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Nolan Kienitz

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Posts posted by Nolan Kienitz

  1. C.A.H.P.I. Urges Canadawide H.I. Licensing

    in News Around The Net

    Posted

    I'll also take this opportunity to point out that while the initial law is rarely a big problem, the subsequent tinkering often is. That's when you get into the petty little rules about what *must* or *must not* be reported, what you *must* and *must not* write in your reports, and what specific words you must write. It's the result of the a small number of inspectors trying to impose their inspection ethic on everyone else.

    As a state's licensing rules age, they tend to get worse as every new crop of committee or board members attempts to add a little something to the stew of rules.

    Jim K.

    =========================

    Licensing does help but not much. It's the proverbial 'foot in the door'. The question is...How do you 'up the bar', raise the standard, tighten the SOP without ending up with what Texas has, which is a lot of realtor engineered 'gotta do this, gotta do that' that doesn't translate into any good for anyone at all?

    Who knows?

    Marc

    I was going to comment, but Marc already noted the mess we have to deal with in Texas.

    FWIW - The TREC inspector's committee is "again" reworking the SOP. It was just re-written and put into play on Feb-2009. The new one will likely be blessed and into rule sometime in 2012.

  4. Ah, the Good Old Days . . .

    in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)

    Posted

    I do and I did. Ergo the somewhat of a bit of confusion on my part.

    I also leave a letter (on occupied homes) to the owner, seller, tenant about having them check to be sure that T-Stats are set where they expect them along with sprinkler controls, etc., etc..

    Problem is that I had run out of those pre-printed letters at this particular inspection.

    Murphy is alive and well ... but it turned out OK.

  6. Ah, the Good Old Days . . .

    in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)

    Posted

    I had a seller call me and threaten a lawsuit because I had not set one of their three T-Stats precisely at some temperature (I believe he said it was to be at 68.5 degrees). Due to this it caused him and his wife undue stress, agony, harm and a number of other $25.00 words. It took them 4 days to figure out what was "wrong" in their Master Suite.

    I usually leave T-Stats at ~78 to 80 degrees in the spring/summer.

    Mind you my client (buyer) bought the house, it had closed and everyone had moved on ... I thought. Apparently the seller just didn't have enough to do.

    After the initial pit in my stomach settled down I asked the seller if he was truly serious and he was. I carried on the call with him for a bit and then offered him the contact information for the attorney at TREC, the location on their website for the required complaint form, etc., etc., etc..

    During this time I had pulled up the report and was reviewing it and found that there were many items that were a hazard, unsafe and potentially life threatening in the home. IE: Broken pull-down attic access ladder, electrical with wire nuts (no junction boxes) in the attic and a few more such items.

    As the call was ending I asked the seller for his current address, full name, name of his attorney and such. He then provided me same and asked why. I replied by saying that I was going to call my attorney when we completed the call and have him prepare a lawsuit against him (the seller) for having such unsafe conditions that threatened my life and safety during the inspection.

    All of a sudden the T-Stat not being set at his 'required' temperature seemed to be a small issue especially after I told him that the pictures of the unsafe conditions had all been provided to the buyer in the inspection report that I'm sure he saw.

    Another day in the neighborhood. [:-wiltel]

  7. Ah, the Good Old Days . . .

    in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)

    Posted

    Nolan, what do you think of them there Northern folk?

    Marc

    Well ... having lived/survived in Manhattan in a prior life for ~10-years I've heard about most everything.

    Now ... on the other hand I've already learned from Kurt that it is very important to have an "agent abeyance tool" and that has already helped a lot. My flashlight with the sharp shroud!!

  9. Another Dropout........

    in Open Topics

    Posted

    Just did a lease on mineral rights to land we used to own and some we still own in NE Montana (Plentywood & Outlook, MT). About 90-miles NW of Williston, ND which is pretty close to or is the epi-center of the Bakkan Field.

    An oil boom for sure that is absolutely nuts. There are a bunch of un-intended consequences due to the work in the oil patch. Restaurants (that can serve the oilfield folks) shutting down as they can't get workers due to the workers getting gigs in the oil patch. Same for school bus drivers ... events canceled as the drivers are running the oil trucks at a big $$ and not working for the school districts.

    One elderly/retired lady has been in an apartment in Williston for the past 20-years and paying $700/month rent. As of 12/1/11 her rent goes to $1K and as of 4/1/12 her rent goes to $2K and she will have to also pay a $2K deposit.

    Apartment owner making a business decision to garner revenue while she can.

    Sucks for the long-term folks who don't have a lot of options

    My sister/husband retired and live in Bismarck and had sent me a large stack of local newspaper articles about a lot of the activity.

  12. FHA approved

    in 203(k) Consultants & FHA Inspectors

    Posted

    As I said,

    I contacted both FHA and HUD and personally talked to folks there about this question. I did it because of all of the confusion over this issue. The FHA folks explained that the list that the only list FHA has is of FHA certified appraisers and that the list that folks are referring to is a list of HUD inspectors; and that they (FHA) don't have their own list. They told me that when folks are referring to FHA inspectors they are actually referring to folks on the HUD list that the search engine you referenced searches. When I asked that person why, if there was no list, there is an application form for the list on their website that says FHI Inspector Roster, they told me that despite what it says the roster is of inspectors on a HUD list of folks that are approved to inspect repairs, etc..

    When I contacted HUD, the person there said that there was no such thing as an "FHA inspector" list, that there was a list of HUD approved inspectors.

    It's confusing, but it is what it is. There is a HUD list, you're probably on it; but, according to the folks I talked to at FHA and HUD, there is only a HUD list.

    It distinction is probably lost on most folks; but when realtors start calling around looking for "FHA Inspectors" and they don't recommend inspectors who are not on that HUD list to their clients, they could very well be doing their clients a disservice in some cases.

    The FHA inspector myth needs to go away.

    ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

    Mike

    I'm not sure how it can go away when there are two distinctive lists: FHA Inspectors and 203k Consultants .... and they perform different functions.

    I perform both of those functions as I'm on both lists. Being on the 203k consultant list and NOT on the FHA Inspector lists does not allow one to do the FHA 'job completion' inspections and fill out the required forms. One has to be on the FHA Inspector list to be eligible to do that.

    Our government at work ... or maybe 'not' in this case. :)

  16. FHA approved

    in 203(k) Consultants & FHA Inspectors

    Posted

    Mike O.,

    Rein in the horses there.

    YES there IS a list of FHA inspectors. I am one of those. I'm also a 203k Consultant, a TREC-licensed (Texas) inspector, an ICC certified inspector and many more.

    There are "certain" FHA-required documents that "have" to be signed off by an inspector on the FHA Inspector list.

    I've been doing those type of inspections for the past 5+ years.

    Here is the URL to the FHA/HUD page that allows you to select a search for either an FHA Inspector or a 203k Consultant.

    For the contact you talked with indicating that there is no such thing is a bit off the mark.

    FYI ... My FHA Inspector ID number is: J195

    We are commonly called FHA Fee Inspectors. What I do as an FHA Fee Inspector has absolutely nothing to do with FHA Appraisers or Appraisals. Often an appraisal document will specify that an FHA Fee Inspector must do the final verification of the new home construction or remodel work being done.

    This 'inspection' (loosely noted by myself) is nothing more than a confirmation that the home construction is complete, has received CO and is move-in ready. Then I fill out the FHA/HUD 92051 document and provide to the mortgage company and collect my fee. My minimum for such a visit is: $350.00 plus r/t mileage.

    In past years I've done as many as 5-6 of those in a day ... before the bubble burst. They are excellent calender fillers and (for me) pay well.

    FHA Inspector & 203k Consultant search ... TWO different lines to choose

  17. FHA approved

    in 203(k) Consultants & FHA Inspectors

    Posted

    There are two different lists at FHA/HUD. One is for FHA inspectors and the other is the 203k Consultants List.

    I'm on both lists, have two different ID numbers and do different things. If you are on the 203k list you can't do the FHA-required forms, etc., etc..

    Now ... as for FHA approved ... that question from the agent or client begs many more questions on my behalf to the agent/client as what are they wanting to get done?

    Sometimes the terminology floating about is confusing. Sometimes doing your regular State of WA inspection will far exceed anything FHA requires, but on the other hand if they are looking for a "certain" document to also be provided ... then that is another matter.

  20. AFCIs & Smart Meters ?

    in Electrical Forum

    Posted

    Anyone have any observations about Smart Meters and their RF signal transmissions tripping AFCIs?

    I did a few searches here at TIJ with no matching results.

    I've read a couple of posts over at Mike Holt's forum about PG&E having such problems and putting the old mechanical meter head back in place.

    Noted a posting on another forum of a similar occurance in SE Texas.

    So ... looking for any additional information anyone may have.

  21. WSDA Levies Fines Against Two Home Inspectors

    in News Around The Net

    Posted

    In the great wisdom of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Structural Branch, and the Kentucky Pest Management Association, only a licensed pest control operator can legally identify wood destroying insects. So, while I saw evidence of what "appears" to be wood destroying insects (see photos below), I am not a licensed pest control operator and cannot legally determine the presence or absence of any wood destroying insects. Consult a licensed pest control operator to legally determine the presence or absence of any wood destroying insects and your best course of action regarding same.

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    Perhaps sometimes I'm too sarcastic for my own good.

    Be careful ... watch some attorney say all the above is circumstantial and not solid evidence/proof. [;)]

  22. Updated Pentax camera ...

    in Tools & Equipment

    Posted

    I'm considering the purple one as well. [^]

    There is absolutely nothing wrong with my W90, but the shape of the WG-1 is intriguing from a grip-ability (new word) standpoint. I was able to get what I call the W90 "camera condom" from Pentax. It is a rubbery sleeve that provides some extra "grip" on the W90.

    The new shape and extra rubber bumpers on the WG-1 are likely a response to that from users.

    I'm kinda like Kurt and his flashlights ! ... I've not yet pulled the trigger on the Olight M20 and may hang loose and get the WG-1 instead.

    Can't say "why" for sure ... but it is giving me pause for concern/consideration. But then its like another hole in the head ... I really don't "need" it.

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