randynavarro

I'd pay. $50 a year. That really is chump change. $0.14 per day.

That stinks, Nolan, besides being just plain wrong if almost criminal on the part of that lender. Ultimately, the lenders have to drive the program. The K is so popular now in our region because there are so many foreclosures, dilapidated properties, rates are so good etc. Sometimes the K is the only option for that home to sell. I don't think the PNW is unique in these aspects. I have been very fortunate in that I've been at the right place at the right time. I've never marketed the K. Over time, the yahoo Consultants weed themselves out. I continue to do good and thorough work. It's what the lenders need right now as they cannot sell the loan if all the details aren't in order. I think lenders are still positioning themselves to capitalize on the foreclosure and rehab. markets. I frequently get phone calls from different lenders who have recently discovered the K and tell me they're going to start pushing the product had and to get ready for the onslaught of work. It's never materialized. Really, it's been more of a slow steady climb. If a person wants to do the K Consulting, I say go for it and get yourself in a good position, but don't expect the phone to start ringing right away. Shoot, as much as I've done with the program, I still have capacity to do at least 50% more. K work is not completely filling my calender.

Nice work and congratulations. In the picture, which one is you Bruce?

Electronic. All docs can be created on Word and Excel. It's already been said; it's not worth buying software.

In 100 words or less. . . 1) Evaluate the property to ensure compliance with H.U.D's Minimum Property Standards. Sometimes this involves a full inspection. 3-6 hours. 2) Prepare document package detailing work to be completed on the property. 3-6 hours. 3) Dealing with confusion, mis-understandings, guiding, hand-holding etc. via phone calls, emails, and revising papework. 2-6 hours. Don't you also go back and inspect the work at several stages? - Jim Katen, Oregon The description I've given is work completed up until closing. Once the loan is closed and work starts, draw inspections can be performed by the Consultant but the borrower or the lender can choose to have someone else do the draws. 98% of the time, the Consultant does the draw work. There are additional fees paid for each draw. I set those fees as well.

In 100 words or less. . . 1) Evaluate the property to ensure compliance with H.U.D's Minimum Property Standards. Sometimes this involves a full inspection. 3-6 hours. 2) Prepare document package detailing work to be completed on the property. 3-6 hours. 3) Dealing with confusion, mis-understandings, guiding, hand-holding etc. via phone calls, emails, and revising papework. 2-6 hours. I'm kinda pumped, Randy... This sounds like it's right up my alley. I've always been a decent dispute resolution and project management guy. I think I'm going to jump on it, when I get back. The Consultant is not the project manager...The Consultant is not the project manager...The Consultant is not the project manager...

Wing it. It's an abbreviated inspection and progress monitoring. Marc. You control the check book Got it. Thanks. I dunno if I can do that kinda work. Mere sight of me scares away just about every contractor in my area. The job would never get done. [] Marc This is not right. The Consultant is not the Project Manager. If you're project managing, you take on too much responsiblity and won't be profitable. Then you'll gripe that the 203k sucks and wouldn't recommend it to anybody.

In 100 words or less. . . 1) Evaluate the property to ensure compliance with H.U.D's Minimum Property Standards. Sometimes this involves a full inspection. 3-6 hours. 2) Prepare document package detailing work to be completed on the property. 3-6 hours. 3) Dealing with confusion, mis-understandings, guiding, hand-holding etc. via phone calls, emails, and revising papework. 2-6 hours.

Not true. I get paid when I complete my work. I submit an invoice to the lender so the borrower can get reimbursed at closing or at the first draw. On the flip side, there are plenty of contractors that do like to do them. It's a bit extra paperwork, but once the loan closes and they do the work, the cashflow can be constant. They like that. I haven't checked the number but I believe Bank of America is now the largest 203k lender. They took over Countrywide and Taylor-Bean. True. Any Wells Fargo borrowers I work with are always dealing with somebody back in Minneapolis. I'm not sure about that either. The last two Wells Fargo jobs, I charged my normal fees. No problems. Edit: Come to think of it, I haven't heard from a Wells Fargo borrower in a long time. Perhaps they don't refer my service any more due to my fee schedule. Maybe it was the fact they wanted me to sign a document stating that I would fulfill the role of Project Manager for each 203k. I promptly lined through that section of the contract and cited multiple published guidelines from H.U.D. stating that it is encumbent on the lender to ensure smooth progress of the 'K', not the Consultant.

Charlie, Be clear up front that you can't accept a bid if its not broken down properly. If they give you grief, the response is, "If you want to get paid properly and on time, your bid needs to conform to how I've suggested." Give them a sample bid to use as a guide.

203k work has saved my bacon during the recent slowdown. I like the work and it is profitable. I set my own fees. The published fee schedule on the HUD website that consultants "may" charge is coming up on 20 years old. When establishing a new relationship with a lender, I am very forthright about my fees and make sure they understand. I haven't had any problems in 13 years with working this way. If someone forced me somehow to cut back on my fees and adhere strictly to the published fee schedule I would stop doing the 203k; or cut the scope of what I do by about 50%, (that's a hint about my charges for doing a 203k.) Any your lender guy is right, Mike. If you perform on these things better than the other guys, word will spread and you can get busy. The lenders need help doing these. THis is where a consultant can shine.

Dragging for the last week or so here also. It's frustrating and seems to be a farily regular occurence here.

This was sent to me by some friends looking for home. Any Washington state HI's know about this or have any personal exeperience? http://www.king5.com/news/business/Suit ... 43024.html http://www.courthousenews.com/2007/12/1 ... tHomes.pdf http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412486_quadrant19.html

I only reference our state standards and provide a link in the report.

That's the one I like best so far but for my report, I'd make the following revision. There are no I didn't see any weep holes along the bottom of the brick veneer. Weep holes allow water that has penetrated porous brick and mortar to escape rather than accumulate and eventually enter the wall cavities where it can do harm damage the wall. Recommendation? For these situations where I know nothing will ever get done about it, I write something like: "If you're worried that the walls are damaged, you'll have to hire a masonry expert to do some destructive investigation."

Hey, we can start with analyzing Mike's plumbing. Wait. . . are we talking about building pipes or body pipes?

Alright. Anybody know how the Amprobe compares against the SureTest? I thought the SureTest had its flaws. I've never used one but have read most all inspection posts about doing so.

I'd do it. I'd have to commit to the trip to Everett, but I think I could handle that also. Red Rock subs are the best sandwiches I've had in this town. . .anywhere in fact.

Screw the factory tour! How's about a training day like at Watts?

Mike, the pictures are too small. Any chance Mr. Electric can re-send some bigger pics?

Yes, the EVO is the hotspot. Your particualr plan, however, may required you to purchase an upgrade to tether your laptop to the phone.

The Android is supposed to automatically grab the home Wi-Fi? And you can make a cell phone call over the Wi-Fi? If that's true, it would save me about $200 I was just getting ready to drop on a cell phone signal booster cuz the cell signal in my home is almost non-existent. How do you make the Android work that way?

For whatever reason Word limits its autotext titles to only 35 characters. I think this might be what you're referring to?

There's the "home inspection" part of the show but then there are the fixes. . . There doesn't seem to be much of a budget for repair work. I can see some of these jobs costing $80-100k or more with not only the repair of the actual defect, but many more add-ons. . . just cuz. It appears that the sky is almost the limit. Anyone see the episode with the absestos-wrapped boiler pipes in the basement ceiling?

I do what Jim suggests. My autotext might be labeled, "1 window seal failed" or "2 or more window seals failed."