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Inspectorjoe

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Everything posted by Inspectorjoe

  1. Amen! I don't understand why some inspectors' web sites tout their on-site reports as if it's a benefit. A savvy buyer knows it's not. A good agent knows it too.
  2. Jaw-dropping: https://www.facebook.com/KeithStewartHo ... n/timeline
  3. The tide is turning, albeit slowly. Last week I did an inspection for a single mother. The listing price of the house was about 1/4 of the average around here. It had LOTS of problems. The woman's agent told her the house looked pretty good and she didn't really need an inspection, but reluctantly gave her a list of "three good inspectors". Luckily, the woman decided to research inspectors on the internet and found me. I have nothing against agent referrals - in fact, a lot of my business stems from them. But I do nothing to get them, other than doing the best job I can for the buyer. I don't solicit agents. And it certainly goes against Business 101, but I don't even formally thank them. I may thank them if I'm communicating with them for another reason, but that's it. I spend 0 dollars on Christmas cards. On the other hand, we all know there's a whole industry out there based on instructing inspectors how to prostrate themselves before their exalted agents. I have a Facebook friend that has a novel approach to this. After every inspection, he makes up an elaborate meme based on that agent and posts it on his FB page. I cringe every time I see it. Here's a recent one, along with its caption: "Money flows where Betsy goes. Thanks to Betsy Lxxxxxx and Dxxxx Ixxxxx Real Estate for the recommendation!" Click to Enlarge 94.69 KB The signature on the bills is a nice touch! Click to Enlarge 26.92 KB
  4. Today stopped at a house to set a radon monitor and take a water sample prior to the inspection Saturday. When there is a water softener, I need to take a 'raw' sample from the pressure tank. I turned the drain valve (red in the picture) a quarter turn. Water came out full-force. Turning the valve back to its original position had no effect. The valve stayed wide-open. Crap! The shut-off valve is on the house side of the drain valve, so that was useless. I was in the house about 5 minutes and didn't know the layout, plus it was an odd contemporary. Luckily, I found the breaker panel and got the pump breaker turned off pretty quickly. Luck was also with me, because there was a nearby utility sink that allowed me to open a faucet to help relieve pressure. A nearby Tupperware bowl and tub allowed me to collect the water as it continued to drain out. Eventually it stopped. There was a lot of water on the floor, but it stayed around the pressure tank. I carry a few hose thread caps in my tool bag, but unfortunately I didn't have my bag with me. I drove to K Mart a few miles away, but wouldn't you know it, they didn't have any caps. I ended up buying a lawn sprinkler just to get the cap that was on it. Back to the house, put the cap on, turn the breaker on, go upstairs and bleed the air out of the lines, go back down to check the valve, and find all is good. As I was leaving, the wife pulls up. I explained what happened and gave her my cell number in case her husband had any questions. A few hours later, I get a call - not from him, but from his agent. The agent said the guy is furious that I 'broke his tank'. I explained to the agent that I didn't break anything by turning a valve a quarter turn and I don't intend to pay for it. I also added that I thought the seller should be thankful that I prevented any water damage being done to the house (the finished part of the basement is a few feet away from the pressure tank). I tried t call the guy to talk to him directly, but the phone just rang and rang. So I'm curious, would anyone offer to pay for the valve replacement? Click to Enlarge 39.87 KB
  5. The shadow may know, but the efflorescence suspects. Nice photo. You could probably change the feel with a tighter shot.
  6. Yeah, if you blink, you miss them. Those not near an Amish population center might find traveling by horse and buggy to be slightly bizarre. When I'm in nearby Lancaster County, I'm always amazed at the nerves of steel (and top shelf horsemanship) the buggy drivers must have to drive them in heavy traffic. In the video, I'm in awe of the guy who nails the last section of metal roofing on the steep section. It looks like he's free-walking it.
  7. This is a really cool 3 minute video showing a barn being put up in 10 hours.
  8. I had the same thought as Chad, only I'd pay!
  9. When I first saw it from the ground, it looked exactly like it had been painted over.
  10. All of the vinyl soffit material in this 18 year old house was like this - most of the perforations were closed. If it's a manufacturing defect, I can't imagine how it would have made it off the line. Anybody else ever see this? Click to Enlarge 29.85 KB Click to Enlarge 20.01 KB Click to Enlarge 23.52 KB
  11. I once found time for an MRI. Click to Enlarge 36.28 KB
  12. While I generally abhor violence of any kind, watching that, I had a strong urge to smack that woman.
  13. As I recall, it was for installing radon mitigation systems that didn't meet the required standards.
  14. Agreed, but the stupid people who had the plastic bucket are gone. My buyer is a physician - and definitely not stupid.[]
  15. I got another email from the buyer. He contacted the insurance company and now the problem is no longer the chimney, it's a bin containing kindling that's too close to the wood stove. I pulled up the picture of the installation thinking it may be some kind of built-in bin. Nope. I'm assuming the plastic bucket in the photo was taken when the sellers moved. It looks like the insurance company is just jerking my buyer around. Thanks, guys. Click to Enlarge 47.54 KB
  16. This was in an email from a buyer who I did an inspection for in early November: "I just wanted to let you know that my homeowner's insurance (Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx) has CANCELLED my policy based on their assessment of the wood stove's chimney. They are unable to give me specific answers to how I have or have not complied with their standards." Does anyone see any issues with this installation? The only restrictions on distances to building openings and above walking surfaces that I'm aware of apply to the termination. Click to Enlarge 76.2 KB Click to Enlarge 64.02 KB
  17. Tom, Chad, Gary and Jimmy. Joe with the camera. Marc, I still look exactly like I do in my avatar, even though that photo was taken in 1976. Well, maybe I did gain a pound or two, or hundred.
  18. I'd be hard-pressed to have found a better use for the way too few hours I spent in Ithaca this afternoon. After years of knowing them only on the web, it was really great to actually meet Jimmy, Chad, Gary and Tom in person. They were all I expected and then some. The time went way too quickly. Click to Enlarge 57.72 KB
  19. They have quite a beer list, but Yuengling is not on it.[:-weepn]
  20. I'll be there. John, if you want to drive to my house, you can ride with me.
  21. They were obviously too cheap to spring for a truly hideous solution: Click to Enlarge 16.56 KB
  22. My generator powers everything in the house except the dishwasher, electric dryer and electric range. When the power is out, I turn the oven on and set the temperature to 200 degrees. When the power comes back on, the oven heats up and when it hits 200, it gives a few beeps that can be heard in most areas of the house.
  23. December is always my lightest month. Looks like I'm going to close out this December with a whopping total of 7. That's better than December '13 when I had 5 (my lowest ever), but it's half as many as I did December 2011. I find the only thing consistent with with inspection numbers is inconsistency.
  24. This is in the 1927 Lehigh Valley Railroad passenger station in Easton, PA. It's a shame the fixture is gone. Click to Enlarge 118.13 KB
  25. There's no need to be concerned about problems with the FAA - the hungry huckster has come to the rescue: http://www.icontact-archive.com/DVyT1yq ... jMZC9T?w=2
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