Nolan Kienitz

I would at least be impressed that the client took the time to read the contract.

I'm sure some of my clients do and some don't, but (so far) no one has commented about the contract.

Now watch my phone ring and e-mail light up on the next inspection. [:-crazy]

Wall is curved []

Tom Witherspoon has his Phd and is a PE in the D/FW market and has written about "corner pops" or "wedge cracks". He is well respected and an involved engineer.

Here is the URL to his website:

Tom Witherspoon

Below is what I put in my reports about the "corner pops" or "wedge cracks":

Comment:

Corner(s) of foundation were observed to be cracked. W. Tom Witherspoon, PE; has commented in his book: Residential Foundation Performance about cracked foundation corners:

"Cracking at the corners is a very common feature in concrete foundations. It is very common to see spalling concrete, commonly called "wedge cracking" at the corners with no damage to the brick. This anomaly is normally caused by a thermal expansion coefficient difference between brick and concrete which terminates at the corners. Seldom is there a foundation problem, but it is very unsightly and must be repaired in severe cases."

No temporary "high water" marks?

How about a "red tag" ???

I would love to not have to pay the 'zoid' fees for the Affiliate Membership just to have the Supra ... problem is that very few (if any) of the local inspectors would join such a stand and force the 'zoids' to open the properties for the inspections (those that are Supra controlled). There are still far too many inspectors who are very tight with their 'zoid' feeders.

I also don't want to have to deal with "their" schedule. I schedule the inspections to fit my business hours and the agents don't tend to care about such in many/most cases.

Actually, I seldom see any of the agents involved in the properties I inspect.

Some are excellent (actually that could be more than "some"), but the few less than good ones really skew the curves.

Maybe the electrical company has really "short" electricians or helpers?

That's good.... goes right along with the driving on bald tires analogy

I once used that analogy and, at the end of the inspection, the agent asked me to show her where the tire was on the roof. . .

I said something like, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that there *was* a bald tire on the roof. Rather I was trying to explain that the worn shingles were *like* a bald tire in that neither could be relied upon to provide long term service."

Of, course, she just screwed up her face, tilted her head, and said, "huh?"

At that point, the buyer jumped in and helpfully explained, "He was making a simile. You know, like when someone says that you're as dumb as a post, they don't really mean that you're a post, just that you're as dumb as one."

I took that as my cue to thank everyone and get the heck out of there.

I don't get it. Is she or isn't she a post?

Steel or Wood ??

Originally posted by Marc

...

Great idea about a manual of style. I would love to see an online community blog or wiki used to compile something like that. I think it would have extremely useful content especially for new inspectors, and could boost creativity! Who knows, it might even help to sideline state mandated form styles like they have in Texas.

Yeah, I'm just wondering how time consuming it is to add a discussion forum on Whisper Solution's website and ask a couple users to work as moderators. It's common practice in open source community and could be very helpful to users without costing the company an arm and a leg in terms of manpower.

Marc & Norm,

Many years ago there was a Whisper Solutions forum as part of their main website.

There was some interchange among the most active users of both PI and WR, but there was traffic back/forth ... on/off with other forums such as here at TIJ and IN. That traffic would often shift away from the Whisper Forum and thus less traffic.

One never knows ... planting the seed may get a rethink about such.

Note that your (Norm's) comments have already had Eric put those items on the list for review, insertion, testing and likely release.

Here in Central WA, the listing agent usually wants the sellers agent to be at the inspection. They all have supra keys. I checked on getting one several years ago, however association said you had to be a realtor to get one.

Actually now I don't really want one because I want a realtor or someone else to open the home. It's the least they can do for the potential commission. Though a lot of realtors seem to be put out by having to open the home, and many leave early though they are really suppose to stay according to their association rules, lock up, check all windows, double check thermostat etc.

I just do my thing and lock up if necessary.

Not for anything all the 'responsibility' of that house being opened (unlocked by SupraKey) is on "their" code key access.

That is one of the headaches I have is that with "my" SupraKey opening/closing a house ... I'm responsible should someone want to get picky and start shooting darts.

In fact while at an inspection that I've opened up with my SupraKey and the agent shows up toward the end with the client and they want to spend additional time ... I close up the SupraKey and have the agent re-open/unlock the SupraKey with his/her card. They all understand that move in this community.

You don't need to be a member of the Realtor's association to get one. The cost is about $175. a year.

Where did you get yours? We had to join a board as an affiliate to get ours.

The Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS. I picked up my first one at their office, February 2001. That was the first of two times that I've ever had any contact with them. The second time was about 5 years ago when I got a notice they were switching to Supra from the old black square boxes that you inserted into the lockbox. That change was done at a local hotel. I've never been an affiliate member and other than those two times, have never had any contact with the association. The annual bill comes directly from GE/Supra.

Joe - You are living good in that regard. In Texas we have to pay the affiliate RE association fees on an annual basis and then the quarterly SupraKey fees.

All checks go to the local RE association.

It's all about money and the continuing 'control' that the agents keep holding on to.

Tons of history all around us and a lot of it going by the wayside.

Such things intrigue the heck out of me and I absorb all I can in my older age.

I love history and try to learn all I can.

Parden my drift but an inspection software development company might do well to anticipate buyer needs, to be open to new ideas rather than to simply rely on requests from customers like every vender I know of currently does. The checkbox style format is a leftover fragment from the age of paper and pencil before the pencil became replaced with a keyboard. It mystifies me that that box is showing up on a computer that has a qwerty keyboard input.

A DB approach coupled with a design based on a 'Manual of Style' for HI's seems a logical and practical approach. The manual doesn't exist yet but that only represents an added opportunity for the right people. I've a few ideas on where to find documents that could guide the development of this manual. It needs to be a team approach by professionals with the right skill set.

What the....I'm dreaming again? Well yeah, I am. No one gets anywhere without first dreaming.

Marc

Marc,

Whisper Computer Solutions have many templates to try and accommodate multiple needs. Their application is also one of the most flexible available.

Checkboxes are common in their first/original template which is the TX-TREC mandated product that has/requires a certain number of checkboxes.

We all have different approaches and ideas and I stand amazed when I talk with other inspectors and other folks who use this application or similar applications and how it fits their business needs or the nuances they come up.

My approach to doing something a certain way in an application has been blown away more than once when I've learned from someone else's experience on how they get the same thing done.

Your thoughts above have again just expanded my mindset about an approach I never thought of.

Hi, Nolan,

Thanks for the quick reply. It helped me a lot.

I was making my own template that fit Nachi SOP from Texas template. It's pretty much done.

As for the text that display red but print black, you suggested using lock text feature, which worked great, thanks. The software's documentation sucks, btw.

I hope the developers at Whisper Solutions will make cloakable text more visible on their next version, fingers crossed.

It was after reading your posts on this forum that I decided to give Whisper Reporter a try, it takes so few clicks to generate a nice looking report, I'll never even think of using my open office based system again.

Norm,

Glad my suggestions have worked out for you.

WR is quite powerful and very versatile. I love working with it and creating new templates and trying new things all the time.

I'll mention to Eric the 'dim' presentation of the cloaked items to see if there is something that can be done to assist in that area. As I noted i have the same visibility problem, but then others do not ... can only be my "maturing" !!

Keep your prime focus on the inspection and delivering good/solid information to your clients ... don't get "too wrapped up" in the application. Bottom line the software is just a 'tool' and not all tools work well for every inspector/user. Ergo ... the many choices available for all of us.

I just started using Whisper Reporter, and in the process of setting up my own template, I ran into a few problems. I know there are a few experienced Whisper Reporter users on this forum. I hope someone can lend me a hand.

1. I'm using the Texas template and I saw some subjects with picklist in them are italic and red, so to remind you to pick something from the picklist, yet they print black so they won't stand out. I know they are coded texts but I like the idea of having them red on display but black when printed as PDF. Is there anyway I can make some of my texts the same way?

2. The cloakable text are the feature I like the most, but the 25% grey is really hard on my eyes, especially when displayed on some monitors. Is there any way I can set the color differently?

3. The default image text wrap is not very visually pleasing, I have to manually set them for every image. How can I set the default differently?

4. The topic check box has a tendency to show a hand with pencil as checked when printing, even though I just set it with a swish check box, many times. But it keeps return to the hand every time I print. Is it a bug or it's just me.

1. You don't have to use the "Texas" template in Canada unless you are choosing to do so and modifying for use in your province. There is a lot of 'boilerplate' in that sample template. The text that is "red" and in some cases is italic (could be any choice) is considered "locked" meaning that you can't inadvertently change it when building your actual report. You can select/highlight all the "red" text and click on Edit and choose to lock or unlock the selected text.

2. Cloaked text. Nope can't change that. I have a similar problem ... especially as I keep "maturing".

3. I only put very few words under each image as a caption. I also use the internal editor to add graphics and 'some limited' text inside the image. There isn't really a text wrap around an image feature in WR that I'm aware of. I'll ask Eric (one of the developers of WR).

4. Go to Setup/Preferences/Checkboxes and select the type of image you want to appear/print for "Topic" and "Comment" Checkmarks.

Hope that helps you a tad.

I started out using Whisper Solutions "PI" version about 10-years ago and switched over to "Reporter" when it was released over 5-years ago. I've been very fortunate to be able to help the folks from Whisper Solutions test, debug and come up with new features all the time.

If one is digging into the inner workings of the application and doing design/development it can sometimes be intimidating. Once you get your template built you will be well rewarded in report generation.

I built my own template (based on the Texas TREC requirements) as TREC was making modifications to the template several years ago (they are doing so again this year) and the folks at Whisper used my template as the basis for the updated release once TREC approved the final.

I don't use the boilerplate checkbox comments as, over the years, I've developed my own library of RapidRemarks (Whispers term for 'comments') and I use a fair amount of cloaked text as well.

Shoot me an e-mail with any questions you may have and I might actually be able to help you figure out a solution.

Enjoy the application.

I've been searching the FHA/HUD site and may be simply looking past what I'm looking for, but still can't find an answer to the question below:

With respect to the HUD-52580 form ... where does it specifically state (FHA-HUD site) who is "required" to fill out and sign the form?

I've seen comments on various appraisers forums indicating they would not touch it as it is an 'inspectors' item.

Yet, I can't find a "precise" requirement at FHA-HUD of who is "required" to sign the form.

What is driving this is I was told today that various organizations working on the related Section 8 projects are not having "any" inspector (state licensed, FHA Fee Inspector certified or HUD 203k certified, etc., etc..) fill out and sign the form.

They are just using a staffer who is processing paperwork to fill out the form as best as possible, sign in and bundle with paperwork for the project's file.

So ... if anyone has better eyes or search luck than me and could provide me with a link for the "signing requirement" I would certainly appreciate it.

I have all the necessary certifications for FHA, HUD 203k, ICC, TX TREC and on and on so it is not an issue (as such) for me ... I'm just trying to help the organizations keep out of trouble.

Thanks in advance.

I hate to be the guinea pig when trying something new, so I came up with an idea. I think I'll switch my wife over to Straight Talk first, and see how it works out for her.

Joe,

You certainly like living on thin ice with that approach ... seems to me.

What model of Streamlight is that Nolan?

Marc

Ultra Stinger(s)

Thanks to Kurt I am now packing the Olight M20 along with my Fenix TK11 and TK15.

Two Streamlights are sitting on my desk and haven't been used in over a year.

I think I'm pretty well "lit up". [:-bigeyes

Here I go agreeing with a contractor but,

Tom Corrigan

Uhm, where are your bouncing smiley-faces?

When you reply click on the "Show Entire Smile List"

I just tried it as I didn't know where they were either.

[:-jump2]

And then there is this link (posted below) about the current Texas drought.

However ... the drought is current.

The complaint is 'aged'.

Texas Drought

I was just chatting with another TX inspector about this and without seeing the report, not having been there, knowing more particulars it is not wise to "opine" about precisely what the inspector did or did not do OR should have done.

The 'win' (if it can be called such) are the comments about the appeals court stating the DTPA act is not a valid path for such a suit.

The Texas Court of Appeals has overruled a lower court in favor of an inspector. This may close the door (at least in Texas) on clients filing claims against inspectors using the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

To read more, Click here.

Kurt & Jim are right on.

There is not one home inspector who is a pulitzer prize winning writer ... although most think they are [:-crazy]

I don't do "re-inspections" either.

I do similar to what Mark P. said ... have receipts provided for all work done with the contractor's name, contact information, license number, etc. (if required by the state or other agency).

On a burger smothered in pork chops.

Actually, it's a stand-alone special. After eating, you have to be careful to not go out into direct sunlight; if you do, grease oozes from your jowls.

OINK !!

But, darn tasty !!!