gtblum

I agree with everything Jim said, except for the comment about the mantles. They fit perfectly with the rest of that slam together, wanna be, finish work. You might want to consider hiring someone with a bit of talent to start over, or maybe just decorate it to where it distracts from the obvious. Click to Enlarge 47.52 KB

Candy, doughnuts, pizza, pens, key chains, and other, are worn out, and old school. They've seen it all. If you want to make a lasting impression that will get them talking about you, just pass out envelopes of ca$h. Everybody likes cash and it won't screw up anyone's diet plan.

I used to use the "water popping" technique (though I never heard that term applied to it) when finishing pieces of furniture, though not to prep for stain. I'd do it to achieve a flawlessly smooth surface. I'd repeatedly raise the "fur" and sand it down again with fresh sharp sandpaper until no more fur would come up. It made for an impeccably smooth surface. With stain, I'd be concerned that even a light buffing with steel wool or scotch brite would remove some of the stain, leaving light spots. Let us know how it works out. Never heard the term water popping, but raising the grain or nap is a common step in creating a glass smooth finish with cabinets or furniture. I use sanding sealer to raise the grain and a 320 grit for the final sanding.

According to the OSHA 10 training manual, a dust mask won't stop the particulates that cause health problems. You might better wear a respirator with the proper filter for what you're hoping to stop, and maybe use a spray bottle of water to keep everything wet enough to reduce the amount of airborne.

Funny. Around here, they're called potato bugs.

Pointing fingers and blaming others is a lot easier for those who possess the negotiating skills of a four year old in a shopping cart, than overcoming objections and working a deal until it's dead.

Sure. Now he brings in the good snacks. Some advice for the students. If you have lunch at the Village House Restaurant, stay away from the bacon cheeseburger deluxe. You'll keep eating until you finish it. If you do, you'll be junk for the rest of the day.

When you get done playing with that toy, make one of these. [utube] " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344">

It would be politically incorrect to use that word for anyone other than agents, so...beware. Marc Is that right? Apology accepted.

I don't know about RE sponsored programs, but the one I'm involved with does an incredible job educating the students. Vulnerable? Not when they're done. http://www.hochhq.org/homeowner-education/

My mistake. I missunderstood the acronym. Just the same, I'm not sure I'd muddy the water with discussions about Governors, boards, and things that these people won't understand, and won't retain.

If Marc feels the need for name calling, maybe I should step back and reconsider my approach. Tell me, Marc. In what way is this information beneficial to first time homebuyers, who likely don't have much of an understanding of what a home inspector is, to begin with? What is it you hope they will take away from this that will give them an understanding of the home inspection process? Are these folks on the edge of their seats while you explain about (trying to seat the most qualified folks on the Board)? Are you involved with an RE sponsored program, where someone is over everyone's shoulder, expecting them to all play nice with each other?

15 more of them got the message on Saturday, during my segment of the FTB program I work with. When it's explained that everyone involved, from the seller, the agents, the lawyers, and the lenders depend on the sale going through, in order for them to make one dime, the students get it real quick. It's about them. They need to make the decision about who they hire, for what. Realtors can control as much as we let them. The way around that is in educating the public. I got an FTB class in 2 hours (32 individuals/couples). Tonight is a different approach: it starts with what regulation doesn't do: require disclosure of COI's, then moves to the problem of a lack of a metric for inspector expertise which inconveniences both homebuyer and the governor (trying to seat the most qualified folks on the Board). After that is a novel way of determining inspector expertise and a couple other COI's relating to termite inspectors and 3rd party code inspectors on a Builder's payroll. Several other topics until I hit 90 minutes. I'll ponder your approach. Sounds like a good one. Marc Not sure who you're talking to at your classes, or how you plan to keep them awake. Sounds like 90 minutes of who gives a crap? Sorry if that sounds harsh. I'm talking to first time homebuyers. I make it all about them. They're the ones committing to a 30 year investment. They need to be in control of who they hire and know why. Who are these inspectors? What do they do? Where do they come from? How do you hire one? What's the process? Why is the inspection arguably the single most important part of the entire transaction? We talk very openly about dirty agent tricks, and what kind of things should raise a red flag. That subject alone, can burn a good 20 minutes of time. I use My FB page. Pictures. Everyone loves pictures. Lots of scary stuff and lots of funny stuff. I get them involved. I make them laugh. I ask them questions and encourage them to interrupt when they have questions. People having fun while learning don't fall asleep like they do at a death by powerpoint lecture. In the end, they have more than a clue about who we are and why they need us. I'm not saying I have the answer. The people running this program seem to like my message. They've upped my schedule in the rotation to three times a quarter, now. I'm just fine with that.

15 more of them got the message on Saturday, during my segment of the FTB program I work with. When it's explained that everyone involved, from the seller, the agents, the lawyers, and the lenders depend on the sale going through, in order for them to make one dime, the students get it real quick. It's about them. They need to make the decision about who they hire, for what. Realtors can control as much as we let them. The way around that is in educating the public.

Get the coffee mugs and give them to everyone. Forget the pens. People will bring them to work and leave them in break rooms. People who don't use them, will leave them on their desks and put the other guy's pens in them. Either way, they're seen.