Nolan Kienitz

The Inspector's Committee (IC) met with the TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) at a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday - 08/18/08 and made the presentation of the updated SOP and 7A-1 inspection form.

It was accepted and will be placed in the public registry for comment and will likely be finalized in October with an effective date of no later than 01/01/2009. That will give the software companies some time to make adjustments to their templates for the TX 7A-1 report form.

As soon as I get copies of the final/approved SOP and 7A-1 I'll post them here.

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission has made a recommendation that the TRCC be abolished. Of course it will be up to the State Legislature and doubtful that will happen due to various lobby groups and the legislators who are in the various builder's pockets.

Download Attachment: trcc_sr.pdf

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The home I grew up in had the same siding. Would not wear out, but didn't like a misplaced hammer stroke or baseball bat.

See you're inspecting in Minot, ND area. I grew up "in the country" near Plentywood, MT ... not too far from you.

There have been some days down here (Texas) where the attic temperature is near 150-160.

I've had a couple where the house was re-roofed by a 'cost-cutter' who didn't think putting in static vents or whirly birds was important. Oops!

Upon opening the attic access door it felt like a pizza oven or blast furnace.

I also do as Jim noted ... keep in touch with someone!

There was an installer for ADT doing a pre-wire on a new home in the Dallas market several years ago who was overcome due to heat and died. He had a habit of "always" calling family when working in attics and this one time he left his cell phone in the truck.

Such instances really help drive home additional safety measures.

Seems to run in cycles.

I've been buried for almost 3-months and this past week only had two minor FHA Finals, 3-Draws and two full inspections.

Was better than nothing, but was a shift in gears from the earlier time frame.

I'll likely start Monday with an empty week and be fully booked by Tuesday afternoon. Seems like that is my cycle.

Les,

What an ordeal. Do what the doc's tell you to do (mostly) and get back to your normal 100% plus.

Originally posted by AHI

Thanks again, I'll get to working on it soon. While I'm not crazy about the limitations of GoDaddy's Website Tonight, I do like the fact that I'm in full control of constructing and editing and all that.

I may decide to rebuild at a different server in the future. Do you know of any good places I can get a package deal on the hosting, tools and templates that will allow me to be my own webmaster. Maybe something with more available features than GoDaddy.

I've been using Go Daddy for many years with no problems. I started out with their 'website tonight' packages and moved to more control of my own by using MS Frontpage for all website construction and I just use Go Daddy as the server.

Works very well for me at this time.

Depends upon your state, city, etc., and such related laws.

In Texas the pest guys have to charge tax on their WDI reports. No product applied ... just a "report".

Home inspectors also provide a "report" and are not required to charge a tax. At least for now that is the case.

I'm sure the State Comptroller will figure out some new rule that will require HI's to charge tax in Texas.

A fellow HI in the Dallas market does all his work on the Mac platform. He also does work with graphics/images as another side line and that was the main support for his Mac.

Those new devices coming out are certainly interesting. I've heard that the new device being touted however is "not up to snuff". That is what I heard this past weekend at an inspection conference here in Texas.

Mike - You are more than welcome and in the scheme of stuff it's the least we could do.

Richard - Yep ... you can still be a curmudgeon, but thanks for the coordination effort.

A great group of folks ....

Let me see now ... there are 24-hours in each day.

Originally posted by Bain

What's the spin in Texas? Once the SOPs are in force, are they a minimum standard, or do they limit what HIs can do and spell trouble for those who want to exceed the Standards?

These draft documents are changes to the SOP and the original 7A-0 form that has been in play for several years in Texas.

I don't want to comment on the precise verbiage of many of the elements, but the formatting of the SOP and changes to the 7A-1 help synch up many things.

The adjustments to the SOP also will make it easier to make adjustments going forward when there is a need to add/delete/change something.

As for "limiting" ... in my view of all I've been reading and providing input on ... absolutely not at all. I've never heard of any HI in Texas being concerned about exceeding the SOP. Now ... let me say that I've not talked with every TX HI, but I've never heard any concern about exceeding the SOP.

I am always exceeding the SOP on many of the elements.

Attached are the final draft documents for the Texas SOP and 7A-1 (Report Form) and other related/suggested TREC changes.

They will be presented to the TREC Commissioners on April 28, 2008.

There will not be any further changes to the 'draft' documents between now and the 4/28/08 presentation.

Download Attachment: 15 Apr 08 .222 and .223 drafts.pdf

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Download Attachment: 15 Apr 08 REI 7A-1 draft.pdf

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Download Attachment: 15 Apr 08 SoP draft.pdf

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James Hardie company also wants to see 2".

I'm generally pleased with 1" and a nice even match on the alignment and cuts.

I shudder with the ragged cuts and when there is no clearance.

I'm sure y'all have seen the weather reports and that there were some rather strong winds that blew through North Texas overnight.

I had inspected a property this past Monday in the neighborhood in Allen, TX that was one of the focal points for the path of "straight line or tornadic" winds.

Client called me today and asked for me to stop by the home and recheck. The client's home sustained some damage like cracked rafters, cracked Hardie siding missing shingled, blown over fence, A/C condenser with damage due to blowing debris, gas flue pipes disconnected at joints in attic due to extreme movement. All in all is pretty good shape ... considering.

Images attached are two from the house immediately adjacent to the property I inspected.

It is amazing the strength of 'flying debris' and resulting circumstances.

Very quickly puts one in awe of Mother Nature.

Download Attachment: IMG_8929.JPG

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Download Attachment: IMG_8932.JPG

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Mike,

I'll keep after it as best I can.

Updated 'draft' documents will likely be available soon and I'll bring them to the TIJ Forum as soon as I get a copy.

They (TREC Inspectors Committee) are looking for continuing input as they approach the final presentation and review.

I'm in as well.

Just tell me where to send.

Great work Mike O. You deserve it.

Steve,

I've been told to have all links to secondary pages and PDF files, etc. open in another tab/window ... thus keeping your primary page as the still open tab/window on the potential client's browser.

That way you keep a hook with your site on their PC so they don't have to 'click back' to get to your home page.

I've also been told to do the best you can to keep all information documents available via PDF or such at "your site" ... meaning that you don't link a potential client to an outside site. The thought being to keep people at/on your site as long as possible. I know at times this is not always possible.

I'm sure there are multiple opinions about such, but that is one I've been working with for several years now and have not been advised otherwise ... so far.

They are supposed to have a drip leg (as most folks call 'em in Texas). Kind of depends upon AHJ.

When I was inspecting the Houston market we called them out all the time and after a year or two the builders started following the rules.

I moved to the Dallas area two years ago and I don't think I've seen one up here. I've been told that the gas provided by the utility is dry and due to that there is no need for the drip leg. Ergo ... no one enforces it from what I've seen.

I know some HIs call it out, but not very many in this market.

I would write up the "spring valve" for replacement to a current style valve.

Attached is a file from Mike Boyett who was able to attend the TREC Inspectors Advisory Committee meetings this week in Austin, TX. These are his notes and comments in blue about the activity.

Move is underway to change the SOP and the standard reporting form that we have to use.

Mike is a fellow inspector and lives/works in the Austin, TX market.

Download Attachment: TREC_IC_040708.pdf

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Ed,

Just go down the mountain about 439 feet and all should be fine. []

Mike,

Agreed with your information. The "spray on" product is getting better from what I first experienced when inspecting Houston about six years ago.

I noted he is located in Stephenville, TX and likely not relying as much on 'heat gain' as you folks up North.

Then there are the "multiple GFCI reset receptacles" that a homeowner must figure that "more is better".

When you trip one and it won't reset as there are about 2, 3, 4 or more upstream/downstream and the prime one must be reset before any of the others will reset.

It like an scavenger hunt.

The spray-on product has improved over the years, but as Jim noted check the ratings. Also one thin spray coat will likely not provide the results you may be expecting. Having to spray on multiple coats runs up the costs.

I have personally used Polar-Ply. It is easy to install and works well. My attic temperature last summer ranged 10-15 degrees lower with the radiant barrier installed.

Best practice (for after market installation) is to install between rafters below decking. Polar-Ply comes in 16 or 24-inch spans and simply staples with lip to side of rafters.

Some radiant barrier installers install a light-weight film product over the insulation and ceiling joists. That is not a good idea. As Mike O. suggested read more studies from the Florida Solar Research Center.

Here is the URL for Polar-Ply: Polar-Ply

Originally posted by qhinspect

Originally posted by randynavarro

Have a website content manager installed.

Yes, this will cost you but you only pay once and you can edit forever.

Any suggestions on the software. I don't need anything fancy.

Frontpage 2003 or it's replacement: Expression Web.