Me cheap....well ok, I am a little. If I can find used at :mrgreen:
We have 3-of them costing over $35,000.00, yea my father chokes on the cost of them too. Now days, they are a lot cheaper and a lot more features than our first two cameras.
My father is always, always asking if we can charge for them too. Rarely do we, mostly when we are doing investigative work for moisture do we charge.
The big question is does it make you money, YES it will.
Not in direct dollars, but in jobs won in competitive bids, it sells the job.
Maybe my competition can out dry me (I really doubt it) but if they don't have an IR camera and I do, I'm more than likely going to win, even if I'm higher.
It's the professionalism of the tool that sells, you can use the meter and find out the same info, but there is no wow factor with the meters.
For big losses where multiple rooms are wet on multiple floors it's invaluable. In seconds I can show you what is wet, with a meter it would take me many hours to do the same.
We've had roof leak jobs where the adjuster questioned what was wet, only looking at carpet and pad. Complaining when we told him more was wet, then nearly chit himself when we showed him what needed to be addressed.
A meter could have found it too, but can you imagine moving a 8-inch block across all walls in the home, floor to ceiling?
You guys will know what I'm talking about once you use them, and I suggest you do.
You don't need to have them, but it is a distinct advantage to have one.
The price is down to a fraction of what we paid years ago, rent one or lease one it will make you money.
It also great to use to protect yourself. Document the job with before and after proof, much cheaper than a lawyer.
Send the images with your bill and head off any frivolous claims.