-
Posts
1,930 -
Joined
Everything posted by Jim Baird
-
Squirrel ate through some of ground wires.
Jim Baird replied to Jim Baird's topic in Foundation Systems Forum
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?
-
First time homebuyer foundation questions
Jim Baird replied to KPolwort's topic in Foundation Systems Forum
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
-
The invention that led to mcmansions
Jim Baird replied to Bill Kibbel's topic in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)
Cheap loans were set in motion by our old buddy Billy Clinton and the repeal of Glass-Steagall that turned the banks loose to generate those mortgage based derivatives that led to the '08 collapse. -
How are tracking attempts being made and why
Jim Baird replied to hausdok's topic in Computers & Reporting Systems Forum
Thanks, Michael -
-
We've Been Around A Long Time
Jim Baird replied to hausdok's topic in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)
I thought it was more than 22 yrs. Have learned a lot here from lots of "friends" I'm sure I will never meet. I am way less active inspecting and way more active with local community activities. With some zoning admin and AHJ inspecting experience I try to advise local authorities. Some of them listen and respond. I have a facility for composition and like to write. (Many of my referrals come from clients that like my prose style, believe it or not) I think that trying to model on JLC will be a leap that this group should not try to make. I wish I had better ideas, but I think the professional level of this forum membership really puts limits onto the kinds of content the site can carry. I agree with others' assessments here of other online inspection forums. A lot of ego and ignorance on parade there. -
Glad she did not weigh 200 lbs.
-
Mike, That is a job I never would have finished. Flash to future, I inspected a pos mobile home a property owner had relocated across his own property to set up as an ADU, but before set up was complete, a neighbor begged him to offer shelter to a family that had suffered a house fire and had no insurance etc. My client offered them shelter in his ongoing ADU setting, and before long they became a nuisance, would not leave and loaded the property with loads of junk. Owner appeal to sheriff said he could not evict them without extended court action. Took him six months to execute eviction.
-
Crawl Space Creeper - Under House Creeper
Jim Baird replied to crawlspacecreeper's topic in Foundation Systems Forum
...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. -
I hope you were deputized for those visits. My brushes with legal issues were all on the bottom side of occupancy. I had to verify squalid conditions at dwellings were homes had been condemned by AHJ. My visits were final steps in delivery of due process before evacuation orders. One such case was of an occupant born and raised in a dwelling that was in extreme decline. His parents' portraits hung on the walls but he mainly hung out on the street. His birthplace home was scheduled for demolition, and he refused to accept homeless sheltering options. My visit was accompanied by a social worker and a sheriff deputy.
-
I was a part time inspector/trainer for two full timers at a local AHJ during the wild Y2K decade. Neither full timer could read the newspaper, much less the codebook. One of them failed a builder's final inspection for a doorbell not working. Builder threw up his hands and sold the house anyway. Cited then by AHJ for occupying a home without a CO, I was sent to signoff, commiserate, and issue the CO to get builder off hook. I made sure not to try that errant doorbell.
-
"...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?
-
Do you mean Eleagnus, or Autumn Olive? The same house had that and English ivy.
-
At night while you're sleepin' ole Kudzu comes-a-creepin'. Very wet summer found this house being invaded.
-
" Thinking back, there's nothing I regret more than not taking Chad up on that offer." The Buddhists say that Longing, Fulfillment, and Regret are all the same and of equal value. I have enjoyed your posts here.
-
...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.