Nolan Kienitz

Ditto

Done ! But, I'm have a heckuva time getting the client to accept the new fees []

Mike O ..... Congrats and thanks for being you and letting us be a part of this educational forum.

Neal - The Fenix products have a 2-year warranty and the TK-30 is one of the brightest out there. I'd have it repaired. I have my TK-11 in for a factory refurb just inside it's 2-year warranty and am getting updates on it's progress. I also have a TK-15 that I'm using currently. It is brighter than the TK-11, but both are bright enough and knock the socks off my Streamlight UltraStingers. There's a flashlight forum that Kurt has mentioned a time or two and they do all sorts of testing on all flashlights.

JD - Read through the multiple posts here at TIJ and see what folks have advised about jumping into the HI business at likely one of the worst times for real estate sales in recent memory. Whether you agree with any school or not is immaterial as you have to meet the Texas TREC requirements. Review the TREC website and the location/tab for inspectors and the requirements. There are better schools than AHIT and you should also research them. They are also located in the D/FW market and one in particular is locally owned/operated by long-time Texas TREC inspectors. Far better than what you would get at AHIT. Many HIs are getting jobs (outside of inspecting) just to try and make ends meet over this past year and the numbers are constantly shifting. TREC is about to approve more changes that will make our job far more onerous than it currently is here in Texas. Do your due diligence and do NOT just soak up what the HI schools feed you about how rich you will get with very little working hours and on and on. That simply isn't reality.

... And then there is this: Click to Enlarge 6.31 KB Click to Enlarge 4.75 KB This one just for Marc in LA ... [:-slaphap

Excellent video and kudos to you and Steve Hier.

And you can add the below. The glass bowl sink on top was very nice ... but was "slow to drain". Go figure! Click to Enlarge 33.33 KB

Terry, Dang ... you beat me to it. I was looking for an image of Bill the Cat to post. BTW - I have almost all the Bloom County books and more from years of collecting Berkeley Breathed's stuff.

When I was with AT&T Labs I worked on a project that used such glass between a conference room / front office area and a Network Operations Center 24/7 console/operation. Pretty slick and was pricey even in that limited application. Was not a full wall of glass.

I came across one of Broan In-Line Ventilators in a crawlspace last week. Install doc attached. Download Attachment: Broan_MP280_ExhaustFan_InstallationGuide.pdf 245.36 KB Click to Enlarge 39.44 KB

The TREC IAC (Inspectors Advisory Committee) has come up with a "penalty matrix" over the past month or so and it is being discussed in Austin this morning as I'm writing this post. Appears that it will likely proceed and be adopted and put into the rules later this year. Now, mind you ... things can change so will have to see what comes out of today's meetings. I've attached a direct copy of the Penalty Matrix that the IAC has proposed and I've also attached an opinion/counter-proposal by the local Texas state inspectors organization known as TAREI. I've also put a link to a running Blog site that Mike Boyett (inspector in Austin) keeps up for many legislative issues regarding the HI community in Texas. With all the choices in HI organizations (national and Texas local) well over 50% of all HIs do NOT belong to any organization. There is not a strong common voice for all of the inspector community. There are (as we can all understand) so many different voices and opinions and personal agendas that it is something akin to herding cats. Anyway ... I just wanted to let y'all see what is going on in Texas and how the HIs appear to continually be set up for potential broadsides. FYI ... as you know we are required to carry E&O and now TREC wants more visibility made of the (still viable and usable) Inspector Recovery Fund that an upset client can also tap and then there will potentially be the "inspectors penalty matrix". Talk about a triple whammy. Download Attachment: TREC_IAC_PenaltyMatrix_Proposed.pdf 19.01 KB Download Attachment: ThePenaltyMatrix_TAREI-AlternativeProposal.pdf 18.66 KB Mike Boyett - Austin HI ... Blog

Was/Is there a deadfront cover under the wood door? Actually I think that was Douglas' intent as well.

Today's piece of news and resulting spin ... err ... observation! Reuters: New Home Sales Hit Record Low

In Texas you cannot have two prices (IE: Credit Card vs. Cash). At least that is what one of the TX State Tax folks told me a number of years ago.

Brad, Have you been able to get just the "parts"? My switch and rubber boot gave out on me this past week (1-1/2 years of use), but they want it sent in for 'warranty' repair. I've been messaging all over trying to get the "parts", but am not having any luck so far.

I've used GTM several times all without hiccups as well. May be my 'luck of the drawl' ...

Ditto what Scott said. I e-mail all my contracts to my clients and get approximately 75% of them returned well before the inspection. I have copies of the contract as well as my invoice with me at the inspection and the client either brings the signed one with them or I have them then sign it at the inspection. Payment is via cash/check at the time of the inspection. I don't mess with Credit Cards and the fees anymore. Dropped that about a year ago and was pleased with not having to pay the fees ... which added up. I have used PayPal occasionally depending upon the client's availability. I've had some clients in Europe, China or Iraq during the entire process and I just sent an invoice via that mode. In nine years I've only had to chase two clients for a payment, but I did get it along with "handling" fees. I'm fortunate in that regard from some of the stories I've heard. Bottom line ... not a big problem getting signed contracts handled.

The first clue to make me "run" away from this one is the salesman's claim that he has sold "a gagillion" of them. Stay with "quality" else you will regret it for a very long time. Don't ever shortchange your tools and test equipment. Bad, bad idea.

A close HI friend of mine down in Austin, TX sent me this document that he got at an HVAC class in the past year or so from a Carrier representative. Has some good clues. Download Attachment: Carrier Model Numbers.pdf 486.8 KB

Problem there is that there are two different size units and the 24 exists as part of the model number on both units. The divisible by 12 just isn't sticking its head out on these 2010 model units.

Zoid in the Houston market sent me this link today. Be sure to check out the taxes tab. DanMar Manor ... The Woodlands, TX

Anyone have the magical decoder ring (err file) for the new Carrier systems? All the data sheets I have don't address the BTUs/tonnage and other such numbers in the new 2010 systems. I've attached a couple data plate images from two Carrier systems at today's HI. Download Attachment: Image00030.jpg 217.96 KB Download Attachment: Image00031.jpg 232.27 KB

Brian, I can only echo the very good words by everyone here at TIJ. Please do try and carve out some time and stir things up here for all of our education. My best wishes to you as you step forward in the new venture.

Another appraiser running amuck into the "inspection" arena. I was told today that an appraiser made note of a crack/gap between a window frame and veneer and declared there was a foundation failure and that a PE was required. I did the "inspection" of this property three weeks ago and I saw the same "gap" (with images in my files) and it was due to old caulk/sealant and needing replace/refresh. This type of thing has been happening more and more this past year or so since the Feds got involved with new rules concerning appraisals. There are many now that are making some blatant "inspection type" comments and causing serious headaches. How the world turns ... !!!