dspec

I know a good honest garage door guy that I've used and refered to several customers. I am also having my roof re-done. The guy I'm going to use came highly recommended from my wifes co workers [ Lawyers] His bid came in below the insurance alloment by the Ins co. adjuster.

There were some good comments on that post. Here in AZ it seems like they are marketing members more now than before. I have 1-2 customers a month state, one of the reasons they hired me was as a result of me being a BBB member with a good rating. Most of them are older [ over 50] customers.

It's been busy for the past couple months in the Phx. area. All repos, or short sales, bidding wars are common, most buyers are 1st timers that qualify for the $8000 tax credit.

I believe you can register on site.

Kevin. Check with ASHI hq, They have in the past offered partial registrations.

Joe. Sounds like an honest story to me. Nothing can beat the tales at the nacho enquirer

I use 3D. Guess there is someway that I can watermark? each page. From what I gather, it's going to the lenders fraud dept. If I remember correctly the guy was a high roller, and a mortage broker, should be interesting.

I sure found out this week that PDF inspection reports can be changed. It sure helps to keep old reports on file. Got a call Mon from a fannie mae rep asking if I wrote, [the new home in question], needed over $200,000 in repairs that I inspected June 07. Come to find out somebody completly changed my report, and added several lines to my origional report, I guess it was to get a loan to make repairs on a home that already lost two hundred thousand $ plus in value in the past year and half.

Mike O, I believe, is not a fan of nachi, so this has played into his hand to promote/validate his opinion. The only org. that I have witnessed being constntly bashed is NACHI. Steve.. Before throwing stones, I suggest spending a few more days reading posts, in the archives and current, made by the dictator and a few of his puppets that you adore.

Charley.. I think it's rigged I voted the same as you.

Market to new home owners for their one year inspection. No realtors, referrals are great, if you find a lot of valid items.

I noticed a company that states 1500 items inspected, others state 3-400. I've reviewed quite a few AZ inspector reports over the past couple years, seen many sample website reports, I haven't seen a report that identifies 3-4 0r 1500 specific items. How are these companys coming up with these numbers, how are they justifing using this claim?

Arizona requires the contractor or a qualifing party to take an exam. Employees are hired off the street by applying for a job from ad posted on a piece of plywood in front of the job site, stating roofers wanted,written in spray paint.

If you don't mind me asking, where are those guidelines? I clicked on the link, navigated the website, and didn't find any guidelines for walking on roof tiles. WJid="blue"> Looks like I'm going to have to update my info. The resource I'm using is from General information Pg 8 from the ROOF TILE INSTITUTE/WSRCA Revised 9/2002. It states.. If necessary to walk on the tile surface, pressure should only be applied on the headlap of the tile units [lower 3-4 inches] It goes on to state when working on adjoining walls safely cover the tile surface with secured plywood.

I agree Stand firm. I used to deal with this 2-3 times a week on new homes. Back in my new days I got the call, you voided the warranty, and broke the tiles by walking on the roof, we will be billing you. After that call I called the local ASHI chapter attorney. His reply was, if you didn't break them tell them that and let them prove that you did. This comment in my report [on new homes] has stopped the calls from the builder for the past few months . NOTE: Walking on tile roofs. The roof was walked on per the manufactures guide lines as identified in www.rooftile.org. All Photos provided by this state licensed inspector identifying broken, chipped, improperly installed roof tiles were taken, prior to walking on the damaged tiles or surrounding areas.

Phillip.. I would not worry about it. A year ago I had a customer service rep tell a customer not to hire me because I didn't know what I was doing, since I am one of few inspectors that walk on tile roofs, he also told her I had to breaking roof tiles as the other inspectors hardly ever listed broken tiles, roof installation defects etc. The customer hired me due to that statement, since then I've done over a 100 other ones in that subdivision, the majority of them due to referrals from that customer, who just happened to be in charge of the home owners web site/ chat board. A couple weeks ago I had a call for a resale inspection from an office employee of the same builder, I ask how she heard about me. Martin ......... our service rep refered you.. The same customer service rep that told his customer I didn't know what I was doing..

My reasoning for doing it the way I do it. . I will admit that I've been accused of not being rational at times. The builders liability is for only one or two years, mine, lifetime or until the customer sells the home.. Not to mention going the extra step on the customers behalf results in a lot of referrals.

I do list them in the full report and summary, with documentation why it needs correction. If the builder refuses to correct it, I recommened to the customer, they should only accept written documentation from the local building inspector, the state agency that enforces workmanship standards, or on an installation issue from the products manunfactures rep stating that the item did not need correction. 90% of the time it does get corrected.

I agree with Bob E. I took the NACHI on-line quiz prior to taking any HI courses, at that time I also thought the NACHI questions were tough , after completing apx 100 hrs of HI class room training the NHIE exam was no problem.

Carl... Did you check with Randy West or Cole Greenberg to see if they know of anybody in that area?

Can you describe the unbiased forum to which you refer?In Az if a consumer files a complaint, the home inspector and consumer have the opportunity to present their sides to a group of 3-4 inspectors, a member of the public and an employee of the BTR, the state licensing agency. That's sad. The expectations should be established prior to the inspection. Even so, it seems strange that people have a more positive view of our profession after discovering that their expectations need to be lowered.True, many times the consumer is often misinformed by the real estate agent or a contractor on what the inspector should or should not do. Well, NY State's standards are the ASHI standards. The problem is that the licensing requirements are not preparatory for the performance of that standard. Although the NHIE is simple, the NYS exam is half as long and easier still. So being licensed in NY is easier than being an ASHI associate with logo privilege. That's another reason I think the current licensing law is bad for the consumer.Heck if if I had any say I would suggest all inspectors need to be a full member of ASHI and(this may also raise a few eye brows), all inspectors should be required to carry E@O and liability ins. That will happen with or with out licensing. I don't think he comes on this site, if so I suspect I probably earned a grammar and spelling lesson.

Arizona... Formally from yours and Chads cold part of the world. The reason I agree is that there are always two sides to a complaint, having an unbiased forum to address the complaint often helps all involved, opposed to both parties resorting to hiring an attorney. From what I've seen a lot of complaints are on items what we, or most do not provide, or the defect was not present or accessible at time of inspection. After the customer understands our limitations of what we do, most have a more positive view of our profession. Maybe it's just me the way I see it the states [ minimum ]requirements are far more than most HI orgs, not to mention state requirements are enforced if the inspector did screw up. I agree that it would be great if we governed ourselves, with instant online questionable training and certifications I'm going to stick to my opinion that state enforcement is better than none. Agreed if we only inspect to the minimum standards, inspectors that don't meet the customers expectations will be gone sooner or later as long as established home inspectors continue to inform the customer that there are inspectors that go the extra mile. Are the state standards lower than none? I know when I looked into being an inspector I had no clue of what was really involved/required, until I completed the required state training, joined my local professional HI org and read home inspectors BBs like this one.

As an inspector on a State committee that reviews complaints, I agree with Scott. From what I see state enforcement [ yes minimum ] is better than no enforcement when the customer has a place to file a complaint, this alone can often prevent the customer from going the legal route if the inspector did in fact meet the State Standards. As far as all being equal in the public's eyes. I also agree with the exception that prior to Licensing we did not have a clue who our competitors were, and what, if any training they had. To me licensing beats competing with an inspector that only qualifications may be taking an on-line quiz and paying for an on-line certification.

I've written it up a couple times on one year inspections. In addition to stating it needed to be changed, I also state if the builder disputes this,[ and any other items] requesting written documenation from local BI is recommended. It got changed both times.

I purchased the B cam in May.. The one complaint I've heard is flirs service has a lot to be desired. . I did have a problem and for over a week I could not get a reply or assistance from Flir or the local Flir rep. I finaly went to the local company where I purchased it and after a week they were able to get me help. It turned out that they had some kind of problem with the photo part of it and they fixed it for free. Sending the camera in did take two weeks before I had it back. Since then I understand they quit selling flir with that being one of their reasons and are now selling the Fluke camera. Has any body else experienced simular problems? Dan Harris