Tim Maxwell

I like the way the cheaper (400 series) New Balance sneakers grip comp shingles. They're not that comfortable but you can add some Dr. Scholls gel inserts and that changes everything. They last a year or less.

It will. I have been using a lap top on site for about 6 years now. If the house is vacant and I have time I will hang around and work on my report there. Of course I still use photos and a few notes to help complete the report. I NEVER finish the report onsite. It is emailed the same evening or next morning. I type around 60 wpm so I can get alot of information in the report template while on site instead of taking lots of notes. I only stop at the laptop 3 - 4 times. Then proofread and spell check when finished at the desk.

This may also be a job for one of the infrared cameras.....

The gas company will tag it here and shut the appliance down. So far I have not seen them shut the gas off at the meter. But I haven't seen a furnace in a bedroom closet lately either.

Most home owners don't seem to winterize here. But when I run into the situation and they are winterized. I just write it in the report that they were winterized and that I did not operate them.

when I was a teenager I remember being SO excited because my parents let me choose the color that I wanted for them to paint my room. Probably $5 for a gallon of paint.

They need a new county inspector. "unclear if it was up to code" my ass.

The suspect dates for Chinese drywall are 2004 - 2008. I guess it could have had some installed in a remodel or an addition...

Or the inside burner compartment shield not in place. I see that one often because some are kind of difficult to get in place so they just lean it up or leave it off.....

I've not seen an increase in complainers but many buyers are edgy and worrisome. It seems like the cheaper the house the more they worry. The biggest worrier I have had this year was paying 14k for a little 80 year old house that was the same today as it was 80 years ago. Needed new electrical, new plumbing, NEEDED HVAC and so on. The more they pay, the less they worry. I've never had an appliance complaint, but if and when I do I am not going to worry about it too much.

It looks to be above the ridge from the picture. I bet it works fine. No sooty mess around the top like it has been a problem.

I hate 'em. About a third of the ones I see no longer work. Another third or so has open splices from the original installation. Once in a while you get the weird high pointy hip roof that would benefit from a power ventilator. But the rest of the time ridge/soffit combo will do the trick. I really like the TechShield roof decking by LP. Everytime I've been in an attic that had that stuff installed it was 30 - 40 degrees cooler.

sign Shirley up for Johnny Dangerously II.........

I don't, but I also say that I don't. and why I don't. Same with TPR valves on water heaters. Sooner or later you'll have a real leaker like I did. I used to check TPR valves with everyone telling me not to. One day I gut the heavy leaker after checking one and it was in the laundry room. Had to get a plumber to replace it. That was the last one I checked and I bet it's 10 years ago....

I've only seen two like that in 14 years. The first one I saw looked like your photos. The seller was there and confirmed the chimney fire. He said the fire department showed up and kept the roof and surrounding area wet till it burned out. The second not quite as bad but still a fire. More than half the chimneys I look at need cleaning. Home owners just don't think of that type of maintenance often enough if at all.

That's what one looks like after a chimney fire....

If you were interested I bet you could get that one published in the ASHI reporter. That is a very cool find.

My older brother has always been a Bud drinker. I've always hated the taste of it and would bring my own when getting together with him. I think I'm allergic to beech wood.

Good thread in many ways. I enjoy all the Yuenglings and keep it in the fridge as my standard beer. But I do like the micro brews, big micro brews like Sam Adams, New Belgium, Flying Dog, and Sweetwater. I thoroughly enjoyed the Cape Cod Beer when we visited. Draft and Growlers only with the Cape Cod beer and you can about get it only on the Cape. At the time Plymouth was as far out as they served. In the last 4 years I had two close inspector friends retire or move to another field. I still talk with them but it's not the same since they are no longer "in it". Lot's of vacant foreclosed properties but lately some resales are back on the rise.

I see them often. Many do not last long. The motors burn out and lock up. They often have open splices/improper wiring. I don't like them because of that and they are often installed with other upper ventilation that prevents them from operating as intended. I prefer the continuous ridge and soffit vents. Many folks in the south will disagree with me on the power vents. I say if you plan to install them that in many cases you will need more than one, let them be your only upper ventilation, and get the ones with thermostats AND humidistats so it will also work when needed in the cooler months.

I'd say less than 10% of potential buyers I talk know about the NO licensing in GA. Alot of buyers are moving here from other states that do have licensing only for me to be the first to tell them there is none here. Builders have only been licensed for the last three years or so. Before that the only thing protecting home buyers was the local code authorities and independent inspectors. Last I heard from the GA state level was that they were satisfied with "free market" just the way it has been. It is a pleasure to talk to savy buyers when I get them. They are usually going away from their "agent recommended inspector" and have usually found me through ASHI or a past client of mine.

Exactly the same here in VA - no licensing. There's a voluntary licensing program, that many of the guys opted into. Myself, I haven't and really don't think there's a need for state licensing here. In fact, that fact is precisely why state licensing has never come to pass - no need. ASHI is sufficient. Really, if they started a licensing program here I'd have to come up with a whole new sales pitch. I do use my ASHI certification to land inspection shoppers.

My ASHI membership has always paid for itself. And GA with it's no licensing and regulation makes it more important to be certified. Buyers almost never even know that there is no licensing or regulation in GA either. So when I get shoppers I land alot of them because of the ASHI certification once you give them a brief lesson.

Little Giant 16". Does the trick on 90% or so. My binoculars need dusting every time I use them.....

I always write up the wrong panel screws. BUT, both times I've had the sparks flying and me instantly levitating a foot off the ground the guilty screw was the correct screw for the panel. The threads of the screw was what cut the wire sheathing. I believe the panel manufacturers should design the panel so that the screws cannot come in contact with any of the wires.