Thread: Meeker Industries

Hello to all. I am hoping this is a friendly place to get advice and share information. I am a Florida Licensed General Contractor and Home inspector. I recently joined a online association and have found out there are quite a few people on the message boards that are real winners "not really" Many of the people do not stay on the topic and make personal attacks instead. If anyone ever needs any advice from a guy in South Florida or just need some info let me know and I will be glad to help. If you have any horror stories about any of the people in the other orginazations chat rooms I would love to hear them.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

Hello to all. I am hoping this is a friendly place to get advice and share information. I am a Florida Licensed General Contractor and Home inspector. I recently joined a online association and have found out there are quite a few people on the message boards that are real winners "not really" Many of the people do not stay on the topic and make personal attacks instead. If anyone ever needs any advice from a guy in South Florida or just need some info let me know and I will be glad to help. If you have any horror stories about any of the people in the other orginazations chat rooms I would love to hear them.

Michael Welcome to this site.
You will find it's best to leave any reference of some orgs out of your conversations.

As far as horror stories about other org chat boards, honestly, there is not enough web band width to cover them all .
You will find it's also best to leave the horror stories on the other sites.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

Hello to all. I am hoping this is a friendly place to get advice and share information. I am a Florida Licensed General Contractor and Home inspector. I recently joined a online association and have found out there are quite a few people on the message boards that are real winners "not really" Many of the people do not stay on the topic and make personal attacks instead. If anyone ever needs any advice from a guy in South Florida or just need some info let me know and I will be glad to help. If you have any horror stories about any of the people in the other orginazations chat rooms I would love to hear them.

Welcome Michael!!!!

You're must have been to their site when everyone was having a bad day!

Yes that is why I did not name the org. I am a member and feel it does have much to offer. There just seems to be allot of jerks there that are very opinionated and comment on things that have nothing to do with the posts. They did not like the fact that I offer a Florida Wind Mitigation Inspections for $70. It only takes me about 15 minutes to do and really seems to help allot of homeowners in Florida. One guy even started a thread about it before i was even a member. The funny thing is he works for a company and he gets paid even less than I charge for every one he does. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I have gotten may jobs because people research my company and find his thread then they know they have the best price in town.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

Many of the people do not stay on the topic and make personal attacks instead.

Michael,

Happens here too. Just wade in and ignore the comments. It's necessary to have a thick skin.

I am sure it happens everywhere. It is funny those people do not realize that their customers see the things they post and I surely would not hire someone that is calling people names and acting unprofessional.

has anyone checked out the costofbussiness.com? is there anything usefull there? Are they just trying to sell you something? I have not had the time to check it out yes.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

has anyone checked out the costofbussiness.com? is there anything usefull there? Are they just trying to sell you something? I have not had the time to check it out yes.

The best investment an inspector, or anyone getting into any type of business can make.


As an inspector/ member of this board, it's also the best investment you can make to help keep this site free to all.

Please tell me more about it. I do realize they are a sponser. What is the cost?

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

has anyone checked out the costofbussiness.com? is there anything usefull there? Are they just trying to sell you something? I have not had the time to check it out yes.

It is owned by the owner of this site. I consider Brian to be a good friend, we have broken bread and had drink together a few times over the years. What he has produced is very worth while and it will shock most everyone who does the Cost of Doing Business.

It will open your eyes and will also guide you as to what you need to be charging to make a profit. It will show you just what it is costing you to perform an inspection.

I have looked around and cannot find any independent reviews. Do you know of any place I can find some? or an discussion groups about the software. I would like to find out quite abit more. All I can find is the advertisement and what the seller has to say about it.

Michael,

Have you checked into joining FABI? FABI-Home Page

What part of South Florida? I lived there for 20 years, moving up here 4 years ago. I used to inspect all over South Florida.

Jerry,

Hello. I Now live near Fort Lauderdale. I was involved with most of the homes built in Weston by Arvida and have worked with most of the large residential builders in South and South West Florida.

Jerry,
What is the TOTAL cost to join? Is there a way to join free? I sent them an email asking and got no response.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

What is the TOTAL cost to join?

Not sure as there is the membership process one must go through.

Is there a way to join free?

Nope.

And if there was, what good would the association be anyway?

I sent them an email asking and got no response.

That is not like Sunni or Wanda, send Sunni an e-mail to: Sunni Jones [sunnijones@bellsouth.net] Tell her I had you contact her for FABI membership information. You can also e-mail her or Wanda at: Florida Association of Building Inspectors, Inc. [thefabioffice@bellsouth.net]

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

I was involved with most of the homes built in Weston by Arvida

So ... you are the one who screwed everything up and made my report longer?

only if it was a Stucco or Wire Lath issue. . I will contact fabi. thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

only if it was a Stucco or Wire Lath issue. .

Oh jeez, now you've admitted to being responsible for every house being wrong?

I doubt that a single house there was lathed and stuccoed correctly, at least not any that I inspected, which were many.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

I have looked around and cannot find any independent reviews. Do you know of any place I can find some? or an discussion groups about the software. I would like to find out quite abit more. All I can find is the advertisement and what the seller has to say about it.

There was a discussion on this site a while back, many of the inspectors were raving how accurate the info.was.
If I recall the cost was less than $100.00

dan,
I will try to see if I can find it.

Hello Michael Meeker. Allow me to virtually extend a warm welcome!

Brrrrrr. Brrrrrr! BRRRRR!!! If I wanted frozen oranges and to freeze myself in January I wouldn't have migrated!

Warm regards (ha ha!)

H.G.

hi. thanks for the welcome. it is a cold one. I hope the single room heater can keep the chill off of my whole house tonight. Goodnight to all. Lots of work tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

Hello to all. I am hoping this is a friendly place to get advice and share information. I am a Florida Licensed General Contractor and Home inspector. I recently joined a online association and have found out there are quite a few people on the message boards that are real winners "not really" Many of the people do not stay on the topic and make personal attacks instead. If anyone ever needs any advice from a guy in South Florida or just need some info let me know and I will be glad to help. If you have any horror stories about any of the people in the other orginazations chat rooms I would love to hear them.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

Yes that is why I did not name the org. I am a member and feel it does have much to offer. There just seems to be allot of jerks there that are very opinionated and comment on things that have nothing to do with the posts. They did not like the fact that I offer a Florida Wind Mitigation Inspections for $70. It only takes me about 15 minutes to do and really seems to help allot of homeowners in Florida. One guy even started a thread about it before i was even a member. The funny thing is he works for a company and he gets paid even less than I charge for every one he does. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I have gotten may jobs because people research my company and find his thread then they know they have the best price in town.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

I am sure it happens everywhere. It is funny those people do not realize that their customers see the things they post and I surely would not hire someone that is calling people names and acting unprofessional.

Let me see if I have this right. You say that you would not hire someone that calls others names and that is acting unprofessional? Did you not just do that here? Also, why would you want to elicit "horror stories about any of the people in the other orginazations chat rooms"? Is that not unprofessional as well?

I am certainly not attempting to defend anybody in any organization. However, you seem to be speaking from two different directions here.

No I was not calling names. That is why I did not mention what org or where it happened or who said what. People attacking people directly is what I am talking about. Example: Look just what we need another skumbag Contractor in our org or why are your prices so low you lowballer when the original post was something like what kind of software do you like best. I am just curious if others have had the same problem. People seem to want conflict on these types of forums. I was interested if allot of people have had this type of problem and what there story was and if it just seems to happen on one site or the problem was wide spread. Thanks for you opinion.

Originally Posted by Michael Meeker

Yes that is why I did not name the org. I am a member and feel it does have much to offer. There just seems to be allot of jerks there that are very opinionated and comment on things that have nothing to do with the posts. They did not like the fact that I offer a Florida Wind Mitigation Inspections for $70. It only takes me about 15 minutes to do and really seems to help allot of homeowners in Florida. One guy even started a thread about it before i was even a member. The funny thing is he works for a company and he gets paid even less than I charge for every one he does. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I have gotten may jobs because people research my company and find his thread then they know they have the best price in town.

$70 for an inspection?? Don't most inspectors get around $125-$150 for these inspections. I can see why people are upset. That's lowballing in my book. Not a good practice.

Michael,

I hope that you like your new home. Adios

Michael.
After seeing the last 2 posts from the first time posters, I think I know what HI org and message board you were refering to.
As just an outsider it looks like the word went out, go nail this guy for disclosing the facts.

Michael,

Sunni's email address is: sunnisimmons@bellsouth.net

Dont know if Jerry knows she got married.

Originally Posted by Dan Harris

Michael.
After seeing the last 2 posts from the first time posters, I think I know what HI org and message board you were refering to.
As just an outsider it looks like the word went out, go nail this guy for disclosing the facts.

I had not intended for my first post to be amidst controversy, but it is what it is...

Dan... I assume you recognize my name from the 'other' MB. Given that, you probably don't, as I normally do not stir-the-pot unless directly confronted. That has happened only once or twice in the last three years, and that was with a Mr. Tedesco. Enough said there...

Your comment above of "go nail this guy for disclosing the facts" would backfire. I suggest you request Mr. Meeker to "disclose his facts". Ask him to copy and paste his complete comments over here. I believe you guys here would have very similar comments/reactions. I've been comming here for awhile, and have a good feel for the posters here.

Mr. Peck... (as you are from FL.) how would you feel about charging $50.00 for a condo inspection, anywhere in the primary county you serve??? Don't like it huh? Just as I suspected.

Anyway, don't fall for this guy's sob story, until you see all the facts. This is not about Associations, or MB's... it is about someone who will "do whatever it takes to get the job". His quote, not mine.

Originally Posted by Jeff Jonas

I had not intended for my first post to be amidst controversy, but it is what it is...

Dan... I assume you recognize my name from the 'other' MB. Given that, you probably don't, as I normally do not stir-the-pot unless directly confronted. That has happened only once or twice in the last three years, and that was with a Mr. Tedesco. Enough said there...
.

Honestly I didn't have a clue who you were until this 1st post made here.
Oh well thanks for fessing up. Nice meeting you

I'm going to have to go with ES and JJ on this one. On the one hand MM says he doesn't want to throw stones, on the other he wants YOU to throw stones at others for his satisfaction.
$70 for a Wind mitigation inspection, whatever that is; 'it only takes 15 minutes'. What a load of cop out crap. That clearly sounds like lowballer, hurt the industry rationale. Unless it's the neighbors house, it takes more than 15 minutes to deal with the phone call and drive there.
Oh wait a minute, I forget MM is doing it so cheap because he wants to 'help out a lot of Florida homeowners'.
Maybe you should be reading the cost of business instead of wondering whether others have.

Originally Posted by Markus Keller

I'm going to have to go with ES and JJ on this one. On the one hand MM says he doesn't want to throw stones, on the other he wants YOU to throw stones at others for his satisfaction.
$70 for a Wind mitigation inspection, whatever that is; 'it only takes 15 minutes'. What a load of cop out crap. That clearly sounds like lowballer, hurt the industry rationale. Unless it's the neighbors house, it takes more than 15 minutes to deal with the phone call and drive there.
Oh wait a minute, I forget MM is doing it so cheap because he wants to 'help out a lot of Florida homeowners'.
Maybe you should be reading the cost of business instead of wondering whether others have.

From what I've gathered from the inspection news family, we unconditionally welcome new members. If we think the new member may need some advice, or additional business information we first nicely recommed/ suggest things that may help them be a better business person, like checking out Brians cost of business, before bashing them, and determing they are the black sheep of the family.
If that doesn't work, well like it was stated, some new family members may need thick skin to stay in the family

Originally Posted by Dan Harris

Honestly I didn't have a clue who you were until this 1st post made here.
Oh well thanks for fessing up. Nice meeting you

And good to offically meet you Dan...

FYI... I only knew of his post here, due to the daily email I get from this MB with the featured threads. His name kinda jumped out at me.

And I only posted here, due to the harm his personal business ethics brings to this industry. We all have enough problems nowadays, we shouldn't be encouraging his personal SOP.

If you haven't already, check out his website... index

Jeff

Originally Posted by Jeff Jonas

And good to offically meet you Dan...

FYI... I only knew of his post here, due to the daily email I get from this MB with the featured threads. His name kinda jumped out at me.

And I only posted here, due to the harm his personal business ethics brings to this industry. We all have enough problems nowadays, we shouldn't be encouraging his personal SOP.

If you haven't already, check out his website... index

Jeff

Why attact him, I figure he's not the only problem. Yes he may be a lowballer contractor/inspector. There are tens of 1000s of others doing the same thing, he did make the investment in time and money hopefully to to better himself.
From that investment he stands a chance to improve his personal SOP, and see how he can make a living with out being the cheapest guy around, the others that do not make that investment will still be there cutting prices, and lowballing.

Now if he attacts me, my business decisions, calls me names, or bashes me here, or on any open to the public sites, all bets are off

Originally Posted by Dan Harris

Why attact him, I figure he's not the only problem. Yes he may be a lowballer contractor/inspector. There are tens of 1000s of others doing the same thing, he did make the investment in time and money hopefully to to better himself.
From that investment he stands a chance to improve his personal SOP, and see how he can make a living with out being the cheapest guy around, the others that do not make that investment will still be there cutting prices, and lowballing.

Now if he attacts me, my business decisions, calls me names, or bashes me here, or on any open to the public sites, all bets are off

Somehow, I have a feeling you may wander over to the other MB to see for yourself. The thread that started the fuss is in a public forum. It all started out 'friendly' enough, but eroded quickly, the more he spoke. You know how it is over there, let the cat out of the bag, and we're all over it. Didn't help when he attempted to have a member moderated.

Originally Posted by Jeff Jonas

Somehow, I have a feeling you may wander over to the other MB to see for yourself. The thread that started the fuss is in a public forum. It all started out 'friendly' enough, but eroded quickly, the more he spoke. You know how it is over there, let the cat out of the bag, and we're all over it. Didn't help when he attempted to have a member moderated.

Hmmm. That kinda sounds like what happens nickos employee comes here.

OBTW. I recall busshy bashing me for my pricing, and using it as an example how low the inspection fees are in lic states.
Darn it all,wouldn't you know it, just a few weeks latter, he in an unlicensed state lowered his fees with discount prices that ended up lower than mine.

As much as I do not like the fact that he does these inspections this inexpensively and do not understand how he can do them in just 15 minutes, do the math: 15 a day is $30,000.00 a month. This is much more than I am making. For all the bashing we are giving him (and he does deserve some of it) give him a little credit if these numbers are true.

While I do not believe he is doing this many, and I am sure if he has other inspectors doing them for him, does he really have any type of quality control in place.

The insurance companies in Florida are going to be conducting audits on a good percentage of the wind mitigations already done. If this guy is doing them correctly, then god bless him and shame on me for not thinking of this first. If he is doing them wrong, he will be out of business by the end of the year.

Originally Posted by william siegel

As much as I do not like the fact that he does these inspections this inexpensively and do not understand how he can do them in just 15 minutes, do the math: 15 a day is $30,000.00 a month.

Where did he say he is doing 15 wind mitigation inspection per day? I must have missed that.

15 a day?

I think I smell BS. Unless those 15 houses are on the same street, I would think it would be difficult to make those 15 stops in a day. Figure in the drive time, the inspection, BS with the client, its just not happening.

JMHO

rick

Wow. I sure missed allot today when I was out WORKING. I do no where near 15 a day. Heck I don't even do 15 a week most weeks. That is to funny these guys are chasing me around. I guess they really do need to get a life. If I can do a couple a day then I can make a living if I charge more than the other people that have deals with agents and such I get no calls. well now everybody can see what I mean it is just vicious. I do all the inspections all the paperwork all the advertising and all of the scheduling I do it all so I do not have the overhead the others have. I did work for another company for a while and I made 35 a piece for wind mits and that seems to be about what people get paid who work for others. How is what I'am doing wrong? The $50 price is for wind mits is in my county only and I only offer that because my direct competition says on their ads they do them from $50. I went to there site and did not find any mention of that price but I surley do not want to lose customers because they are drawn in by bait and switch techniques. I do an accurate report as best as I can and type it up and send it whereever the client wants with photos as well.I welcome all comments and will answer all questions as honestly as possible. I may just have to talk to a few people to see what constitutes internet stalking.

Originally Posted by william siegel

Michael,

Sunni's email address is: sunnisimmons@bellsouth.net

Dont know if Jerry knows she got married.

I knew she was engaged but forget as I could not make the December meeting as I had planned (had to go see my first great granddaughter that weekend) and I had not been to a FABI meeting last year (I was looking forward to going in December) ... so I guess all that would mean Sunni has been married a little over a year now?

Jerry,

She got married in October of this year.

Bill

please forgive my ignorance but what is a wind mitigation inspection?

Originally Posted by Robert Jude

please forgive my ignorance but what is a wind mitigation inspection?

I think it has something to do with checking and making posts on this site for who has the most hot air..

Wind mitigation Inspection: An inspection report given to insurance companies to verify if home has roof which meets the latest Florida building code for wind resistance. How roof trusses are attached to walls. Are windows and door openings protected from high winds and flying debri during Hurricanes.
Here in Florida, insurance companies are required to give home owners discounts for these features.

Originally Posted by Robert Jude

please forgive my ignorance but what is a wind mitigation inspection?

A very brief (10 question or so) survey concerning "Opening Protection" (shutters, rated doors & windows, etc), Type of Roof (Gable, etc) Roof To Wall Attachment (Clips, Wraps, Toe Nail, etc.) Sheathing type and Attachment (1/2 inch sheathing, 6/12 fasteners, 12/12 fasteners, etc.)

The word "In$pection" has most HI's confused, it doesn't invlove much at all.

Dom.

Robert,

Here is a link to the actual form from my website. page3

I hope this helps. I will be glad to answer any questions you have about them.