Procrastinators or just don't give a darn!

[Scott Patterson]

Why do people wait to the last moment to order an inspection! I know the tax credit is ending in a few days, but just today I have had three calls from folks needing an inspection tomorrow because of the tax credit deadline! All three have had a contract since Monday! I just don't understand..... I could not help them so I referred them to some other inspector friends.

It is just frustrating!!!!!

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[Ron Bibler]

Thats why you make the big bucks Scott...

Best

Ron

[Scott Patterson]

Thats why you make the big bucks Scott...

Best

Ron

I wish! I have a bad feeling that after Friday the phone will go back to its silent mode! The past several weeks have been like the old days!

[Ron Bibler]

Hey Scott how are the contractors doing with this new EPA paint law. I think this is going to stir up a lot of law suit and put a big gun in the hands of the attorneys...

I see contractor looking for the training but its hard to find.

OUCH! This is going to hurt every one in due time. I do a lot of work for a flipping and fixing investment firm and this is going to hit them hard.

Some one said that there was only one instructors in Tenn. Is that true?

Best

Ron

[Nick Ostrowski]

Why do people wait to the last moment to order an inspection! I know the tax credit is ending in a few days, but just today I have had three calls from folks needing an inspection tomorrow because of the tax credit deadline! All three have had a contract since Monday! I just don't understand..... I could not help them so I referred them to some other inspector friends.

It is just frustrating!!!!!

I hear you Scott. I don't know how many people I've talked to on recent Fridays that want to know if I'm available the next day or Sunday. Heaven forbid they should alter their lives and take some time off to buy a house.

[Rick Hurst]

I've probably lost 20 calls this week cause of the deadline.

Just so many you can do.

By far though, this has been the best season in numbers for me ever. I've hit it hard this month with 67 inspections done myself. Have 4 more to knock out the next couple days to finish out the month nicely.

rick

[Ted Menelly]

I've probably lost 20 calls this week cause of the deadline.

Just so many you can do.

By far though, this has been the best season in numbers for me ever. I've hit it hard this month with 67 inspections done myself. Have 4 more to knock out the next couple days to finish out the month nicely.

rick

Ah...Rick....Just 67 inspections in the month of April is 2.25 a day, seven days a week.

Somewhere between 16 and 20,000.00 dollars. I think you can give it a rest for a while.

Those 67 would feed 3 inspectors around you for a month. 22 a piece would feel great to some of them.

My month started slow after a half way decent March and then the last half of this month picked up again.

[Ron Bibler]

I'm not getting that in my area. I'm all over the web. first place on Google. My numbers are up for work but my inspection are down for the month.

Just working less for more money... Odd but I'll take it

Best

Ron

[Rick Hurst]

Ted,

You are correctamundo.

Thats why this weekend is a "off" weekend. I'm beat.

rick

[Jerry Peck]

Because that is when the contracts are being signed.

One of our daughters has been trying to buy a house for about 6-7 months now, however long the $8,000 rebate has been offered. She has looked at probably 50 houses and put offers on 15 of them, only to always come in second to an investor or someone not going FHA - she is in the South Florida/Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area where the low FHA end of under $150k are being purchased by flippers/investors.

She finally had an offer accepted last Friday, the seller insisted on a 5 day inspection period, which included Saturday and Sunday, leaving very little time for an inspection. Fortunately ... I just happen to know a lot of the inspectors in South Florida and was able to get a good inspector to go out Monday morning before his next inspection that day, he and all the other inspectors are booked up - for the same reason ... everyone needs to have a signed valid contract by April 30, and that includes all addendums which alter the contract - it is crunch time and the flippers/investors who were driving up the market and waiting for higher prices are going to hit a brick wall on April 30 and that low end market is going do basically slow way down for a while.

She is buying a flipper house which was sold for $70k 3 months ago and is now going for $150k. She offered $145k and the seller accepted it, then had back-up offers come in higher than that (the highest was $165k we heard), but those offers are going to disappear on April 30 as the deadline comes and goes.

The in$pection report does not show the house as being worthy of that price, but if she does not get into the market now she will likely miss being able to get into the market for many years to come as the market recovers and prices rise. She is an attorney starting out, working for the Miami-Dade Public Defenders office, low pay and all that, but is getting excellent experience in all aspects, she hopes to be a judge at some point in the future.

[Frank Bombardiere]

Rick, I don't know how you can do it. I could have that many this month, but have been turning people away because I can't handle doing that many. i will end up with 52 and I am burned out. I will only do three a day one or two days a week and two all the other days. Won't do Sundays period. Three is a good 12 to 14 hr day depending on the shape of the house. I am hoping it slows down in a week or so so I can get my boat out before the fish quit biting.

[Matt Fellman]

Around here it's been a nice busy stretch but not without it's ups and downs. I lost $800 of inspections today to cancellations but it was actually a nice break.... I've been running pretty hard the last few weeks.

Our numbers this year are up a substantial amount over last year or 2008 which is good to see. Of course, like everyone, I'm wondering if I'm going to starve all summer.

[Scott Patterson]

Hey Scott how are the contractors doing with this new EPA paint law. I think this is going to stir up a lot of law suit and put a big gun in the hands of the attorneys...

I see contractor looking for the training but its hard to find.

OUCH! This is going to hurt every one in due time. I do a lot of work for a flipping and fixing investment firm and this is going to hit them hard.

Some one said that there was only one instructors in Tenn. Is that true?

Best

Ron

Hi Ron,

I have not paid much attention to it as I don't do any repair or contracting type work. We talked about it at our ASHI chapter meeting this past weekend and most thought that it really was not a big deal for us home inspectors. I have no idea on how many instructors are in the state.

[John Ghent]

I got a call late on a Saturday afternoon from a very famous person. My son did not believe who I was talking to and he (mr. famous) talked with my kid for a few minutes and said he would send him a picture with his autograph. He was married to a female personality that was three times more famous than him. He apologized for calling like that but needed an inspection on a 10 mil house he was interested in and was told I was the meanest prick in the valley and he should only use me. He needed to make a bid by Monday AM so he needed a Sunday inspection. In my 35 years of inspecting he was only one of three I ever agreed to inspect for on a Sunday. He didn't need a written report, just an opinion of the overall of the place. (Right!) Well, I did it, charged him a big pile of money, called him on Sunday night with my overall opinion, (which was not to buy) and then sent a written report the following week. About three months later he sued me because he didn't understand the severity of what we discussed on the phone Sunday, made a binding bid on Monday, got the written report on Wednesday, didn't read it, moved in, got rain leakage right where I said he would and then called his attorney. The attorney hired an engineering firm who stated that there were problems with a silo constructed above the family room, among other things. (All of which were in the written report.) The law firm he hired to sue had to cost him 800 per hour. I suggested that I would not let my insurance pay without a public trial with a jury of my peers so he should tell his lawyers to dress for battle. He figured the publicity was not worth it and dropped the case. This is typical of last minute requests for inspections. Only the prices and the personalities change.

[Nick Ostrowski]

So tell us John......did you get his autograph?

[mathew stouffer]

Rick the machine. 67, that is crazy. 35 is a lot for me. Rick what is the average square footage of a home you inspect.

[Rick Hurst]

On average, 2500-4K. Actually, I had a few 5K in the last month but those aren't going after the tax break either.

I normally don't do the weekends but I just wanted to knockout as many as possible just while it is great.

This weekend though, its family time and keeping the grandsons. Time for some playtime.

rick

[Nick Ostrowski]

Man, high 20s is a lot for me. With taking all the calls, returning calls, paperwork, travel time, inspecting, and doing reports, I only have so many hours in the day. But I did bat away a number of weekend inspections after going hard during the weeks. I could have pushed the total above 30 but I like/need some free time away from work.

[mathew stouffer]

The max i could do without weekends is 40 and that would drive me crazy. The average house, is 5000ft so they take more time. It's been very busy here for the past 7 months, but this is not a normal marketplace. That blows my mind you can do 67.

[Ted Menelly]

The max i could do without weekends is 40 and that would drive me crazy. The average house, is 5000ft so they take more time. It's been very busy here for the past 7 months, but this is not a normal marketplace. That blows my mind you can do 67.

He didn't tell you??????

His second business is a meth lab

[John Ghent]

So tell us John......did you get his autograph?

And a picture.

[Rick Hurst]

RH: 67 in April, huh? Unlike the others on this site, I will have to take you task for that whopper. Pure, unmitigated BS, is what I call it.

Aaron,

Man, I'm serious as a heart attack. The phone has been ringing off the wall all month. I've already booked 5 for next week.

I'm not going to be hitting it on the weekends again for awhile though. I'm tired of writing reports into the wee hours.

I figured everyone like yourself, Jim Luttrell and Nolan was busy too as I've not seen much of yall on the board lately.

Later

rick

[Rick Cantrell]

Rick H.

Good for you, on your numbers, and for your response to skepticism.
Instead of taking offense, you come back with a smile.

[mathew stouffer]

Ah the haters. Rick I believe you. I did 38 in March.

[Jim Luttrall]

Rick, I've been busy this week, but no where near that busy. I'd have a heart attack if I tried that. I'm already up late on reports with a small percentage of your numbers.

[Ken Rowe]

Why do people wait to the last moment to order an inspection! I know the tax credit is ending in a few days, but just today I have had three calls from folks needing an inspection tomorrow because of the tax credit deadline! All three have had a contract since Monday! I just don't understand..... I could not help them so I referred them to some other inspector friends.

It is just frustrating!!!!!

Welcome to our world of 3 day inspection contingencies. This is how we operate all the time.

[Jerry Peck]

Go figure....Someone is willing to pay an extra 20K to get the 8K tax credit......

The purpose of the program seems to escape you.

Take our daughter as a typical example: She does not have the entire down payment needed to buy a house and get into the housing market from renting. Purchasing that house will cost less than they are paying for rent, so it is not the payments which are the hurdle but the $15,000 down which is needed.

We can give her $11,000 as long as we get that $8,000 credit back, with the $3,000 as a "house warming gift". By use giving her $11,000 it lets her buy the house which she otherwise would not be able to buy because of the down payment.

We get $8,000 back. A deal-gone-back-house is now sold and taken off the market ... everyone wins, it is called "economic recovery".

Why would someone pay more for the house? Because, with the $8,000 credit they will have the down payment they would otherwise not have, yet the monthly payments would be manageable and probably less they are paying for rent.

Not sure why that concept is so difficult to grasp and understand.

[BARRY ADAIR]

Rick, thanks for the direct referrals
everyone play safe this weekend!

[Jerry Peck]

If your daughter does not close for any reason and the backup offer does,

The thing about the deadline of yesterday is that the back-up party does not have a valid signed contract as of April 30, 2010 as their contract can only be accepted after the previous contract falls through - for whatever reason, which means the seller is willing to negotiate as they know there is effectively no longer a backup offer.

The other thing you seem to know understand is that if I buy a house for $30,000 and sell it to you the next day for $300,000 and you get a $300,000 loan on it does not mean: a) you have a loan to value ratio of 1,000%; nor is that ratio 100%.

You have no knowledge of what the property is actually worth or appraised at, or what the values in the neighborhood are at.

Making the kinds of conclusions you are jumping to may give you a lot of exercise for all that jumping, but ... it does not indicate that you understand the process at all. For all you know that house may be sitting between two $3,000,000 houses and be their equal, which means the loan to value ratio may only be 10%.

[Ted Menelly]

The purpose of the program seems to escape you.

Take our daughter as a typical example: She does not have the entire down payment needed to buy a house and get into the housing market from renting. Purchasing that house will cost less than they are paying for rent, so it is not the payments which are the hurdle but the $15,000 down which is needed.

We can give her $11,000 as long as we get that $8,000 credit back, with the $3,000 as a "house warming gift". By use giving her $11,000 it lets her buy the house which she otherwise would not be able to buy because of the down payment.

We get $8,000 back. A deal-gone-back-house is now sold and taken off the market ... everyone wins, it is called "economic recovery".

Why would someone pay more for the house? Because, with the $8,000 credit they will have the down payment they would otherwise not have, yet the monthly payments would be manageable and probably less they are paying for rent.

Not sure why that concept is so difficult to grasp and understand.

And why might that be a deal.

Deal for her.......Everyone else pays. The home would have eventually been sold to some one else. Homes don't go away. The money is still sitting there. It does not evaporate. Housing markets come and go. The natural way of what is slowly disappearing in this country.

Nothing against you, your daughter or anyone else using the "tax credit" but everyone else pays for it.

You and your daughter pay little into federal income tax. 45 to 50 percent of US citizens do not even pay federal income tax or if they do they are getting a return. The 8,000 tax credit is a gift from the rest of the US folks that actually do pay federal tax.

I guess as simple as it may sound and again please don't take this as a kick to anyone but say thanks to my daughter...She payed $80,000.00 in federal tax for 2009

But then again because she worked her backside off thru college and then advanced thru a few companies by working her self to death I guess she owes everyone else something for her right to work so hard in life.

Please, just a perspective on life and nothing intended against anyone.

Go figure

[Jerry Peck]

Deal for her.......Everyone else pays. The home would have eventually been sold to some one else.

The key word there is "EVENTUALLY".

The key word in the program is "RECOVERY" as in helping the RECOVERY not become EVENTUALLY it will happen.

The only way to pull ourselves out of this is to spend money, and that means, yes, "the gobmint" spending money in MANY WAYS to help pull this economy out of the pits.

Or would you rather this not be known as it is being referred to "The Great Recession" and instead be referred to as "The Great Depression II"? Allowing "The Great Depression" to become known as "The Great Depression I"?

You do realize that "World War I" was not known as "World War I" until "World War II" came about, don't you?

[Bob Elliott]

Why do people wait to the last moment to order an inspection! I know the tax credit is ending in a few days, but just today I have had three calls from folks needing an inspection tomorrow because of the tax credit deadline! All three have had a contract since Monday! I just don't understand..... I could not help them so I referred them to some other inspector friends.

It is just frustrating!!!!!

Had the same issue on Friday.
Six calls in about a 5 hour span.
Booked 5 of them and the sixth called back 3 times trying to lower my price and get a certain time frame.

Be happy as it may get real slow after June.

[Nolan Kienitz]

RH,

I've been busy as well, but not in your suggested range of 60 to 70 HIs in a month.

I cannot physically do such a count of HIs and follow even the basic minimum of the TREC SOP.

Not sure what your doing to keep on track with the SOP minimums and that many HIs.

[Ted Menelly]

RH,

I've been busy as well, but not in your suggested range of 60 to 70 HIs in a month.

I cannot physically due such a count of HIs and follow even the basic minimum of the TREC SOP.

Not sure what your doing to keep on track with the SOP minimums and that many HIs.

A large supply of amphetamines. Once upon a time I could or would get 10 or 11 a week on occasion. That is a serious amount of work and follow up and scheduling and and and and and and and

That is to much for any length of time at all. That would definitely be 16 hours a day between handling all those tasks and wake up and do it again and again and again. Shoot, sometimes to long inspections and then the reports would eat up the day and night. Doing that many the cost is generally down and you are not getting the sweetest of properties and write for 3 hours after a 2 or 3 hour inspection and of course a hundred pictures to add in. Not to mention he is doing the WDI along with it being licensed and all. And that is straight through exhausting work.

[Ted Menelly]

Had the same issue on Friday.
Six calls in about a 5 hour span.
Booked 5 of them and the sixth called back 3 times trying to lower my price and get a certain time frame.

Be happy as it may get real slow after June.

I just lost one Friday. I had it scheduled for Monday afternoon thru CSS and the listing agent. He called back Friday evening and told me (2 hours later) that he already called someone else and the guy is doing a 55 year old home with a crawl space in not the best up kept neighborhoods for 225. Now after telling me 2 hours after scheduling the inspection that I could still schedule the termite inspection for the 75.00. He said the inspector he hired told him his termite guy was charging 135 and that was to much. I politely snickered and asked if he was kidding. I told him he had already scheduled an inspector...me. He said no and I laughed out loud and said "I guess you shot yourself in the foot trying to nickle and dime yourself to death" He says he still needs the termite. I said good luck with a laugh and hung up.

This was a direct referral from his sister that I did an inspection for. Go figure.

[Bob Elliott]

I just lost one Friday. I had it scheduled for Monday afternoon thru CSS and the listing agent. He called back Friday evening and told me (2 hours later) that he already called someone else and the guy is doing a 55 year old home with a crawl space in not the best up kept neighborhoods for 225. Now after telling me 2 hours after scheduling the inspection that I could still schedule the termite inspection for the 75.00. He said the inspector he hired told him his termite guy was charging 135 and that was to much. I politely snickered and asked if he was kidding. I told him he had already scheduled an inspector...me. He said no and I laughed out loud and said "I guess you shot yourself in the foot trying to nickle and dime yourself to death" He says he still needs the termite. I said good luck with a laugh and hung up.

This was a direct referral from his sister that I did an inspection for. Go figure.

Glad to hear you twisted him up after his Inspection price shopping.
I usually just send them on their way.

When referred ,I do try and work with them however.