Les

I am sure the real estate market in Louisiana is as Marc describes. The influence of an agent on the inspection and process is up for discussion. I think Marc is a little jaded in his writings and can tell you that it is not exactly that situation in Michigan. Yes we have some inspectors that "soften" there reports and conversations, but not always to benefit the agent. Agents are not inherently evil! Agents do not have to protect anyone that is acting unethically or outside the law. I have been in this business for many decades, am married to a real estate broker, and count many real estate people as my personal friends. I have been in many markets across the United States and interacted on a personal level with both inspectors and real estate agents. To lump them together, all as slackers and crooks, is not reasonable. Nor is it reasonable to spout platitudes about me, myself and I. I also believe that "benign" is not a good word for this conversation. Benign means gentle or not effective to this northern boy. Of course, we all think of benign and cancer. Hope others will contribute to this discussion.

Painterly?

Chris, I wish you luck and good fortune, but it is not likely you will get a call to do a ride along as long as you remain obscure. This is a really good bunch of inspectors, but usually skeptical of blind requests.

The FPE is a great score! I gave a new Zinsco away couple years ago. I appreciate your approach to education; hands and eyes on!

I strongly feel this is about management of expectations. You are not managing your clients expectations when you offer a warranty or buy back. Just my opinion; it is a bait and switch or at best puffery EDIT: was advised that puffery may not be the best word. It gets the point across, so maybe it is. "Origin[edit] In a legal context, the term originated in the 1892 English Court of Appeal case Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company, which centred on whether a monetary reimbursement should be paid when an influenza preventive device failed to work. The manufacturers had paid for advertising stating that £100 would be paid in such circumstances then failed to follow this promise. Part of their defence was that such a statement was "mere puff" and not meant to be taken seriously. While the defence ultimately lost the case, the principle was confirmed that certain statements made by advertisers that were obviously not made in a serious manner could be exempt from usual rules relating to promises in open contracts."

likely 1950's. no zip code on tag.

Dear Tom, I like whips too!

Marc, everything you write is correct, except you made an assumption that the efflorescence would occur under the strap and there would be moisture under the strap, etc. IE: cracked wall, water entry, efflorescence, clean the wall, apply the strap, then what?

I often use the analogy they are very similar to strapping tape on packages. I have also asked, and not gotten an answer from mfg, how efflorescence affects them.

Pretty common around our area. Only failures were from improper installation aka: skilled homeowners. Are they all kevlar?

Do you have any experience with inspections? Fill in your profile info for a little better introduction.

klixon disc

We often see sawdust of various particle size, but nothing that size. I was raised in a town that had several furniture factories and sawdust was cheap/free. Every couple of years someone would die when buried in the huge piles. The planers, gouges and shapers would make large chunks of wood and that was used to fire the boilers. There was a wood bowl factory that produced coarse sawdust in strands. Seems like weight would be an issue. Don't know.

I vote for Trane. particularly the xl line. good luck with several.

we always call them sky cranes. likely a better moniker out west!

I read the act and came away thinking you did not. Maybe I should re-read it.

Allison, do you have to have both in place to do screening/testing in Iowa?

It sure looks like Perlite. Did you taste it? It should lay on the tongue crisply with a hint of rose and McDonald's old clam shell at the finish!

I partially agree. Velocity is the variable. if the air is moving across an orifice (opening) then it could create a vacuum.

Mike, I don't really know either. that setup seems a tad on the "poor workmanship" side of the spectrum 'tho. it is close to the window, leaky conduit, seems the fan is too large for the capacity of gutter downspout, etc.

I have not had one since late 90's. i was a "partner" with another inspector and it cost $16,000+-. Sold it and never made any money with it. too complicated.

They are running abt 6300 for a direct exchange here. that would be for a two storey 20yr old house abt 1800sqft.

We see few mini-splits of any variety. No Daikin in new construction. We are mostly seeing them as replacement for cornfield palaces abt 18-20 years old.

They are relatively new to our market area. I have read most of the stuff on the web, including reviews. What do you, as inspectors, think abt their product line. Also has there been a positive effect from their ownership of Goodman? Just looking to discuss, not necessarily endorse or dis-credit them.

I agree with Jim K. Educating the potential buyer/seller has always been a problem for us. Both before google and now.