Jim Baird

I see a greasy TV in the future.

Thanks Erby. Have not done any math but I think they could have built a 1 in 16 ramp with that much material.

...far as I know the occupants were able bodied non-elderly. I think there was a lot of 2x6 lumber left over from the 16x35 foot deck, and the carpenter directed to use it up. These steps are 8' wide.

...never mind the lack of code required rails/guards. I just wonder why a carpenter would want to build a set of steps that looks like this...

A recent occupied inspect came with the caution, under no circumstances let the cat out, as he has never been out, and will likely run away. Of course while hauling a ladder in and out the storm door closer delayed, and I only saw the gap and no cat...if you ever saw the Cohen Bros. film, Inside Llewyn Davis, you know how I felt. Luckily the cat did not get out, but was hiding inside.

...noteworthy but NBD. Must have been green at installation. You don't get them this big at big box or local lumber supply. I bet it made a hump in the finish surface.

I like the little cheap ones because of they fit in my pockets so well. That scalloped rim on many models is supposed to be designed to break out a car windshield from the inside, in the event you are trapped in there.

One of electricity's mysterious aspects is that you cannot see it at work. You can only test remotely, by measure, it performance. Sometimes when performance teeters off the stage it can only be traced by signs it left behind. This panel was installed ca. 2008 by licensed personnel. Why the shadows of arcs and the partially melted hot connection in the pic? Jim Baird

Yet another topic where, despite my 20+ yrs experience, I find myself a beginner. We don't get many HUD FHA foreclosures around here. The subject property was the only one listed for my county. I took the bait as it is in my town of current (30 yrs) residence. Subject property was foreclosed under FHA rules, bank completely off the hook. No utilities allowed to be connected. Property offered "as is". Buyer big time beware. HUD sends a crew from two states away to "inspect", although they will not activate any utilities. The crew energized the electric system with a generator, and said they operated two HVAC systems and found them operational. I, working for a buyer not yet under contract, found this at disconnect of a condenser. I have never seen a disconnect jerried to not switch off. Maybe it kept tripping and they stuck this screw in there to keep it on. Owners who walked from the house took the water heater with them, but left behind a fairly late model car with good tires with a license plate expired in Oct '17. Do the brethren here do many of these half vast inspects?

Yet another topic where, despite my 20+ yrs experience, I find myself a beginner. We don't get many HUD FHA foreclosures around here. The subject property was the only one listed for my county. I took the bait as it is in my town of current (30 yrs) residence. Subject property was foreclosed under FHA rules, bank completely off the hook. No utilities allowed to be connected. Property offered "as is". Buyer big time beware. HUD sends a crew from two states away to "inspect", although they will not activate any utilities. The crew energized the electric system with a generator, and said they operated two HVAC systems and found them operational. I, working for a buyer not yet under contract, found this at disconnect of a condenser. I have never seen a disconnect jerried to not switch off. Maybe it kept tripping and they stuck this screw in there to keep it on. Owners who walked from the house took the water heater with them, but left behind a fairly late model car with good tires with a license plate expired in Oct '17. Do the brethren here do many of these half vast inspects?

Realtors around here want an inspector to be a tail wagging, puppy dog enthusiast who is a booster for a deal. I tend to be a skeptic and see myself as the buyer advocate. When I find problems I raise hell about them and encourage the buyer to lower their offer. Other than former customers my referrals come from closing attorneys that know my work.

...a carpenter friend bought a hundred + year old home 40 yrs ago. Pine floor frame had sagged away from a central, double flue, rock and brick chimney column. He tried to straighten things with big jacks, but when he lifted, everything lifted together, so he ended up re-framing floors in pieces. With a lot of patience he finally got it right and still lives in a beautiful home. Warning: this kind of project will never be featured on "Flip this house" programs.

All you can do is stop that journey to the center of the earth. Treated posts on 4" cap block located best you can might be best you can do. All that deflection is there to stay.

Love the chain/faux narrative here...on this house blackberries ain't much in the mix. It is mostly privet, poke salad, elm, and sweet gum mixed with hackberry. A really dense mix.

I have walked from jobs too, but in this case the buyer met me and led me where he could, after our phone conversation and his agreement to pay me per hr.