John Dirks Jr Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I used to obsess about the details of my next job. Now I procrastinate until the last minute. Have I arrived or what's going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Well I'll tell ya sometime, but not right now,,,, [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Nah, You're just more experienced. When I first got into the gig I used to drive by the next day's job to get a preview of what I'd be facing - even if it was 30 miles away. Now I don't sweat it. The only thing I need to know these days is the name of the client, address and a phone number to reach the client or the agent if I can't find the place. I've got what I need in/on my vehicle and I've got the experience under my belt to handle just about anything this job will hand me. No need to fret anymore. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I do think in advance about some things on certain inspections still. For instance, I'm going into Baltimore City today. I'm thinking two things; 1) where will I park? 2) how am I going to get on the roof? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I do think in advance about some things on certain inspections still. For instance, I'm going into Baltimore City today. I'm thinking two things; 1) where will I park? 2) how am I going to get on the roof? How many other guys here do HI's on Sunday? Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Sunday's, absolutely not. And I don't start an inspection after 4:00 PM. With doing 10-12 inspections a week and report writing, I'm probably putting in 60-70 hours per week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I do think in advance about some things on certain inspections still. For instance, I'm going into Baltimore City today. I'm thinking two things; 1) where will I park? 2) how am I going to get on the roof? How many other guys here do HI's on Sunday? Marc Not me... Heck, I might only work 1 or 2 Saturdays a year at best! I have found that by only working M-F, I do not get burned out like I did my first few years in this profession when I did work on Saturdays. In the grand scheme of things it's just not that important to me that I'm willing and able to work weekends. Life has much more to offer if you just slow the pace and look at the landscape a little more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Never on Sundays. Or nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I will work Saturday, and occasional Sundays because it is slow here right now, economic backlash. If my schedule is full, not so much weekend work. Sunday AM is a crappy time to be knocking on people's doors. I'll do it but reluctantly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I never have. Can't even fathom it. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert E Lee Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 When I started 16 years ago I decided I wasn't going to do evenings or week end inspections, stuck to that until one time an agent called and more less begged and pleaded for a Saturday morning inspection, I gave in and scheduled the inspection. That was the only call I ever got from that agent which told me whoever they normally called either was out of town or didn't want week end inspection, since then I have continued to decline week end requests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 . . . How many other guys here do HI's on Sunday? I'm available 7 days a week. (I'd rather work 7 days straight than do 2 inspections on any one day.) I like to take a day or two off every week or so, but it doesn't matter which one it is. The kids are all moved out, my wife works full time, but from home, and the day that we arbitrarily call "Sunday" has no special significance for me from a religious or social perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 The only weekend inspection I'll do anymore is Saturday morning and then only if specifically asked if I'm available on Saturday. I use to do an occasional Sunday inspections, but not anymore. Like Scott said I get burned out. I do still drop-off / pick up radon equipment 7 days a week as needed and do other business related stuff on the weekends ? but not to much inspecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I do not even think I have ever been asked to work on a Sunday; might be due to living in the middle of the so called bible belt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I'll do any day of the week IF you pay me enough. That's one of the joys of this thing we do. I (and only I) decide what days I want to work and what days I don't. Fishing (or anything else I want to do) is kind of nice when everybody else is at work. If I want to take Wednesday off and work on Sunday, so be it. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Sunday is a regularly offered HI workday for me and I'm working most of them. With a full time job occupying 5 days, Fridays and Sundays are the only two full days I have for HI work. I try to schedule Fridays and Sundays for bigger jobs, especially ones with more travel distance. The other weekdays I sprinkle with smaller stuff at usually a 4 or 4:30 pm start. It works fine in the summer months with longer daylight but I get significantly limited when daylight savings time kicks in around fall. Even though I never do more than one inspection on any day, I'm having my best year yet. I'm almost double in income at this point compared to any other year. Many clients jump on the chance to do Sunday inspections. For some it means they don't have to take off work for the inspection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 BTW, it always works out anyway. I parked right in front of the place and there was a pull down stair to a roof hatch. Click to Enlarge 49.31 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I'll do any day of the week IF you pay me enough. That's one of the joys of this thing we do. I (and only I) decide what days I want to work and what days I don't. Fishing (or anything else I want to do) is kind of nice when everybody else is at work. If I want to take Wednesday off and work on Sunday, so be it. - I'm with Erby on most of that. I really like the relative peace of weekdays for "weekend" activities. Of course I also have very odd sleeping habits and will often grocery shop at 3:00am. About the only thing that dictates if I work on a weekend or not is SWMBO and whether she has other plans for me. Except, I don't charge extra. If a day isn't particularly special to me, why would I charge a special price? And if a person was religious, wouldn't it be wrong to make a few extra bucks just because they worked on the big guy's day off? It almost seems like you should charge a less as a penance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Sounds like I have the same crappy full time schedule as Dirks, Monday thru Thursday and Saturday. I book most of my gigs for Friday, but have the flexibility to rearrange my work week. Five years in and I have never inspected on the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 re prep, I have found Google maps and/or qpublic tax assessor's sites etc useful. If its on a public way there might be photos of the house that will tell you about the heights of eaves, etc from grade, and get you going on exterior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I used to obsess about the details of my next job. Now I procrastinate until the last minute. Have I arrived or what's going on? You've "arrived" when the very thought of arriving never again enters your mind. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Whitmore Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 How many other guys here do HI's on Sunday? I do. I've got a full time gig Mon-Fri now, so the only time I have for inspections is on weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidlord Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 I don't do Saturdays or Sundays and I'm off by 12:00 on Fridays. I also own a pest control company (6 employees) and they follow the same schedule. They love the off at noon on Fridays. Friday afternoon is typically my golf time. Leaves the weekend open for family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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