Beware of home warranties and pre-existing conditions - ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
posted on October 06, 2008 12:56:07 am
InspectionNews has just found the following information that might be of interest to you: Beware of home warranties and pre-existing conditions (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.abc15.com/content/news/investigators/consumeralerts/story.aspx%3Fcontent_id%3D15ce0908-a0ae-41ae-93cd-619d809ff819&cid=0&ei=8qfpSLzXBIHM8ASrm4RP&usg=AFQjCNGejyQJRpmNcmWbJ_uTu6mKLvmBcA) ABC15.com (KNXV-TV), AZ - 11 minutes ago "He said it was probably caused by a pre-existing condition as per the *home inspection* report," Michael says. So why did Homelife Warranty claim the coil *...* More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.abc15.com/content/news/investigators/consumeralerts/story.aspx%3Fcontent_id%3D15ce0908-a0ae-41ae-93cd-619d809ff819&cid=0&ei=8qfpSLzXBIHM8ASrm4RP&usg=AFQjCNGejyQJRpmNcmWbJ_uTu6mKLvmBcA)

Disaster Inspectors
posted on October 05, 2008 11:09:25 pm
(skip to the numbered questions if you don't feel like reading my introduction) :) Hello, I found this site while searching for information on the net regarding the two companies that contract disaster inspectors for FEMA. I searched the site for as much information as I could find so please forgive me if something I post has already been posted somewhere else before. Anyways, here it goes: I am a 22-year old looking to make some decent money so I can save up for the future. I have my Associate's Degree and have worked numerous jobs before, but none of it really had anything to do with construction or real estate, which I discovered to be two of the preferred types of experience for prospective inspectors. I wasn't planning on pursuing this, but I had heard from someone who's friend was in Texas right now (I'm located in Georgia) doing the same thing and has been for about six years. I currently have no committments and I am a pretty independent person so that is why I'm really interested in the opportunity. I hear it is a lot of hard work, but I think I'm at the point in my life where I need to test my ability to work hard and have my level of success determined by how I approach my work. Not to mention the pay seems to beat working the jobs that I've had so far. I came on this site to get as much information as possible so any help would be greatly appreciated. _*Questions:*_ 1. Like I mentioned earlier, I have virtually no experience other than helping put together a deck or something at a friend's house here and there, along with a stagecraft class that I took in college. I am considering going to a workshop in Dallas (all the way from GA) that Parr is conducting this week. They currently have nothing else scheduled on their site that would be any closer to me, but the workshop is required before you can move on to the online part of training. Now my question is, would it be worth it to fly out there (I can go standby round-trip and end up spending less than $200) and take the class so I can start the qualification process as soon as possible? 2. I also tried registering with PB Disaster, but one of their servers have been down since I first tried on Tuesday and I have called on three seperate occasions, all of which they took my name and number and have said someone would contact me within one day to register over the phone but that has yet to happen. Once I get registered, then I can take their online training courses which seems a lot better than flying to Houston. My question is though, are you allowed to be in the pool as an inspector for both Parr and PB at the same time, or just one or the other? I figured if you can, then it might increase your chances of getting deployed wouldn't it? Which leads me to the next question. 3. Say I do go through with the training and complete it for either one, or both of the companies (and pass the background check), does anyone have an idea of what my chances of actually getting deployed anywhere soon would be? Particularly when you factor in my inexperience, age, and the number of inspectors they have deployed right now. I guess what I'm trying to say is, are my chances fairly good or is it one of those cases where they let anybody "try out" but there's really no chance from the beginning that I would make the team? I apologize for the length of my post and I don't expect anyone's answers to be the same, so just any kind of help would be awesome.

FEMA Inspectors
posted on October 05, 2008 10:44:10 pm
(skip to the numbered questions if you don't feel like reading my introduction) :) Hello, I found this site while searching for information on the net regarding the two companies that contract disaster inspectors for FEMA. I searched the site for as much information as I could find so please forgive me if something I post has already been posted somewhere else before. Anyways, here it goes: I am a 22-year old looking to make some decent money so I can save up for the future. I have my Associate's Degree and have worked numerous jobs before, but none of it really had anything to do with construction or real estate, which I discovered to be two of the preferred types of experience for prospective inspectors. I wasn't planning on pursuing this, but I had heard from someone who's friend was in Texas right now (I'm located in Georgia) doing the same thing and has been for about six years. I currently have no committments and I am a pretty independent person so that is why I'm really interested in the opportunity. I hear it is a lot of hard work, but I think I'm at the point in my life where I need to test my ability to work hard and have my level of success determined by how I approach my work. Not to mention the pay seems to beat working the jobs that I've had so far. I came on this site to get as much information as possible so any help would be greatly appreciated. _*Questions:*_ 1. Like I mentioned earlier, I have virtually no experience other than helping put together a deck or something at a friend's house here and there, along with a stagecraft class that I took in college. I am considering going to a workshop in Dallas (all the way from GA) that Parr is conducting this week. They currently have nothing else scheduled on their site that would be any closer to me, but the workshop is required before you can move on to the online part of training. Now my question is, would it be worth it to fly out there (I can go standby round-trip and end up spending less than $200) and take the class so I can start the qualification process as soon as possible? 2. I also tried registering with PB Disaster, but one of their servers have been down since I first tried on Tuesday and I have called on three seperate occasions, all of which they took my name and number and have said someone would contact me within one day to register over the phone but that has yet to happen. Once I get registered, then I can take their online training courses which seems a lot better than flying to Houston. My question is though, are you allowed to be in the pool as an inspector for both Parr and PB at the same time, or just one or the other? I figured if you can, then it might increase your chances of getting deployed wouldn't it? Which leads me to the next question. 3. Say I do go through with the training and complete it for either one, or both of the companies (and pass the background check), does anyone have an idea of what my chances of actually getting deployed anywhere soon would be? Particularly when you factor in my inexperience, age, and the number of inspectors they have deployed right now. I guess what I'm trying to say is, are my chances fairly good or is it one of those cases where they let anybody "try out" but there's really no chance from the beginning that I would make the team? I apologize for the length of my post and I don't expect anyone's answers to be the same, so just any kind of help would be awesome.

PB Disaster/Parr Inspections Information?
posted on October 05, 2008 05:42:15 am
(skip to the numbered questions if you don't feel like reading my introduction) :) Hello, I found this site while searching for information on the net regarding the two companies that contract disaster inspectors for FEMA. I searched the site for as much information as I could find so please forgive me if something I post has already been posted somewhere else before. Anyways, here it goes: I am a 22-year old looking to make some decent money so I can save up for the future. I have my Associate's Degree and have worked numerous jobs before, but none of it really had anything to do with construction or real estate, which I discovered to be two of the preferred types of experience for prospective inspectors. I wasn't planning on pursuing this, but I had heard from someone who's friend was in Texas right now (I'm located in Georgia) doing the same thing and has been for about six years. I currently have no committments and I am a pretty independent person so that is why I'm really interested in the opportunity. I hear it is a lot of hard work, but I think I'm at the point in my life where I need to test my ability to work hard and have my level of success determined by how I approach my work. Not to mention the pay seems to beat working the jobs that I've had so far. I came on this site to get as much information as possible so any help would be greatly appreciated. _*Questions:*_ 1. Like I mentioned earlier, I have virtually no experience other than helping put together a deck or something at a friend's house here and there, along with a stagecraft class that I took in college. I am considering going to a workshop in Dallas (all the way from GA) that Parr is conducting this week. They currently have nothing else scheduled on their site that would be any closer to me, but the workshop is required before you can move on to the online part of training. Now my question is, would it be worth it to fly out there (I can go standby round-trip and end up spending less than $200) and take the class so I can start the qualification process as soon as possible? 2. I also tried registering with PB Disaster, but one of their servers have been down since I first tried on Tuesday and I have called on three seperate occasions, all of which they took my name and number and have said someone would contact me within one day to register over the phone but that has yet to happen. Once I get registered, then I can take their online training courses which seems a lot better than flying to Houston. My question is though, are you allowed to be in the pool as an inspector for both Parr and PB at the same time, or just one or the other? I figured if you can, then it might increase your chances of getting deployed wouldn't it? Which leads me to the next question. 3. Say I do go through with the training and complete it for either one, or both of the companies (and pass the background check), does anyone have an idea of what my chances of actually getting deployed anywhere soon would be? Particularly when you factor in my inexperience, age, and the number of inspectors they have deployed right now. I guess what I'm trying to say is, are my chances fairly good or is it one of those cases where they let anybody "try out" but there's really no chance from the beginning that I would make the team? I apologize for the length of my post and I don't expect anyone's answers to be the same, so just any kind of help would be awesome.

CONDENSATE DRAIN...LOOK AT PHOTO
posted on October 04, 2008 12:06:25 pm
I inspected a vacant house in the country, outside the area of city inspectors. The house is well built however in one bathroom I kept smelling something like smell of sewer gas. I took this photo in that bathroom. Look at the angle of the condensate drain line. Looks like the angle has created it's own "trap". I think the only way this could drain is if enough water-weight in the condensate drain coming from the attic could push the water in this "trap" into the drain. I thnk this must be where the smell is coming from. What do you guys think ?

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
posted on October 04, 2008 08:12:44 am
The Congressman went on to say that many of his colleagues were told that if they voted against the bill ........ Watch the video: YouTube - Fear Mongering exposed by Mr. Sherman on CSPAN (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnbNm6hoBXc&eurl=http://www.sott.net/) Rockway Home Inspection http://www.SanAntonioTexasHomeInspector.com San Antonio Texas, San Antonio based home inspection company offering services throughout San Antonio and surrounding counties.

Juice
posted on October 04, 2008 08:00:35 am
Hey, How about that O.J.?

flir b2 thermal camera for sale 2007 model
posted on October 03, 2008 11:01:04 pm
2007 model year flir b2 camera with case 2 batteries and charger call 847 910 0921 with questions- asking $6300

Hello : )
posted on October 03, 2008 08:31:19 pm
Hello guys, my name is Jorge, my friends call me George. I am an FNG. I have been in the business for 2 years going on three. I was told while attended ITA how we were all going to make over $100k. Now I am not sure if I understood. I thought it was going to be a year, now I wonder if they meant in my life time : ). Well, anyway, I am not going to stop trying. I have read some of the advice and comments you guys post and it shows you guys know. Great to see people helping each other. One thing I am finding is that the more I know, the more I know I don’t know. Is there ever a point when there are no more questions? Or is that when our maker calls? Well just a bit more about me, I am ASHI certified and I am studing to get my ICC certification. I have a bug about learning. The other problem is, I'm in Georgia and we dont have a licencing requirment. So anybody with a flashlight can say they are an inspector and some do. This makes pricing tricky. Well just want to say to all of you. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this great group. May God bless us all.

GreenRoofs
posted on October 03, 2008 06:08:37 pm
Has anyone yet come across one of these projects. I guess now we'll have to start recommending the roof covering be examined by a reputable Landscape contractor. Greenroofs.com: The Resource Portal for Green Roofs (http://www.greenroofs.com/)

Attachments to chimney
posted on October 03, 2008 05:15:41 pm
Does anyone have a good technical paragraph for when attachments have been made to a masonry chimney? In this home the porch structure and service cable where attached and approved by the local building official and utility company. Rich

Curious Cat
posted on October 03, 2008 02:30:05 pm
Had an inspection this morning where I had a cat following me around curious of everything I was doing. I filled up the "hydromassage therapy" tub and had it running when the cat jumped upon on the side to see the water moving. I left the master bathroom and went to the hall bathroom to get the other tub running and checking things out. Then I realized where's the cat. As soon as I walked back into the master bedroom and saw the wet carpeting I just knew what had happened. Yep, I was right. The bathroom wall around the tub and tile floor was soaking wet. I couldn't keep from just laughing almost to tears watching this soaked cat licking himself dry. When I drained the tub, there was enough cat hair in the bottom of the tub to make a kitten. Funny thing was the ole bulldog, never got his bottom up all the couch the whole time. He just had that look of "Stupid Cat".

Mismatched A/C unit sizes
posted on October 02, 2008 08:38:12 pm
Todays inspection had mismatched size air conditioning units. Interior units were 4 ton and exterior units were 3 ton. HVAC is not my strongest suite but am I correct in assuming the exterior unit can only cool so much and so the extra capacity of the interior units is wasted? Or is there some other awful consequences of which I am not aware? Exterior Unit: Lennox, Model #: 13ACD-036-230-02, Serial number: 5807C06557 Exterior Unit: Lennox, Model #: 13ACD-036-230-02, Serial number: 5807C06560 Interior Unit: Lennox, Model #: CH22-44/48B-2F-2, Serial number: 6006K66815 Interior Unit: Lennox, Model #: CH33-48C-2F-2, Serial number: 6007G27739 3900 sq ft two story with a unit for each of the floors, one in the attic and one in the crawl. Not a tree in site to provide any shade.

Wrong window for siding?
posted on October 02, 2008 07:20:25 pm
New construction Hardie Board siding and vinyl windows. The windows are: MI Windows & Doors Model # 4300. None of the windows are sealed at the siding. The windows are flanged type "self flashing" if you believe in that, and have what the manufacture calls (intergral "J" channel). I see this type of window with vinyl siding all the time, never caulked at the edges to the siding. The manufactures installation instructions for there vinyl windows has this: 11. ALLOW A 1/4” GAP BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR CLADDING, SIDING, BRICK, STUCCO OR STONE AND THE WINDOW FRAME ON ALL SIDES (EXCEPT VINYL J CHANNEL). THE GAP (EXPANSION JOINT) SHOULD BE FILLED WITH CORRECT SIZE BACKER ROD, THEN SEALED WITH A HIGH GRADE EXTERIOR SEALANT AND WILL NEED TO BE MAINTAINED. Is the 4300 window designed for vinyl siding only? Can they be used with cement board siding? I don't see how you can seal at the edges with the intergral "J" channel in the way. There is no visible flashing or drip cap at the top of the windows either. Water will go behind the siding, leaving the house wrap and flashing as the only barrier to the sheathing and studs. Do I recommend installing a drip cap or flashing at the head and sealing at the side jambs, or state "wrong window for the siding"? Any help is appriciated. Thanks

Test
posted on October 02, 2008 06:13:35 pm
What would your determination be as you walk up these stairs? If you know for sure, wait a few days. This is something you don't normally see and a good lesson in observance.