiar with common heating system issues can help you to catch a problem that might otherwise be overlooked. When it comes to heating system components, there are a few that will probably need replacing if an inspection hasn’t been conducted in a while. Air filters, belts, coils, valves, fan motors, compressors exchangers, and fuses are all examples of components which have a shorter lifespan than the system itself. When these are replaced, the longevity of the heating system will typically improve. Another set of issues to look out for are frequent cycling, a lack of heat, or too much heat coming from the furnace. These problems can indicate that the thermostat settings need to be adjusted, that the filters are clogged, or that there is insufficient airflow. During your home inspection career, look out for these issues in order to keep prospective buyers as informed as possible!

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