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Trent Tarter

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Everything posted by Trent Tarter

  1. Trent Tarter
    Have you looked at ScribeWare. I switched over to it after using Home Gauge for 12 years.
  2. Trent Tarter
    Yes I have had several spark, pop, flash, smoke. I even got shocked pretty good once just by pushing the test button, my shoulder hurt the rest of the day. It always seems to be the Cutler Hammer/Eaton brand. Many times they won't reset to restore power and I have to notify the home owner, which is not a good thing.
  3. Trent Tarter
    Looking to see if anyone is using ScribWare.
  4. Trent Tarter
    I use my iPhone. With iCloud photos automatically backup and upload to PC, I never have to directly transfer from my phone. For close up photos of two story roofs is use my drone for photos/videos.
  5. Trent Tarter
    They can pay however they choose, hourly or per inspection. Essentially, a non-compete agreement prohibits the employee from competing with the business directly or indirectly for a specific duration of time after their employment has ended.
  6. Trent Tarter
    Typically you would get hired as an inspector in training by a multi-inspector firm. They would pay you a wage, this would allow you to just focus on being an inspector and not worry about running a business at first. I would try to avoid signing a non compete clause unless it's for a short time frame.
  7. Trent Tarter
    I would have installed fewer tandem breakers, place ground wires under own terminal lugs where space allows, more slack in wires.
  8. Trent Tarter
    I have had two Takagi natural gas water heaters in the past. They were very energy efficient but more problematic than a standard tank unit. They waste more water, there's a longer delay to get hot water. Also I don't like the "cold water sandwich" effect. For example you get in the shower after using hot water else where, the shower water starts off hot from previous usage, then it goes cold for a bit before the tankless kicks back on. If you have hard water or on a well, I would not recommend one as the mineral build up will cause it to plug it up quickly. They recommend descaling and flushing out once a year, this will require a flush kit. I would not recommend any type of electric unit, natural gas or propane only.
  9. Trent Tarter
    I have had numerous Cutler-Hammer/Eaton AFCI breakers fail when testing and not resetting. I no longer will push the test buttons with my finger as I have been shocked significantly before, also several have flashed/arched when testing.
  10. Trent Tarter
    I make a mistake, the surge protectors I have been seeing on new construction are the internal type that snap into the bus bar.
  11. Trent Tarter
    That's how they install them where I live.
  12. Trent Tarter
    Passing the NHIE exam does not even come close to making you a qualified home inspector, it's simply just a step foreword.
  13. Trent Tarter
    It's a rental, just move to a new place that does not have issues. Why waste your time and energy and someone else's problem.
  14. Trent Tarter
    Looking to see if anyone out there has made the switch to Spectora inspection software.
  15. Trent Tarter
    These types of "pre charged" DIY mini splits can be problematic. I would have an HVAC contractor check it out and make sure refrigerant is fully charged and up to specs.
  16. Trent Tarter
    Typically you caulk joints between trim. You do not caulk the butt joints in siding, joint flashings are required at butt joints. The joint flashings can be metal or poly material such as "Bear Skin" flashing sheets. See attached document for more info. hardieplank-hz5-us-en.pdf
  17. Trent Tarter
    I call it out as having the possibility of containing asbestos. The reason it may contain asbestos is that the majority of vermiculate insulation in North America came from a mine in Montana and got comingled with asbestos. The following statement was copied and pasted. Vermiculite from the mine near Libby, Montana, is contaminated with tremolite asbestos and other amphibole fibers (winchite and richterite). Asbestos-contaminated Libby vermiculite was used in loose-fill attic insulation that remains in millions of homes in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
  18. Trent Tarter
    I hate to say this but it's horrible, the dark black and white format is a complete turn off. I take it this is a DIY site, I suggest having a professional make you a site if you want to see some benefit from it. I had HomeGauge make my site and I am happy with it, I will be updating/redesigning it later this year. Don't take offence to this as my first websites were horrible and I haven't updated my current site in years.
  19. Trent Tarter
    For a 1000 sq ft house I would ditch the baseboards and install a mini-split heat pump system. This will provide both heating and cooling and will be very energy efficient. Most utility companies have some pretty good rebates on them. Your monthly energy savings will pay for the system.
  20. Trent Tarter
    I like Trane and American Standard, they are the same company. For best price and reliability I would go with Goodman. They are American made, parts are readily available and you can buy online for pretty very fair prices. I replaced my heat pump system last year and bought Goodman. Price for a 3.5 ton 16 seer system including line set cost me $3,450 including tax and delivery. I spent another $1500 for sheet metal work, line set connection and start up by an HVAC contractor. Just realized this is a really old post. 😂
  21. Trent Tarter
    A few years ago I had a property that I declined the inspection. The house was to far gone and had lots of unpermitted additions. Long story short, my client went foreword in buying the property for the building site, I ended up tearing the house down for her.
  22. Trent Tarter
    As a home inspector of 15 years, my advise is to look at other career options.
  23. Trent Tarter
    I have seen some real good reports written with "Word". I just don't see how it can be very efficient. I do around 275 inspections a year and need to keep things as smooth and efficient as possible. I use Home Gauge and gather data onsite with a tablet.
  24. Trent Tarter
    No matter what program you choose, none of report writing programs are ready to use out of the box. They have templates to work with, but most come with poorly written text book sounding comments. Some of the boiler plate comments might be OK but most are not. You will need to build up your template with your own wording for auto comments and descriptions. It's ok to use pre-worked content, just make sure to tweak it to your liking so it sounds like it's coming from you. I have been inspecting homes full time for almost 15 years and can tell you the hardest part is writing a good report that tells the story, is easy to read and understand, and keeps you from getting sued.
  25. Trent Tarter
    No matter what program you choose, none of report writing programs are ready to use out of the box. They have templates to work with, but most come with poorly written text book sounding comments. Some of the boiler plate comments might be OK but most are not. You will need to build up your template with your own wording for auto comments and descriptions. It's ok to use pre-worked content, just make sure to tweak it to your liking so it sounds like it's coming from you. I have been inspecting homes full time for almost 15 years and can tell you the hardest part is writing a good report that tells the story, is easy to read and understand, and keeps you from getting sued.
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