Jim Baird

My friend's father was an old squirrel hunter. when he asked for the whole animal fried his daughter served one up, full body fried. The old man took a spoon and broke the skull open, then sucked the brains right out of that skull like it was candy.

A factor I did not mention also was that the house was full of his and his wife's stuff, which just gets in the way. Most houses put on the market around here are already empty. The few I have done that are full of people's stuff have been really slow going.

Have never seen a squirrel get shocked by ground like this. Did he damage the wires by eating a few?

Look like serious indicators. A local inspector should help you lots.

Thanks for the replies. I called this guy and talked him into my hourly rate deal, where I inspect items of concern and bill by the hour. He explained that he knew almost nothing about building and was willing to pay me for a buyer type, but he agreed with me and turned out to be a good client. I took him with me and showed him everything my eye noticed about the house. (as you might expect the workmanship was poor and he was a good listener). The little neighborhood was only two years old and most of the buildings sucked. I think his intuition was leading him to unload this dump. I think he is wise to get the eff out of it while it is still "new". The worst feature was one of those entry doors on a two story facade that faces full southern exposure with zero weather protection. The laminate clad wood door was drooping in its frame and dragged heavily on the threshold. The main interior carpet clad stair had all 7 1/2 inch risers except that 9 incher at the bottom. The front main level facade was blessed with a sorry application of ASMV, no weep screed etc. My little letter pleased him, even as I advised him, (as we are not bound here by state licensing rules) to let a potential buyer's inspector to worry about what he finds.

I know that so-called pre-sale inspections are common in some places, but I have never done one in 27 yrs inspecting. I counsel callers not to waste their money there. This caller insisted on my pre-sale visit to a two year old home, even after he had taken his spec builder to court to repair sorry work. No more warranty, but still insisted on my visit. Is he setting any kind of a trap? My report is full of disclaimers, and I have never faced complaints except from one or two. Down here in the GA woods, Jim

Thanks, Michael

This jacket was installed by a handyman, I guess. I don't think it was for insulation.

...just like our manual yard equipment, wheel barrow and cart. Pneumatic tires are generally cheaper. I bought solid tire for wheelbarrow long ago. Cost more than the wheelbarrow itself. Garden cart I could not find solid tires, so I just use it with two flats. Rolls OK. When those old tires rot and fall off I might use some lengths of old hose and some duct tape to pad those naked rims some.

"...Going to leave this broke-down palace On my hands and my knees I will roll, roll, roll Make myself a bed by the waterside In my time, in my time, I will roll, roll, roll In a bed, in a bed By the waterside I will lay my head Listen to the river sing sweet songs To rock my soul..."--Grateful Dead Thanks for posting Mike. I have learned so much here from the brethren I will never meet. I can still inspect, but I agree with Les that the "profession" has taken a nose dive in terms of the quality of work. Just passed yr 75 myself but am very lucky to be so functional. A little arthritis here and there but my age peers are dropping off the path.

"tainted" as in bad rep, bad record?

Thanks for continuing your reply, Marc. My understanding of AL single strand was that its increased malleability in response to ebb and flow of current led to diminished connective surfaces that generated dangerous levels of heat. I did not think of copper responding to ebb and flow and keeping enough contact to keep things safe. We still don't have a suitable AL alloy for single strand branch, do we?

Around here unopposed fill over four block high needs engineering.

...love it.

Which kind of setback will the landing off that door violate? So close to the road the landing might need to include a de-cel lane.