Nolan Kienitz

I once used that analogy and, at the end of the inspection, the agent asked me to show her where the tire was on the roof. . . I said something like, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that there *was* a bald tire on the roof. Rather I was trying to explain that the worn shingles were *like* a bald tire in that neither could be relied upon to provide long term service." Of, course, she just screwed up her face, tilted her head, and said, "huh?" At that point, the buyer jumped in and helpfully explained, "He was making a simile. You know, like when someone says that you're as dumb as a post, they don't really mean that you're a post, just that you're as dumb as one." I took that as my cue to thank everyone and get the heck out of there. I don't get it. Is she or isn't she a post? Steel or Wood ??

Yeah, I'm just wondering how time consuming it is to add a discussion forum on Whisper Solution's website and ask a couple users to work as moderators. It's common practice in open source community and could be very helpful to users without costing the company an arm and a leg in terms of manpower. Marc & Norm, Many years ago there was a Whisper Solutions forum as part of their main website. There was some interchange among the most active users of both PI and WR, but there was traffic back/forth ... on/off with other forums such as here at TIJ and IN. That traffic would often shift away from the Whisper Forum and thus less traffic. One never knows ... planting the seed may get a rethink about such. Note that your (Norm's) comments have already had Eric put those items on the list for review, insertion, testing and likely release.

Marc, Whisper Computer Solutions have many templates to try and accommodate multiple needs. Their application is also one of the most flexible available. Checkboxes are common in their first/original template which is the TX-TREC mandated product that has/requires a certain number of checkboxes. We all have different approaches and ideas and I stand amazed when I talk with other inspectors and other folks who use this application or similar applications and how it fits their business needs or the nuances they come up. My approach to doing something a certain way in an application has been blown away more than once when I've learned from someone else's experience on how they get the same thing done. Your thoughts above have again just expanded my mindset about an approach I never thought of.

Norm, Glad my suggestions have worked out for you. WR is quite powerful and very versatile. I love working with it and creating new templates and trying new things all the time. I'll mention to Eric the 'dim' presentation of the cloaked items to see if there is something that can be done to assist in that area. As I noted i have the same visibility problem, but then others do not ... can only be my "maturing" !! Keep your prime focus on the inspection and delivering good/solid information to your clients ... don't get "too wrapped up" in the application. Bottom line the software is just a 'tool' and not all tools work well for every inspector/user. Ergo ... the many choices available for all of us.

1. You don't have to use the "Texas" template in Canada unless you are choosing to do so and modifying for use in your province. There is a lot of 'boilerplate' in that sample template. The text that is "red" and in some cases is italic (could be any choice) is considered "locked" meaning that you can't inadvertently change it when building your actual report. You can select/highlight all the "red" text and click on Edit and choose to lock or unlock the selected text. 2. Cloaked text. Nope can't change that. I have a similar problem ... especially as I keep "maturing". 3. I only put very few words under each image as a caption. I also use the internal editor to add graphics and 'some limited' text inside the image. There isn't really a text wrap around an image feature in WR that I'm aware of. I'll ask Eric (one of the developers of WR). 4. Go to Setup/Preferences/Checkboxes and select the type of image you want to appear/print for "Topic" and "Comment" Checkmarks. Hope that helps you a tad. I started out using Whisper Solutions "PI" version about 10-years ago and switched over to "Reporter" when it was released over 5-years ago. I've been very fortunate to be able to help the folks from Whisper Solutions test, debug and come up with new features all the time. If one is digging into the inner workings of the application and doing design/development it can sometimes be intimidating. Once you get your template built you will be well rewarded in report generation. I built my own template (based on the Texas TREC requirements) as TREC was making modifications to the template several years ago (they are doing so again this year) and the folks at Whisper used my template as the basis for the updated release once TREC approved the final. I don't use the boilerplate checkbox comments as, over the years, I've developed my own library of RapidRemarks (Whispers term for 'comments') and I use a fair amount of cloaked text as well. Shoot me an e-mail with any questions you may have and I might actually be able to help you figure out a solution. Enjoy the application.

I've been searching the FHA/HUD site and may be simply looking past what I'm looking for, but still can't find an answer to the question below: With respect to the HUD-52580 form ... where does it specifically state (FHA-HUD site) who is "required" to fill out and sign the form? I've seen comments on various appraisers forums indicating they would not touch it as it is an 'inspectors' item. Yet, I can't find a "precise" requirement at FHA-HUD of who is "required" to sign the form. What is driving this is I was told today that various organizations working on the related Section 8 projects are not having "any" inspector (state licensed, FHA Fee Inspector certified or HUD 203k certified, etc., etc..) fill out and sign the form. They are just using a staffer who is processing paperwork to fill out the form as best as possible, sign in and bundle with paperwork for the project's file. So ... if anyone has better eyes or search luck than me and could provide me with a link for the "signing requirement" I would certainly appreciate it. I have all the necessary certifications for FHA, HUD 203k, ICC, TX TREC and on and on so it is not an issue (as such) for me ... I'm just trying to help the organizations keep out of trouble. Thanks in advance.

Joe, You certainly like living on thin ice with that approach ... seems to me.

Ultra Stinger(s)

Thanks to Kurt I am now packing the Olight M20 along with my Fenix TK11 and TK15. Two Streamlights are sitting on my desk and haven't been used in over a year. I think I'm pretty well "lit up". [:-bigeyes

Uhm, where are your bouncing smiley-faces? When you reply click on the "Show Entire Smile List" I just tried it as I didn't know where they were either. [:-jump2]

And then there is this link (posted below) about the current Texas drought. However ... the drought is current. The complaint is 'aged'. Texas Drought

I was just chatting with another TX inspector about this and without seeing the report, not having been there, knowing more particulars it is not wise to "opine" about precisely what the inspector did or did not do OR should have done. The 'win' (if it can be called such) are the comments about the appeals court stating the DTPA act is not a valid path for such a suit.

The Texas Court of Appeals has overruled a lower court in favor of an inspector. This may close the door (at least in Texas) on clients filing claims against inspectors using the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. To read more, Click here.

Kurt & Jim are right on. There is not one home inspector who is a pulitzer prize winning writer ... although most think they are [:-crazy]

Few more images that go with the ones I posted above. These below are of the PEX Manifold distribution panel on the interior garage wall. This one has been nicely done ... compared to some I've seen. Click to Enlarge 63.04 KB Click to Enlarge 68.18 KB Click to Enlarge 102.57 KB

Marc, Here are some images I took recently at a phase inspection of a condo. These are the typical transitions i see over here ... D/FW. Click to Enlarge 37.05 KB Click to Enlarge 49.7 KB Click to Enlarge 51.22 KB Click to Enlarge 41.89 KB

I've been running the same for the past 1-1/2 years on my main notebook. It was worked very well. I still have "paid" AVG on my backup notebook and my wife's and occasionally some items slip through. None of them are foolproof.

Saw this at the ICE website today. URL is below and I've also attached a PDF of the announcement. Businessman Found Guilty of Trafficking Counterfeit Circuit Breakers Download Attachment: Guilty_Trafficking_Counterfeit_CircuitBreakers.pdf 350.49 KB

I always make note of it. Whether anything is ever done about it ... I just don't know.

My nose still works fine!! []

I put this URL in my reports due to all the CFLs showing up in home. I dislike them pretty much across the board ... even though I'm using about 3 in various locations in my home. CFL FAQs

There you go again Chad. One helluva job. Never, ever see such here in Texas.

Ditto Jim's comment. I only wish the foundation cracks I see were that minimal !!

... call someone else ?? And then pay him: "How much?" I had similar happen to me in "rural county" inspection of a property in East Texas. That was when another Texas state agency controlled such, but was controlled by the big dog home builders. Builder didn't like what I said and got someone else, whom he paid off. That Texas agency has since been "sunsetted" (or dis-banded) by the Texas State Legislature. Now ... "out in the county" there is nobody holding the builders to task. Not that there ever 'was'.

Under the carport, but maybe enclosed in a closet? I've seen that many times. Portion of the closet is HVAC/water heater and another portion of the sectioned off closet is shovel and rake storage.