Jack Ahern

Ride along with a seasoned inspector. There is no perfect way to inspect a building. You need to establish for yourself what will be your routine. It is important to include all the systems in your routine. Us "old dogs" need a routine and can get shaken when forced to deviate. Do not start a rock fight but...... Top to bottom or bottom to top? Outside first or last? Walk roofs or NOT? On and ON and ON....... Then my friend-how do you report your findings?? oye!

This ASHI guy is watching the New Hampshire Home inspectors fight among themselves. "live free or die" is the state motto. The nachi group would like to fashion the NH bill. If the NH HIs were serious about licensing? Look over the border! The Mass HIs have a pretty good set of SOPs. These did not come easy or cheap. The ASHI group in Mass. funded and fought to sculpt a workable set of SOPs. These are not ASHI SOPs--take a look kids. The Maine guys are watching also. MeCHIPS is very vigilant. They are not interested in "people from away" sculpting Maine rules for Maine HIs. NH may not ever have a workable regulation. Mr Roth is very diligent. Maine may never have a workable regulation. I hope Mr Nick G. fails at his attempt to "run" NH.[:-banghea

Mike ----- Please consider adding MeCHIPS Maine Coalition of Home Inspection Professionals www.mechips.org Been operating for about 8/9 years---built by Me. inspectors to watch/address the Maine licensing attempts. None so far!![:-banghea

See them a lot. 1950s house is just an infant! Be careful Do not pull on them when entering an attic.[:-banghea

The Great and General Court of Mass. requires a home inspector to have a license to inspect homes since 5/1/01. The ASHI-NE group has provided much time and money to insure the law be enacted to protect the consumer. IMHO the law also protects the Inspector. Some very smart and dedicated people wrote,then guided the bill thru the various branches of goverment. We are currently promoting a statewide HIPAC to continue the HI vigilance. There is approx. 600 HIs registered and approx. 100 ASHI-NE HIs.This PAC will have no affiliation with any national organizations. Looking back, we should have had all the statewide inspectors involved.Time did not allow this! Little bit like pushing a rope!! Advice to the other states(HIs) that are considering licensing. Get involved-do not let the other stakeholders(RE Agents- Legal -Insurance- Mortgage-Appraisers) write your operating procedures. Be aware that there are some national organizations that would attempt to impose their SOPs/Rules to your law writers.This could mean a soft& lopsided legislated HI bill There are enough state laws written to use as a model. [:-banghea[:-banghea

Good luck prez! Do they serve Guinness down there? [8D][:-party]

Inspected a remodeled 1845 house the other day. Owner asked me "what do you recommend I do with this 32 years old gas fired boiler?" The easiest answer is -1. replace it -2. Service it(professionally) and keep an I on it. -3.Leave it alone and hope it lasts. I've seen 60 years old coal/gas fired boilers still working! Grossly inefficient. Cranking heat!! Lots of disclaimer boiler plate. I write it up to CYA (1)-but I may verbally discuss (2&3) options. They are paying for my recommendations.[:-banghea

It makes sense to me---but!! Are laundry trays required by any code?? for a second/third floor installation? Or, over any finished room? Any tray that is connected to a floor drain or any tiled floor that has a functioning drain . I see them on new houses and some expensive remodels. Any Code references?? A zoid told me "its not to code" and a Town plumbing inspector told me it is? Thanks in advance.[:-banghea

Brian G. Would have been nice to see that in person. Could not get tickets!-show was for the loyal supporters who were sick of the SD Noise. We heard that noise from SD and most of the football experts. Our team players were letting off a little steam. I'm sure the coach spoke to them after the incident. There was no shooting or damaging activity. Poking a little fun in their "center circle" in their house may be embarrassing but not terminal. Get over it. They have plenty of time to rest up (9 pro bowlers)for the Hawaii Bowl. We can't get tickets for Indy. Let the Indy noise begin. [:-party]Go Pats

Next!id="size6"> Should be some deals on airplane/hotel and game day tickets for Miami--see any football fans in Southern Calif.[:-party] go Pats!

Take many many digital shots. Customized field note template on the "other side" of mapquest instructions. Run a slide show for me prior to report generation. Identify photos that will be included in the report. Skillers multi pocket vest for HI toys. Modified a 6 foot wood closet pole with a spike driven into one end-snipped off the head and presto!! we have a long termite probe. 5 gallon bucket with pockets for my HI toys. Assortment of gauges, mirrors and flashlights. Red food coloring for toilet tank testing. Laser pointers.28 foot ladder I might rest on gutters. 6 foot utility ladder for scuttle(attic) openings.[:-banghea

I shut off my propane for 3/4 months in Maine. Takes a long time to "purge" the air out of the lines. There is a smell that goes with escaping gas. Go Pats[:-banghea

There is an inspector boy in my ASHI group that looks just like "Johnny Morrison". Could be a brother/cousin/son[8D] Lots of time on my hands!! Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles and Bridgton, Maine Member ASHI *SPREI *ICC

Brings tears to my eyes!! Granite countertops crushing cheap cabinets. New wood floors--laminate?? This game's easy.[:-banghea[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles and Bridgton,Maine. Go Pats!

One a day-loads of digital pictures-some field notes. Back to my lonely home office. Report gets written (computer) up where The Home Inspector Boy can refer to his extensive technical library and is not distracted by customers and their entourage. Nothing like a couple of hours reviewing the days activities with an ample supply of Guinness. We can e-mail, then print for snail mail, if requested. Pretty slow in the Boston area-good time to clean out and upgrade the tool bag.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles and Bridgton, Maine

Field modified coat hanger works in Maine [8D] Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles and Bridgton, Maine

We reuse everything in Maine. a. Better than nothing? b. What else are you going to do with old paint lids? c. Too small for a frisbee? d. Hope there is no flammable (paint)surface underneath. e. Should be kept out of the "burn pile"! f. Points on the screws? Can you tell things are slow in New England? Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles and Bridgton,Maine [:-banghea * ASHI-ICC-SPREI *

In Maine-160 years old Fed. Colonial. Old tree next to the foundation lifted the rubble and sill 5+". New owner cut down the tree and chipped the roots. Town was pissed-tree dominated that side of the house and driveway. New? foundation positioned and new kitchen and family room installed. Siding saved and reapplied. I think the tree was there and some old yankee built an addition and carriage house too close. Boy --old houses are fun![:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles and Bridgton,Maine

Nice too see you again. 64 in June. Just a little slower, but a little smarter. Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

Viesman? Big orange boilers used for radiant heat? Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine[:-banghea

Metrowest area of Boston and the Greater Metropolitan area has plenty of new and old oil fired steam boilers in houses. Hard to "add on" to a steam system--add a tank and loop pex for hydronic heating. Steam is not generally used for new houses. Good mechanics are retired/dead. A good system would be an oil fired hydro air system. Efficient long lasting oil fired boiler doing all the work. Running hydronic loops thru the air exchangers and maybe the basement. Providing hot water to the building. Summer comes-- switch on the A.C segment--same vents. See this regularly in the McMansions. Boiler snoozes exept when hot water is needed. Dunkirk, Weil McLean, Smith, and Burnham all make steam boilers.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton, Maine

Spend some quality time in each organization (local meetings). Trust your gut. Every organization will want your membership money. Make sure that it is worth the hard earned dollars. Just being a member ? does not increase your bottom line. Little bit like religion-pick what works for you. Its a big investment in time and money. Almost every participant on this board can answer your question. Different answers for different reasons. Good luck![:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton, Maine

In the Metrowest part of Boston we are "built out". That means all the ranches and small capes under 500,000 are dozer bait. Knock one down -build a McMansion. 2-4 people living in a 3500sf 4 bath house! I'm too old to fully understand this. I'm too old to change! I'm hearing this a lot. Its time to move to where the buffalo moose roam. [:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

Some sellers need a pu$h to clean up their houses. How many stories do we hear about knowledgeble buyers,with the help of a professional home inspector, requesting $izable reductions in price because of rea$onable(doable) repairs. A properly prepared house will sell faster and close to its worth. There are several realtors in my area that use a presale inspection( by me). They will not advertise the fact because it gives them an advantage. Good for me-good for them- good for the seller-good for the buyer. Should keep people out of court. There is a business that "stages" houses for sale. This is not good for the buyer. Too much cosmetic coverup. Competant inspectors usually can see thru this fluff.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

1710 in Salem. Someone turned it into 4 condos. Downtown in the histerical district. Had a "underground railway escape tunnel" emptied out across the street. Basement support wood was covered with a cement slurry? Inaccessible!! attic looked like an upside down wooden ship. Did not dare make any structural comments--been standing for 300 years --looked pretty good. Mechanicals were fairly new (60s). Not a straight line in the building! Not my cup of Guinness[:-party] I do 1800s stuff all the time. There is a lot of old houses in my area. Needham (areas) histerical societies will not let you knock them down---big fight. You can move them, almost impossible to collapse. Yesturday, I Did a 1845 Mansard roofed mini victorian? What a adventure. Had three additions from 1900+1974+1986. Fixable structural issues + mechanicals fairly new 74+86. Owners grandmother was born in the house. She was not about to knock it down. House like that would be a great teaching venue. Parachute inspectors in and conduct a week long class.[:-banghea Lots of Guinness.[:-party] Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine