DLRambo

Oh gosh ... My spelling was a bit off. I must be getting old, because being one of the 2 guys that started that group 20+ years ago you'd think I could remember how to spell the name. Oh well !!!!!!!!!!! Call after 7 most PM's

Same BS in KS ........ We do NOT have state licensed contractors, builders, remodelers, interior decorators, etc, etc, etc The HI board with 2 ASHI members are ONLY trying to enforce it on FHA inspectors.

Dev - Got your email but no phone #. Spent weekend in VA hospital doing heart stress tests, etc because of little heart event last week. Out and running again this week. Got probably 2 commercial buildings and 1 new construction monitoring on the books that I know of right now. Big KC secret .... A large amount of the most experienced and really good ASHI home inspectors in KC are not at the Grate Pains Chapter meetings as you will come to find out. Most of the NAHI group are past ASHI Members as are many of the independent inspectors in KC ......... just too much politicing & BS in local ASHI group. Call if U want to talk or need help. (816) 455-8787

We've had an issue like this come up in Kansas. As a licensed contractor, FHA Fee Inspector and FHA 203k Consultant I find it extremely embarrassing to hear so many well intentioned BUT basically uninformed inspectors trying to tell others that something like a HUD 92051 compliance fee inspection is a home inspection. Absolutely dumb. NOT even close to the same thing NOR done to the same guidelines.

Dev - I'm in KC and was the 1st ASHI inspector out here back in 1984. I've served multiple times on their national Board and been President of both ASHI Chapters in Missouri & Kansas. I'm familiar with the C & D training materials as we've used some in addition to our own thats a little more relative to our area. I'm also a Trainer for Kansas, NAHI, ASHI, NACHI, etc I hear your pain and understand your thoughts. Give me a call & we can talk OR email me. dl_rambo@hotmail.com OR (816) 455-8787

Mike - I'd like to see the comparison

I recently saw an article about how Washington State put together a committee of about 10 people from various inspection associations to review different SoP's prior to starting writing their own state standards. I believe the article said of all the SoP's they saw that they felt that NAHI's was the most clearly written, etc AND used those as a starting point. Has anybody else on this board seen that article. If so, I lost track of it and wanted to review it again as to what they thought was better, etc.

Several points to ponder: #1 - Is the plumber a code inspector? ANYBODY can venture their opinion as to what is / and what isn't "Up To Code" - BUT - ONLY the local codes official can DECIDE and enforce that. #2 - Codes change every 3-4 years. Was it or not code compliant 10 years ago?? The ONLY way to be sure is to ask the code official. #3 - DID the local codes department approve this at some time? #4 - If your inspector belonged to NAHI, ASHI, NACHI or almost ANY inspection club I know - he / she's SoP and Inspection Agreement will tell you they don't do the "C" Word. So look at the report, the agreement and SoP, etc. #5 - Did the SELLER disclose the PLUMBING wasn't "up to code"? #6 - WHAT plumbing part has caused the owner problems AND why hasn't he/she called before now?? #7 - What is in plain site now was probably behind the ........... 10 years ago and NOT VISIBLE. #8 - Mr Buyer, I'm SO SORRY, I see by our paperwork, that I told you upfront I was not adopting and raising you - just looking at the house 1 TIME. I ALSO see I offered you a WARRANTY - YOU turned it down AND initialed the DECLINE BOX - SO SORRY JERK-OFF! #9 - Its so freaking SLOW right now, I'd have a ball jerking this yo-yo and his / her plumber all over the floor. #10 - I hope somebody told Barry he's getting too tactful AND not shooting straight with these folks. This is the kinda hogwash that makes folks think the home inspector screwed them over.

A friend is looking at houses in another state. She's got an offer in on one she likes. She sent me a photo of the windows. Something has caught her eye. She says part of the windows have holes in the bottoms - others don't. The ones with holes are fixed. The operating windows don't have visible holes. Look at the photo's - then what are your thoughts. Weeps or ???????????? Download Attachment: DSCF8262.JPG 529.12 KB

After 16 years who cares. Dryers are to vent outside.

One of the local guys let me use his 6 month old Fluke TiR to see what we thought about IR in the recent Flir Level I Class. Didn't wanta spend much $$$ unless we could justify this - In a REALLY slow RE market. I was really amazed at something. I've seen the Flir B-60 really being touted in the hand held type of IR's. Heres my question or issue. I'm really not that concerned about Reading High Temperatures or the pictures the IR will make back at the office - What I'm interested in is the IR camera showing the issue out in the field - mostly on residential homes, AND mostly moisture OR air Leaks Or Energy Surveys. The Fluke TiR sells for $4,045 +/- is a 160x120 camera (19,200 pixels) with a 0.10 sensitivity and 5% accuracy. The Flir B-60 sells for $7,295 +/- and is a 180x180 (32,400 pixels) with a 0.08 sensitivity and 2% accuracy After all the playing I did with both cameras in the class, I could not see ON THE SCREEN any significant difference in the field image. Most of the other guys playing with both IR's said the same thing. Most thought the more inexpensive Fluke had a sharper image than the more expensive B-60. The Flir B-60 had nice features - lighter, a laser pointer, built in lamp, BUT ........ How about the On Screen Field Image Am I missing something? How can you spend almost double more $$$$ and see no better Field Image.

One of the things I learned at my Level I Class from my recently divorced IR instructor was some very ingenious use of an IR imager at singles bars and a local Hooters restaurant that I won't go into here, BUT I never would have thought it up without my specialized IR training.

One of my friends has a TiR & a TiR1 and 2 other contractors I know bought the Flir B-50 & B-60. I've been able to see all 4 side-by-side. Here are my observations. The Flir's are lighter, smaller, have laser pointers a built-in light, and a changeable battery. Used the Flukes for 3 days - never ran out of battery on any job. When Battery was 2/3 down - it re-charged within 1 hr or LESS The Fluke TiR had a better screen than the B-50 Flir. The Fluke TiR1 had a better screen than the B-50 or B-60 Flir Not just my opinion - 4-5 guys on the job looked them over and said the same thing. Fluke TiR = $4,050 - $4,250 with 19,200 pixels and 0.10 sensitivity Fluke TiR1 = $6,250 - $6,950 w/19,200 pixels and 0.07 sensitivity The Flir B-50 = $5,350 - $5,995 w/19,600 pixels & 0.10 sensitivity Flir B-60 = $7,250 - $7,995 w/32,400 pixels & 0.08 sensitivity All were easy to use. The Flukes were 1 lb heavier. Thats about it .......................

I'm always shocked when the 1st home inspector did not find MOLD growing inside the wall, AND the 2nd inspector with a moisture meter, IR thermal imager and the drywall stripped off was able to find the problem. Damn the luck. This is the realtors, the Bolivar legislator and members of MAHI (Missouri ASHi Home Inspectors - I think that what it stands for) getting ready to try to push it again this year.

I wonder why someone would tell you to take the NHIE, unless they were ASHI members, on the NHIE board or similar. You don't have to wait till you get 50 inspections under your belt to take the NAHI. I'm surprised one of the other guys on this site that responded to you didn't tell you that. Many of my friends and past students have taken the NAHI or NHIE for credentialism OR mainly to test their knowledge. Its about equally divided as to my students thoughts on the 2 tests. Some of our students say the NAHI exam was more stringent and actually tested you more REAL WORLD on what an inspector really does - others said the NHIE did. id="black">

Almost forgot - No other profession in our state has any kind of restrictions like that on them. Agents been having MANY breakfasts or luncheons for legislators telling them how NEEDED this is AND mentioning this is an election year AND the Realtors have 15,000 voting members and $$$$. I sat in on one of these meetings. Very subtle. Like a 10 lb sledge hammer to kill a fly. I hear naive or foolish inspectors say "oh how great - our liability is limited to $10k. Stop and imagine: You miss an electrical defect that burns a house down and kills or severely injures a kid. Think a jury will stop at $10k. Don't get stupid. You know the answer to that like I do. So all the $10k does is open us up to every whiny baby or slightly sleazy realestator out there. Bad move. Whats worse is we've got local HI's helping push this - "it'll help clean up the industry" Oh pleaseeeeee..................

In Kansas, the state appellate court has ruled several times over the past 12 years that a service business can CONTRACT with their clients and limit their liability (time or $$$). The realestator community AND trial attorneys have started telling the media and legislators that because of that, if anything goes south in a home inspection, the buyer has no recourse against the inspector (99 yards of BS - done lots of expert witness for other inspectors that only wish that was 100% true). Therefore for national security and to protect the children the saviours of the consumer (agents & attorneys) are pushing a bill that among other things writes into state law that HI can not use language that limits his/her liability to UNDER $10,000. The Bill also makes mandatory either: E&O ins, a $10,000 escrow account like a RE Brokers, a $10,000 no revocable letter of credit (pledge your house, etc) OR a $10,000 Bond of some kind.

So if someone like me with 28 yrs home inspection experience, on top of a degree in HVAC and 6 yrs in the HVAC industry moved to california last summer - if I did an inspection on one of these furnaces some dimwit could be saying "THE HOME INSPECTOR MISSED ....". This stuff is getting real old. I try to imagine going through a 20-40 year old house, trying to look at and record model & serial numbers of appliances, A/C units, furnaces, ceiling fans, garage door openers, etc so I can go home and look these up on a possible RECALL LIST and it occurs to me I probably wouldn't have the time to do a real good home inspection.

This was embarassing to me to see how wrong a writer thats supposed to have HI experience could be. I've always enjoyed Barry Stones stuff BUT this was out in left field. I'm a ME by training; a past HVAC contractor & Factory Rep; and a 28 yr Home Inspector. LIke Kurt I've never heard of this furnace NOR do we do recalls.

Chad - Call me sometime (800) 474-8957. I don't know what you're smoking but I haven't had anything that strong since Vietnam. Could use some more.

Been doing this right at 28 Yrs. I've got tons of PR. 1st ASHI inspector in 300 mile circle. In past 12 yrs - over 68 newspaper articles; 2 radio show interviews; 4 TV features; several magazine articles; teach CE classes for HI's, appraisers and realtors. But was starting to lose ground to newbies - especially cheap newbies. Took Mike's 3 day class and pulled 1 idea alone that jumped me from 380 inspections a year to 759 the next year. Try it - you might like it.

I just went to one in Belleville, Il last week that I think was good for 6-8 CEUs for Illinois guys. I bet you've got others you don't even have to leave Il to take.

Late drop in onto Topic - BUT - been using a Zip Level for 6 years (+/-). Love it. Use it on new construction; warranty inspections; expert witness; foundation defect inspections; etc. Love it.

Vegas has always had very affordable rooms; great entertainment; and easy access from almost anywhere in the country. The NAHI bash will be their 20 year anniversary, so I imagine it will be nice. The last one I attended they had alot of the same speakers and vendors I see on the ASHI circuit. Less crowded than ASHI's more laid back and very Inspector friendly group. I saw a lot of the old time ASHI crowd there, and it was less expensive. Flip a coin.

Whoever writes the check and pays me is my client and who signs the Inspection Contract. What they do with my report or who they give it to is up to them, BUT they are the only one I'm responsible to.