Brian -
A typical one might go along the lines of:
“Hi is this Bob the Inspector? Bob I don’t know if you’ve seen the news yet today or if the media has come by or called you yet, but it was just horrible. If you remember that house you inspected for us about 5 months ago was on a fairly steep lot and last night it slid down the hill and off its foundation. Turns out it wasn’t bolted to the sill plates and they say theres no footing under the rear foundation wall”.
“Listen I need to get your insurance information for our attorney, and I gotta get over to the hospital to see Linda and our little girl. I was in the garage and got out OK, but they were trapped and pretty messed up”.
“Oh heck, gotta go now the reporters and city investigators are here again. Say whats the best number they can call you at?”
You can’t even believe some of the babblings I get long about then from whoever I’m toying with.