Gibsonguy

Hello All, I just wanted to pick your collective brains about advertizing. I was approached today about placing an ad alongside Amerispec on a large RE company's folder, given out by agents to prospective clients. Is this considered a conflict of interest? Business is slow for me this season (my 3rd year of operation) and I could use the recognition. I get most of my business through word of mouth, however home sales in Montreal are down drastically this year, and the phone just isn't ringing all that much. I prefer not to solicit agents directly, I work for my clients only... the cost of placing the colour ad is near what I charge for 1 cottage inspection, and the ad will be on every folder handed out by the RE agency for all it's agents for the next 3 years. What would you do if you were just starting out like me?

That's disc usting...

I believe the insurance companies ask for the WETT certified inspection. I inspect the fireplace or woodburning and include any findings in my report. I do make mention to the clients during the inspection and in writing that I am not a WETT certified inspector and to check with their insurance provider to find out what they require.

I can see the metal lath in the 3rd pic now. It's just a bad retrofit that made me think of the EIFS. It appears as if there could be a base under the acrylic finish be it insulation or cementitious, which makes the wall stick out further that the original, or it is simply just installed directly over the existing wall. As I wasn't there, I couldn't feel it myself to know if there is any give in the finish or not. I would never mention EIFS in the report unless I was sure. It is obvious though that the trim and soffits were not removed when the exterior finish was redone.

That looks like EIFS, not stucco... and the open cell styrofoam is just stuck to whatever siding was underneath it. I bet there still is an air gap hidden deep under there somewhere. When was the house built?

Is it the EVO that is a WI-FI hotspot? I use a toughbook on site and if I could use my phone as a WI-FI router, then I can just send and receive emails (ie: reports) from anywhere! (Not to mention access this website if I needed to )

I have been approached for 2 TV series both on HGTV. Unfortunately this was before I had become an inspector. The gist of these shows are all about trying to create "drama" where there isn't any. "How can we make this interesting?" and "how can we spin this?" are questions brought up during interviews with the shows producers. This show is set up from the beginning. I bet Mike Holmes doesn't even do the preliminary inspection himself. Why doesn't he bring the clients along during the inspection? They leave and he complains about what was missed. It's all scripted. All he has done is go from attacking contractors to attacking inspectors now. Now if I can inspect a house with a sledge hammer,a sawzall and a crew of renovators to rebuild everything after me...

An onsite report seems stressful to complete. I like the idea of being able to walk away finished, but I can't see it with a narrative report with pictures. Does anyone else besides Mike Lamb use a combination checklist and narrative report here? I think I'm leaning in that direction as opposed to narrative only. I would like to get away from boilerplate all together, however I find myself unable to drop the CYA (Cover your a$$) portions. I carry a Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 around with my modified 3D reporting software and complete as I go. I get the clients to sign the service agreement right on the screen and finish uploading the pictures and write the summary offsite.

I haven't really posted here in a while, but I do lurk, read and research in here enough to know that the cumulative years of experience in this forum is unachievable for me in my lifetime. I am in the same place in my own HI career, graduating from a CAHPI certified training course in 2007-2008. I too have 90% of my work from word of mouth, although it doesn't seem to be near as many mouths as a few of the others in here. I charge $400 to $550 for a detailed narrative report with pictures for an average sized detached cottage and $150/hr for consultation or specialized inspections (ie: roof inspection or locating water infiltrations etc...) Hypothetically, if you needed a lawyer to save your butt, would you hire the lawyer who charges $300/hr or the one who charges $37/hr? A professional gets paid professional wages. You will always be known as being the "cheap inspector" and you won't be able to get out of it.

When I arrive at the property to be inspected, I introduce myself and ask 2 things 1. Open the garage so I can inspect it with the exterior/roof inspection and 2. Do you have an access hatch for the attic? Can you please provide access for me while I begin my exterior inspection?... OK I guess that's 3 things.

Do you have any more pics? That's a lot of movement without cracking. Any repointing? Any foundation cracks or repairs? I only see the large one down by the brick door sill.

Wow, thanks for all your work. I find all of your experience to be invaluable. A document like this would have taken me years to fabricate.

I have 3-D software also, it is very powerful and you can do a lot with it. I am currently in the phase of cutting out all the boilerplate stuff and replacing it with the things I want. It is a long and arduous process, but one that is well worth the time if you care how your best advertisement (your report) looks...

I am a relative newbie in here compared to some and was prepared to explain my separate summary, full inspection report and disclaimer which states to be sure to read the full report not only the summary as it is condensed and only includes the major deficiencies with the immovable and... You know, I'm getting tired just typing it. Maybe I'll reconsider excluding summaries.

Aside from the concerns about child safety, this is the best possible configuration for heating efficiency and clearance to combustibles. Is there a data plate on it? C.T.C. on an uncertified wood stove is 48"

There are 4 different ones, try them all. I found all 4 difficult to complete.

I came across this surfing around the net at night (as I usually do). I enjoyed it, and thought you all might like it too. Inspector Games

Boiler plate stuff on your computer report is a hard thing to get away from at first because it is a sort of checklist to begin with. Just take the time and make sure whatever goes automatically in the report can't be misconstrued as anything else than exactly what you think the problem is. Make it obvious and stand firm on your opinion, inevitably this is what your client is paying you for and what you might have to defend.

I use PDF Converter Professional 5.0. It cost me $40 CAN from Staples and I can edit, form fill and even imbed video if I want. I use it not only for PDF creation, but also to digital sign and secure my service agreement.

Don't even get me started, I think I have Jim's 51 pages beat...

Hi Joe, No nothing in Quebec I've seen or heard of yet, but there are cases in BC and Toronto I've heard about. Whether this will become the new mould/UFFI/Vermiculite is yet to be determined by the populous at large. It's funny, I was just reading posts from Henri Chero on another Inspectors Forum yesterday.(A much less reputable site than this one ...)

The spalling is water vapour penetrating through the old concrete, probably through a cold joint. Perhaps your drainage tile isn't working and the hydrostatic pressure is seeping through (Concrete in the '20s isn't notable for good mix either) First things first, get the water away from the exterior foundation walls. If your walls are plumb, you shouldn't worry about structural failure. (90yrs=1/2" deterioration on 12" concrete wall... so 1"every 180 years.. hmm come and see me in 500 years)

Hi guys, Sorry been busy, but it's better than being 6 feet under... this is the second funeral in 10 days for me. Anyways, I know there isn't any "real warranty" on older homes, it's just that a buyer can go back almost indefinitely on the seller for a hidden defect without a statute of limitations here. Except in this case. It's for a divorced woman looking to downsize to a 2 bedroom (converted from 3 bedroom) early 1960's poorly renovated bungalow. She saw the property on Saturday with her agent, made an offer in the afternoon and it was accepted on Saturday night. She left early Monday morning for the Dominican Republic for the week, and left her agent to take care of getting the inspection done. He called me Monday. I told him could do the inspection early Tuesday morning if he could. That's when he said she wouldn't be there, I told him I need my Service Agreement (SA) signed before I can hand over the inspection report. I performed the inspection in 2 1/2 hours and left after a 5 minute pow-wow with both the selling and buying agents tapping their watches as only agents can do. He called me today to ask me very nicely to not cash his check as it could be misconstrued as a conflict of interest. I agreed, not wanting loopholes for any legal backlash and telling him I will hold his cheque in good faith until payment is received from the buyer. He also told me he was having problems getting the SA faxed to the Dominican. I sent him a PDF of the CAHPI standards of practice and my SA for him to forward to the client's Gmail. I saw this agent again today. He said he had communicated with her and she was returning on the 9th of March, and she had received the attachments. I told him this evening to email me her Gmail account so I can communicate with her directly, and as of 1:00am, still nothing. This deal has 2 days left. I told the agent the report would be ready tomorrow, but I reminded him I won't turn it over to him or her until she signs my SA. I still have yet to hear from the client who is buying this house without any recourse from the Dominican Republic while on vacation. What red flags would be going up for you?

Here's the link for the ACAIQ (real estate board which licences agents in Quebec) and what they have to say. http://www.acaiq.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects ... ticle=5313 I'm a little pressed for time as I have to leave for a funeral in a few minutes but I will fill you in more later this evening. The Red Adair quote is just my signature here like Hausdok's OT-OF! Gotta go.

Does the fan blow 2 ways? Does it suck or blow? Is that really carpet?