mgbinspect

kumbaya my Lord... kumbaya [^]

My reaction was exactly the opposite. My first exposure to the old, old, old ASHI Forum was a huge eye opener for me. I was a complete newby and my only exposure to other inspectors was the guy who mentored me and the ancient old guard of the local association, which, at that time, had nothing to do with ASHI. The knowledgebase that everyone worked off of was based on poorly formed opinions, folklore, and superstition. Then I got to meet leaders from both ASHI & NAHI. The NAHI guy came to speak at one of our local association meetings. I won't mention his name because his conduct was embarrassing. He was inebriated, foul mouthed, and insulting to the women who were present. He thought he was being very witty, but none of what he said made any sense. His technical knowledge was very poor. After that meeting, I considered dropping out. If this guy was an example of a national ideal home inspector, I wanted nothing to do with it. Then, at a subsequent meeting, Rich Matzen spoke. He was well dressed, well spoken, and extremely engaging. His technical knowledge was way, way beyond mine and he talked, answered questions, and debated issues like a true professional. He explained that ASHI was nothing more than a group of inspectors who realized that by joining together, they could create an aggregate that was bigger than its individual parts and that could steer the profession with confidence. I was impressed as all get out and decided that ASHI was the place for me. After joining, I tried logging on to this discussion board thingy. There I found this guy, Noel McShane, who answered every question that anyone asked. Not only that, but he included references to back up his opinions. So far, I had never seen or heard of a home inspector doing that. *Everyone* else in those days just passed on what they had heard from someone else. And *no one* dared to cite sections of the code. Yet here was this guy McShane slicing & dicing anyone who disagreed with him because he was able to cite chapter & verse at will. Not only that, but he wrote eloquently and with great clarity -- something else that I had never experienced from a home inspector. He also taught me this, "It ain't a bad gig. Better than punching a clock. But it'll never compete with a good painting, a well written story, or a well tended garden. It also will never buy back a day with your daughter on a softball field or a stolen moment to watch the little figures that appear from the heavy rain falling on the lake. I wouldn't swap one Poem for all the codebooks in the whole damn world." Noel passed on 8 years ago, but he's still one of the reasons I stay with ASHI. - Jim Katen, Oregon One thing is for sure, which is very much my own problem - I am definitely guilty of forming an opinion set, pretty much, in stone and not being very graceful about giving it another try. I do owe the ASHI Forum or anything (and anyone) that much. I've been a NAHI CRI for as long as I've been an ASHI Member - passing the two very similar tests (both four hours, I think it was and equally challenging at the time) within a week of each other. You hit the nail on the head with NAHI. As a vendor, I went to their national conventions two times. There just wasn't any real fire in the belly there - pleasant folks knowledgeable folks, but a very different uncharged atmosphere. As for mold, this too shall pass. I did a seminar on it probably a decade ago, and thanks to my experiences in the home owner's insurance industry, was turned off to the very obvious "mold is gold" mentality that I recognized immediately even back then. I never pursued it. And, I'm glad that the public seems to have calmed some regarding it. Clients DO ask now and then if I perform the test and I always have to say no. Because of that, last week a NACHI inspector (whom I like just fine) showed up on one of MY inspections as the Mold guy. That was a bit annoying. I'm still on the fence regarding what to do about that. But, I'm not sure leaving ASHI is the way to best voice strong negative opinions about mold? Maybe our calling (and yours Kurt and Bill, is to be the very strong and respected voices of reason that you are, from within where you actually enjoy a respected pulpit? I know I hear you guys and have shared your concerns for years. Obviously, I've got a lot of your polarized thoughts bouncing around in my head. I hadn't really, prior to this thread, given much thought to leaving ASHI and will probably remain with the organization for some time to come. I DO, as you can tell from my previous posts, recognize and appreciate the fact that there IS an ASHI. Leaving the world to "the other organization" would be tragic, since ASHI is the true original champion. Maybe, I'll even sneak into the forum and see how a second chance goes. It could be that they've missed me - a reenactment of the Prodigal Son!... NAH!!!!... (Steve Martin) [:-party] PS. Since this has drifted slightly in the direction of mold, I came into the kitchen this morning to discover a HUGE menacing patch of stachybotrys has sprung up on my counter top next to the range. Click to Enlarge 28.9 KB I've got my respirator on and the remediation team is on the way to set up the containment area. Oh.. wait a minute. Click to Enlarge 34.42 KB It's just one of my grandson's toys. Never mind..

My first experiences on the ASHI forum were so unpleasant, that I never returned. As, Marc so eloquently depicted it, without actually saying it: too many silver-backs. Before one can begin to learn much there, you must first learn your place - at the feet of the gods there. At least folks are tolerant and thoughtful here - testy sometimes, but always civil. That works. I'm sentimental I guess, when it comes to ASHI. I have a reverence possibly for what it once was? (Or, what I thought it was?) As I got closer to it, I became a bit disappointed as I realized how terribly cliquish it was. That was a real turnoff. But, even now, a part of me wants to hold on the the notion that it is the Gold Standard of our profession (right or wrong). It's an institution in my mind that offered us a bar to get over - a right of passage. So, even though I don't really actively receive that much from it, leaving is emotionally hard. It will take some pondering...

Wirklich dachte ich "was ist" auch. Aber, mein Deutsch ist schlecht - vierzig Jahre alt (fur Lutheran Seminary). Ich mochte Deutsches. Heute erlerne ich Spanish. So, warum bedecken bentonite? - auf englisch fur Randy (I really miss German. It was fun, but I never meet anyone that speaks it so it is impossible to practice.) Lo ciento, Randy. So, Mike, why would one want to (or need to cover) bentonite?

Bitte ist was bentonite?

It's obviously stood the test of time, but I'd be reluctant to tempt fate by doing the crawlspace inspection while a dance party was happening above.

Heck, on these 100 degree days here, I definitely wear hiking gear including Keene sandals. Never any negative feedback. And sometimes a bit of envy. Might as well inspect in comfort

A definite first for me. Is the slab merely supported by the joists on a ledger that is cut-nailed into the concrete? That's kinda scary...

Hey, there's never a question........all I do is haggle price....... I think ASHI needs us more than we need them, honestly. Even if I miss a couple referrals from their site, I don't care. This latest mess pushed me over the edge. Haven't been to the ASHI forums in quite some time. How's the fireworks over there? Boy, I haven't put a toe in that shark tank in years...

I thought the same thing myself last night: "No, but I AM a certified member of TIJ." You know, Mike O, it would take at least few years before our newly formed association reached Animal Farm stage... Lol... PS. That's a great way to put it Marc. There are a lot of loose Silverbacks in a national association...

None. And, I'm certain that, like you, Jim, as soon as I severed ties, I'd look back and realize that it didn't hurt a bit. Most of our apprehensions are illegitimate fig newtons (yeah I know - figments) of our own imaginations. I could use a nice cruise... Ya'll might just reform me...

Yesterday I performed an inspecion of a vacant foreclosure home with all of the typical horrific signs of abuse and neglect. But, while making my pretty large list of what's wrong with the HVAC distribution system, (gaps, filth, contamintation, high water marks in the central return duct, Click to Enlarge 53.65 KB Click to Enlarge 48.3 KB Click to Enlarge 65.92 KB Click to Enlarge 54.1 KB Click to Enlarge 84.88 KB I ran across one condition I found particularly amusing. Someone went through the bottom of the central return duct to service the condensate drain line that drains into the floor drain that is directly under the central return duct. They didn't seal up the duct afterwards. Click to Enlarge 27.32 KB Nice!

Really? Think about it, brother... One to two inspections pays the fee for the year. As I've already mentioned, I'm NOT a huge fan of the national associations for "human and spirit friendly" reasons. During my years as a traveling vendor, I quickly deduced that there are a lot of self-inflated jack-asses at the top of any national association that are just thrilled to spout pure poison in your direction if you give them half a chance. But, that being said, take your emotional hat off and put on your marketing hat. Let's see... you do two inspections essentially for free, and enjoy your spot on (and connection to) probably the biggest qualified national billboard related to your profession on the internet. That's an opportunity that's tough to beat. I simply pay my dues, and keep my head in the proverbial sand. (I don't know. I'd like to think that the ASHI Pros outweigh the Cons and that I'm not missing the call to chivalry. Does this make me a business whore? Lol. It's all so dang complicated anymore...)

Hey Bain, That's obviously a metal building. While a sales rep and conceptual designer for a Design/Build Contractor in the 80's we sold and constructed Butler Metal Buildings. We put up a ton of them for car dealerships, body shops, horsey folks, etc. Somewhere on the exterior or interior of the building will be a tag or emblem identifying the product manufacturer (typically in the gable or at a corner). I'd recommend that your client go directly to them. Some metal buildings come with amazing warranties. Butler's was - are you sitting down? - 25 years - not pro-rated. You can rely on the fact that the sales representative in your area, if he's smart, doesn't want anyone out there saying bad things about his product. You know how it goes - one unhappy customer will say more than ten happy ones. It's probably the client's best and most affordable way to get the problem truly solved instead of band-aided.

I can't imagine they'd make you re-test, but they probably couldn't and wouldn't state "member in good standing since". - that's lost. So, you'd look a bit green.

In spite of my negative feelings about egomaniacs in the upper echelon, I still see ASHI as a respectable certification and do, often enough, book inspections thanks to the ASHI web site. I suppose ASHI's a bit like Animal Farm, you just have to recognize it and follow your own business and professional heart.

I'm sure you're right, but it sounds like an awful way to spend the days. And nights. When the $hit hits the fan I have to deal with it now. I can't even think about kicking back until the problem has gone away. Oy - what a way to go through life. Exactly... An unhappy camper out there just gnaws at me.. When it happens, I'm in the car and on the way within minutes. And, usually, it's some minor thing that's been blown completely out of proportion by another one of those subcontractors, friends or family members that was on a mission to feel good about them self by making you feel bad about yourself. As one of my old HI colleagues once said, "May ALL your problems be this 'major'." [:-graduat [:-party]

I'm sure you're right, but it sounds like an awful way to spend the days. It's a brilliant idea and it's the way things get done these days. Here's a check. Go away. It's cheaper than going to court. Hell on the reputation though...

Seersucker? In Michigan?... Really?... [?] Man, every time I think of a seersucker suit, I see Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird... OK, I'm done feeling old...

Isn't this post supposed to be followed by that guy that talks at about 900 words a minute spewing out a humongus disclaimer? [:-graduat

I'm sure you're right, but it sounds like an awful way to spend the days.

2-night caribbean cruise (suite). Marc Shoot! In this economy, my favorite Carnival Vacation planner keeps sending my cruise deals that are 4 days 3 nights for under $200.00 (inside cabin of course, but who spends time in the cabin?)

The consumer judges the mechanic. The judgement of HI's is predominately done by agents. The mechanic who doesn't meet the stiff expectations of the consumer quickly goes out of business. Agents want an HI that doesn't break the sale, either deliberately or via incompetence, so the incompetent inspector that worships agents generally leads the profession in sales. Marc The only part of that equation, that I always wonder about is that you'd think that incompetent inspectors would deal with an endless river of complaints. I personally HATE complaints and do what we must to avoid them - be thorough. I might field a complaint about every two years. If I was getting them constantly, I'd have be a nervous wreck. So, how do guys that candy coat everything or sweep stuff under the rug 1. endure the complaints and 2. keep getting the referrals? Frankly, it doesn't add up to me...

Excepting a handful of folks that I know from here, I'm embarrassed by everything and everyone that has something to do with home inspection. Well, that's encouraging... [:-weepn] Truthfully, while I've been a member of ASHI and NAHI for many years, I don't pay too much attention to either. Their kinda like "church" the closer you get to the internal workings, the more it smells and the more likely you are to run across someone on a mission to feel better about themself by making you feel worse about yourself.

Before I had finished his recap, I was already having the same thought. I suppose a corporate attorney could be thinking of eliminating possible liability on someone else's nickel too - Let's take a ride on the Home Owner's Insurance Company! Yes!