Steven Hockstein

A mailbox for the troll that lives in the basement.

I am wondering why this topic has resurfaced. I think the concensus of the home inspectors that commented is that it is a poorly constructed question. What is the purpose of the exam? I think it is to help determine if someone has minimum qualifications to perform a home inspection, not to trick someone with the obscure wording of a question. The question is bad and should never be used again. Your comparison is flawed because an "Architectural Shingle" can be an "Asphalt Shingle." A car cannot be a truck (of course if you watch the Home Depot Parking lot some people think their family car can be used to haul sheets of plywood or gypsum board with entertaining results).

Brian, I have missed your input and always unique tag lines. Hope you come back and visit often between shifts at the salt mine. Steve

Hey Steve, can I borrow that Mastercard? I don't have one. Unfortunately, there is the minor detail that the card still has to be paid monthly.

You do realize that associations like ASHI can not provide "group" insurance until our leaders in Washington DC allow it to happen by changing the laws...... Scott, I know that a home inspection organization cannot directly provide the insurance. I was thinking about it the other way around: If a group of professional Home Inspectors can show that there is a lower risk to the insurance companies because of their better qualifcatrions than the average inspector, this would make the group more attractive to them and could hopfefully translate into discounts for the members. The leadership could solicite competitive bids for coverage. This could apply to E&O, Business Liability, Disability, and possible other types of insurance. I would also suggest soliciting for ASHI member discounts for things like office supplies, computers, etc.. FYI- The AIA has lots of these type of benefits available to members. I know that it is permitted by the government. I can even get an AIA Mastercard! Regards, Steve

I was one of the founding members of Garden State ASHI. Many of us left and started NJALPHI when it seemed that ASHI national was more interested in buying buildings, "Branding", and allowing a select few people to hijack an organization that I was originally very proud to be a part of. That being said, I applaud you and your efforts to get involved and I hope that you are successful in bringing ASHI back to where it used to be. I am sure I am not alone in my position that if the leaders work to lower the dues and spend the members' money more carefully on things like education, benefits (i.e. group insurance plan?), and other things that most of us actually want, you will have a good chance of getting us back into the fold. I wish you all of the best.

Congrats. You should be proud. It is especially heartwarming to see a father and son bonding together in something that is positive.

My calls are usually from an overseas call center. There is a long delay between when I answer and when they respond. It is also obvious that English is not the first language of the caller and that they are reading from a script. When you ask questions they keep trying to get back into their script.

I have used your reponse three times since I read this last week. Thanks! Kinda reminds me of the old Seinfeld bit for telephone solicitors.

While watching the news last night my wife and I were amused by a story about a woman that was praising her dog for warning her that her garage roof was about to collapse. She explained in the story that after the dog kept barking for an unknown reason she went into the garage and heard unusual creaking noises. She become concerned about the structure and rushed to pull her cars out right before the roof fell and flattened the space below. I mentioned to my wife that she was only seconds away from receiving a Darwin Award for caring more about her cars than her own life!

If it is the part I am thinking of, he was concerned that there was a post supporting a beam under the second floor deck that was transferring a load down to the first floor deck and not onto the foundation or a properly designed beam. This could only be seen and evaluated if the wall finishes were taken off and it is way beyond what should be expected of a home inspector.

Anyone else notice that they were pulling down the ceiling while wearing face masks but with no eye protection?

Jim, Luckily for me, the recordings and post production costs were paid for by others. They sometimes make a little money when they perform live but I am not expecting anything. It makes me happy to see them having fun. I just need to figure out how to support myself in my old age. Guess I should keep playing the Mega Million Lottery! Steve PS- Thanks to you other guys for the positive comments!

I know that some of you are into music. My son Dan is one of the band members in this band. They released their second album this week and it is available as a free download at this site: http://thenewivyleaguealbum.tumblr.com/ Trivia-It was recorded in an artist's studio in Montauk NY between their sophmore and junior high school years.

A few (10+) years ago I participated in some first time "Home Buyers" seminars that were held in the local library. It took about an hour of my time and was organized by a local real estate agent. There was a lawyer, real estate agent, home inspector, and mortgage broker. We each spoke for about ten minutes and gave information about our particular part of the transaction. It was more of an education talk than a hard sell. At the end of the presentation we offered to hang around and answer individual questions. We all left some business cards and brochures on a table. The attendees must have appreciated what I said because I got a few inspections out of them. I think the fact that I was not hard selling my services was a better sales tool than explaining to everyone why they should use me instead of my competition.

Darren, You probably know this already but in case you don't: NJ has a program to assist in the cost of the removal of underground tanks. A lot of the tank removal companies offer to help with the paperwork needed (including some that advertise in our NJ ALPHI newsletter). Steve

They are on different floors and sharing a flue? I would call it out just for that.

Just curious. Anyone know how many active, dues paying members are in ASHI? What are the annual dues now?

same here

Long distance analysis of a condensation problem does not seem to be working for you. Like I said before, HIRE SOMEONE THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Free advice is worth what you pay for it.

If you pulled the furnace flue from the chimney and are now using a direct vent system, there can now be a condensation problem within the chimney. Is the chimney on an outside wall? Did the furnace installer discuss the issues related to removing the furnace from the chimney and leaving the water heater? Not sure if this would cause problems with condensation on the windows but it can cause other problems that you should know about. Where was the return located before you installed it in the living room? You need to contact someone that knows about heating/air conditioning/dew points, etc.. Call one of you local home inspectors and ask to pay for a consultation. It will be a lot cheaper than repairing the damages caused by prolonged excessive moisture in the house.

Two questions: 1. It is definitely on the inside of the windows and not between the insulated glass panes? Condesation between the panes is a completely different problem. 2. Like Scott wrote, is this a new problem? What is different in your home this year? Have you recently replaced the furnace, renovated a bathroom, new siding, etc?... There are many potential causes of condensation and you need to provide more info to get back educated guesses.

I agree with Darren. If it isn't the humidifier itself, the culprit may be one of those self piercing saddle valves for the humidifier water supply. I often see leaks at valve.

Darren, It may have been me. When I get sales calls like that I tell them that I am too busy to take on any more work. [^] When I first started out I fell for the sales pitches in which I was recommended by a certain office to advertise in their company magazine. The salesperson led me to believe that it was important to participate in the company publication. I later found out that it was an outside company and NOTHING was impacted except my pocket and the cost of the ad. We live and learn.

It seems to me that I am seeing staining more often now then in my earlier inspecting years. I have to assume one of two things: 1). The components used to make the shingles are different and less resistant to staining. 2). The stuff that is growing has become an epidemic. 3). Both of the above?