Reverse mtg inspections
posted on October 12, 2008 12:51:19 pm
I recieved a call for a quote from a lender for a reverse mortage inspection. Is anybody doing these, and what is the lender looking for??

Drip leg at CSST?
posted on October 12, 2008 10:38:38 am
I assume (which may make me an ass) that CSST would need a drip leg at/before appliance connections just like black pipe? True or False? Thanks, Reis

Don't you just hate speed bumps?
posted on October 12, 2008 09:18:31 am
I'm sure the people in this car do. YouTube - Speed bump (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5ZwbDj7sQM)

Boilerplate
posted on October 11, 2008 05:10:11 pm
What have you guys got for a standard Boilerplate on forecloseures. Did one today and wnat to cover all the angles. Thanks, Wayne

ICC Codes Spread
posted on October 11, 2008 04:58:34 pm
Captain Spaulding brings the ICC Codes to Freedonia.

TPR discharge pipe
posted on October 11, 2008 03:44:42 pm
Tell me this is wrong. I'm refering to code check (IRC 2803.6.1 and UPC 608.5). AS you can see this was an approved installation. Rich

New Inspector John Mavilio,Massachusetts
posted on October 11, 2008 08:55:54 am
Hello Fellow Inspectors: I have just signed in to Inspecton News and hope to share some information about inspection topics. I have been in Florida for the past year performing inspections and completed my course studies fo alltec/pb disaster services for inspections .I have been activated only once so far for damages from hurricane Gustav but unfortunately when I was called to be deployed hurricane Ivan was bearing down on Houston/Galveston area and guess what, thats where pb set up the deployment rally point one day before it hit. I could not even get a flight down there. If any other inspectors are working for pb or alltec i would like to share some info about these types of inspections. Thanks, John Mavilio, NetZero- Free Dial Up Internet Service - High Speed ISP - Net Zero Internet Provider - Netzero.com (http://www.deltaassociates@netzero.com). I will be checking for a response.

This is how it's supposed to work
posted on October 11, 2008 06:44:10 am
Yesterday I had a great day, could have been really bad.....but it was more surreal. The inspection was 106 YO flip house. First time buyers that REALLY loved the house, since it met all of their needs and wants. Background: The flipping contractor was busted by the City Codes people for working without permits, so they mad him get all the permits, etc. The house was great on the inside. I did find a GFCI outlet for the washer, and the ground wire had come loose too. There was a leak at the shower enclosure, stove anti tilt bracket missing, and a couple other minor things. Pretty much normal stuff. Went into the crawlspace, part of which is stand up, part of it is only inches from the floor framing. Here's where it got interesting. The entire back of the house had new floor framing. Everything about it was wrong. It was too close to the ground, and was not PT lumber. They had cut two joists for plumbing, and supported the cut joists with scrap lumber resting on the ground. No ledger board or joist hangers were uses where they ties into the existing floor system. At the rear of the house, they didn't support the framing on the foundation. They just had random bricks holding it up along the back. The house has a brick foundation. There were just a zillion framing issues, and it was just "ALL WRONG". If this would have been a family member, we would have been out of there right then. But this couple loves this house. While they are calling their Realtor to come over, I placed a call to the City, they gave me the inspectors number. I called the inspector, and he actually answered his phone. I told him my concerns without asking him how in the world he passed this crap. He was kind of non-committal, but took my name and number. He called me back within a few minutes and told me he only did the final, and was just working off the list from the prior inspection. He also found a snafu where there was an open framing inspection, but it was never called for (and not followed up). They got a final by mistake. "OK, thanks for the call". I continue on, and about 10 minutes later, the City Inspector shows up. WE go into the crawlspace with the client, the inspector says, "I was never in here". He takes a look at the crap and says, "Your inspector is right, this is just wrong, and should never have passed." Meanwhile the Realtor shows up and goes down in the crawl with all of us and starts taking photos to e-mail to the other agent and the owner. A little later the owner shows up and wants to go into the crawlspace to see for herself what's going on. She tells me the original contractor was fired in the middle of the job. She compliments me on my skills too. (OK, where is the hidden camera?") She is clearly pissed at her contractor, but is also interesting in making it right (so she can sell the house). She is on the phone to her new contractor who is going to come out on Monday and do whatever it takes to fix it. So at the end of the day (after at least 6 trips into the crawl, and about 2 hours longer than normal) here is the tally. A City codes guy that compliments me on my skills, and admits I am right, AND cares enough about his job to show up and see if he messed up. A property owner/flipper that doesn't stand there and argue about everything, also compliment me on my skills (and asked for my card), AND seems willing to do whatever it takes to fix the house. A Realtor that isn't pissy about maybe having a sale go down the toilet, and was proactive about getting everyone on board because of the problem. I had a real head swell moment when I was in the other room and I heard her tell my clients that she had been at another inspection that morning and I was clearly a much better inspector. The topper was they paid cash and gave me a tip. I have been doing this a long time, but it still feels good when you get validation for doing a good job, and drive away without anyone being unhappy with you for doing a good job and telling the truth. it was a great end of the week.

Inspection reports
posted on October 10, 2008 08:43:36 pm
Just curious what some other HI's are doing. I'm using a reporting system I like quite a bit and I was taught to fill it out at the end of the inspection, get paid and hand them the report. As the inspection takes quite some time usually, I'd rather take the report home, with my notes, fill it out under no pressure, then get it to the client. I know a lot of you do something similar but what about the payment end of things? Thanks for any help. Much appreciated Brian

Never know when the fire alarm may go off
posted on October 10, 2008 06:45:21 pm
Check out this poor guy. YouTube - Dont try on clothes left in the dressing room (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7urSQqC-Xck)

Vent near gable
posted on October 10, 2008 06:10:59 pm
Hi Folks, Just inspected a new home. Not allowed on the roof, so I couldn't take measurements. I did see a vent pipe about 1 1/2 feet under the gable vent. Per the P3103.5 (2006 IRC) you shouldn't have vents close to "air intakes" to the house. I just want a sanity check here (on the question only) Is the gable vent to the attic considered an air intake to the home, (I believe it is) but it's not like a window or door that goes into the living area. What's the call here? violation or not? (No I don't do code inspections, but do like to keep the new builders in line) Thanks! Waiting to finish report, thanks for your speedy replies. -Dave

screwy stem wall
posted on October 10, 2008 06:09:48 pm
Something obviously went wrong during construction, and the structure didn't fit over the stem wall as designed. The siding rests on the stem wall instead of overlapping it. There is also an area on the left side of the house where a lower portion of skirting and framing is way out of plumb. One corner of the stem wall is not level, and has been patched. This house was built in 2002. Any thoughts???

Seperation between garage and sleeping above
posted on October 10, 2008 05:15:34 pm
The building code requires that the garage be seperated by 1 hour seperation from sleeping area above. Is there any specific requirement reagrding the amount a air flow (gas fumes) that can penatrate that 1 hour seperation. What amount of holes or gaps are allowed and/or is the 1 hour a complete air tight seperation? Thanks for your help.

Anyone have any comments on call centers?
posted on October 10, 2008 03:01:44 pm
Hello - I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences they would share about using a telephone call / scheduling service? My wife runs our office, and does a great job of scheduling about 600 inspections a year for 3 inspectors, but she's getting tired of the thankless job (her opinion) and the lack of face to face interaction. Personally, I'd be happy if I never had to deal with people, so I am not the one to replace her - plus I am our lead inspector, so my time is better spent in the field. SO, I was considering alternatives and was wondering if anyone would mind sharing comments about professional call centers, or any suggestions you may have about managing office duties. Thanks in advance, and be careful out there -

How many Forum Members does it take....
posted on October 10, 2008 01:15:30 pm
Hope this isnt a repost, Image: http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif This post remind me of the many conversations on HI news. *How Many Forum Members does it take to Change a Light Bulb???????* 1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed 14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently 7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs 1 to move it to the Lighting section 2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section 7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs 5 to flame the spell checkers 3 to correct spelling/grammar flames 6 to argue over whether it’s “lightbulb” or “light bulb” … another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid 2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is “lamp” 1 guy from Oklahoma questions the professionals and make an ass of himself. Again. 15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that “light bulb” is perfectly correct 1 guy to throw in some images that nobody has a clue what they mean 19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum 11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum 36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty 7 to post URL’s where one can see examples of different light bulbs 4 to post that the URL’s were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL’s 3 to post about links they found from the URL’s that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group 13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add “Me too” 5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy 4 to say “didn’t we go through this already a short time ago?” 1 newbie to jump in at the end of the thread and post what he was taught at the school and ask if someone could help with some ideas to get his business off the ground 13 to say “do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs” 1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.