It's a great day here in Orem, Utah! The weather is hot, sunny and wonderful and we are thankful for the holiday that we are currently celebrating. We are thankful for our freedoms and for those who have fought so that we can enjoy the liberties that are ours. We are currently recovering from a family challenge, but we have been promised through special blessings that this, too, will pass.
Monday of this past week brought about a visit to the emergency room for Shelly that lasted several hours. This was very scary and lasted throughout the evening before they released her to come home. Tuesday found me leaving to get a morning inspection done and I received a phone call saying that Shelly needed to immediately return to the emergency room.
It is an awful experience watching your lovely wife laying in a hospital bed with every conceivable probe and monitor atttached. It is scary to watch the blood pressure going through the ceiling while watching the normal 80 beats per minute pulse drop down to 38 beats per minute. I won't share all of the details, but Shelly was just released from the hospital mid-morning on Sunday.
Our children have found it strange that Mommy hasn't been around. I did my best to keep some normalcy in the household while trying to keep the inspection business afloat and taking care of Shelly in the hospital. I failed miserably at everything, but I gave it my all. Now let me share with you a blessing of this business. I received a call from Brent Foster in Washington on Thursday. Brent was very direct and to the point..... "Michael, I have made reservations to fly into Salt Lake City on Saturday morning and I will be leaving Sunday afternoon. While there, I will be cooking and taking care of all of the responsibilities with the kids. There is no discussion on this and I know that if I had asked first, you would have said that everything was okay and not to worry about it."
Brent was absolutely right about my normal response, but Brent was also alert enough to realize that I was not making rational decisions. It was strange during the past week to deal with the emotional issues of Shelly's illness. There was one moment that I was spinning in despair and I decided to go perform a home inspection.....What a therapeutic relief to do an inspection! Here was a situation that I was finally in control of. It was much easier dealing with the inspection than it was to try to deal with reality away from the inspection. After performing the inspection, I had to return back to the whacky world of the unknown.
Brent came into town and was such a help. He taught me a lot about service. I have usually been at the giving end of service instead of the receiving end. Brent taught me that you often have to just step into the situation instead of waiting to be asked. I received many offers of help last week, yet when I was in the midst of the turmoil, I was unable to figure out how people could help. What I really needed at that moment was somebody just to show up and do something.
Now, back to Shelly.... After nearly a week of constant medical help, we are left with the realization that we are in for a long year ahead. Shelly is on constant morphine to help with the pain and she will not be allowed to drive in the meantime. I can't think of anything much worse for the consumate Soccer Mom who spends a majority of her life shuttling the kids to different events. Shelly's pain is incredibly high and we are very unsure of what her quality of life will be like. I wish that we had more answers, but patience seems to be the word of the day.
Your Name:City: State:
Please include your name or else I don't know who it is from.
Michael, I run all aspects of my business and have big weeks also. It's tough to be in the field during the day and returning calls/pages and then come back home and return more calls. I feel the same resentment at times. You can only do so many things at once. For me, almost every work day runs into long hours and ends about midnight. Yes, we have worked hard to build up our businesses, but somehow we endure each long day and do it again the next. Bill Bergstedt - S. Lake Tahoe, CA
The last few weeks have been just that...whirlwind. I have never understood, Michael, how you "balance" the overloaded plate you have and still remain conversational and the appearance of calm. I don't have the family and circumstances you do. Maybe you have a secret method that you could share with us. I have made the commitment, though, to a personal life with my wife and children, even though the children are long grown and away and my stepdaughter is in college. Diane and I dedicate a night for just us either working together on something, reading or whatever... just so we are near and talk, plan, futurize or whatever. We also try to have a date every week. Sometimes it may be a ride together to finish the day and get ice cream on the way back or we do the 'ol dinner and a movie. If we are really lucky, our date extends to most of a day on Saturday to go somewhere or do something different, like a picnic, walk on a beach or a hike. On special days, such as Mother's Day or birthdays, the person whose day is special picks what they want to do on a Saturday near their special day. Mother's Day was a day of labor in the garden with Diane as she loves to garden and needs the labor; Cathy requested a bed and breakfast for her special weekend birthday one year; on my birthday one year, I went to the Woodcraft Store and was told to buy a special woodworking tool and then we all went to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field that I wanted to see. We always keep in mind that "WE" are important and the stuff is that...stuff. Oh well, I've rambled on...but you get the drift, I hope. We spend each day that we have as wisely as we can as that day will never return. Sometimes they are packed and some of the "stuff" does not always get done or there may be some late evenings. Sometimes, one has to look hard to see a resemblance of balance, but at least the lean of the scale is toward "we and ours". Tomorrow we can do the stuff but the time we spend with family is priceless and goes by just once. Anyway, we are always improving on "balance" and the way we achieve it. Have a good day! Jim Corbin - Bow, WA
I get my calendar out at the beginning of each month, or seasonally as applies, and schedule time for the family. It may be a day of afternoon here or there or it may be big chunks of time. They go in the book first. That way, when a client calls, I can honestly say I am already booked. You can't look at time not spent working as money lost. I look at the time I put in the calendar as work time as just that. Other time is not work time and can not have a monetary value put on it. It is priceless. Jon Gudnason - Placerville, CA
Bill, Jim and Jon: What great words of wisdom. Thank you for taking the time to share them with us. It struck my heartstrings and made so much sense as I read the words of advice. Shelly and I are currently setting up a year calendar with a quarterly getaway. We have found that by having special events on the calendar it helps us to get through the bad days because we know that we have some good times planned ahead. We have always strived to have those special times and a priority on family events. But, I , too am like Bill in that the work days are long and often stretch till midnight because I am taking the earlier evening hours to spend with the family. Please forward on any other balancing family/work tips so that we can all get better at this struggle.
Last week I wrote about Poodle Grooming Fees and asked how you went about setting up your inspection fees.
I have gradually raised my fees over the 4 years since I started my business, and I know that my fees are among the highest in the area. I don't want to spend all of my time working, so I decided that I would rather do fewer inspections for higher fees than more inspections at lower fees. I've built my reputation doing quality inspections, so the agents that I get regular business from don't have an issue with my fees, and that attitude seems to get passed along to their clients. Gary Holzbauer - Oregon
My fees are now as follows: Base fee $229 up to 1000sq $246 up to 1800sq $265 up to 2400sq $284 up to 3000sq $305 up to 3600sq $370 up to 4300 $405 up to 5000 $35 per 500sq after that. I raise about $20 every 600 sq. The reason for some of the odd amounts is due to my base fee for my service and a very small (1.5% office supplies adjustment) I use the same fees for condos since I fill up an inspection slot. I am having trouble determining a fee structure for duplexs. I usually go off the square footage for one unit and deduct a $100 off the second one. I'm not sure this is a good decision. Michael helped me out with non-conforming fees, but I feel like something is needing to change on my real duplex fee. Chris Burkhart - Sandy, Utah
Your Name:Phone:State:
Shifting soils, shifting support posts, inadequate number of support posts under the beam, earth to wood at some posts, decaying and shifting bulkhead boards, total earth to wood contact at bulkhead material, improper bulkhead support... actually inproper bulkhead construction and support, etc. If that is the main floor joists above, the floor must have a little give or spring to it. Recommend licensed structural and soils engineer evaluate and specify repairs. Jim Corbin - Bow, WA
Non-sufficient soil stabilization. Wood-Earth contacts. Insufficient beam posting. Notched joist tails with no saddle hangers. No pressure blocking between joists. Corrigated fiberglass panel to deflect ongoing plumbing leak? No hazard fencing or warning signs indicating imminent collapse! OH, does not appear to have proper cable clamps as well. What is that galvanized spar pole? And what is that foundation wall? This all looks like a deck. Is that post just hanging by the post a bracket? I wonder what the rest of the structure is doing. Reggie Ayres - Medford, OR
Jon Gudnason snapped the photo and he had this explanation for what we are seeing depicted.......
That thing that looks like a wall at the upper left of the photo is an above ground pool. Do you think that is adding any load to the wall? The floor joists you see are for a deck. The two posts setting on top of the poles at the upper right are actually holding up the front section of the house. Jon Gudnason - Placerville, CA
I have been searching hard for information regarding household allergies that may bring pain and misery into homes. As many or you are aware my wife Shelly has hypersensitivities to all kinds of STUFF. This can make life difficult for her as we try to keep away the things that set her on edge. A client asked me about installing new carpet and padding and if there were still any allergens relating to upgrading the floor coverings.
Clients are great because they can ask you the simplest question of which you have never considered before. I remember learning about the formaldehyde used in carpets and backings years ago, but I was under the impression that this was a non-issue today. While the formaldehyde is not an issue, it turns out that there are other allergy related issues with upgrading the floor coverings. I visited the Carpet & Rug Institute web page http://www.carpet-rug.com and learned a lot of information that will only be of help if you plan on winning "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" I did find out that formaldehyde is not used anymore, but there are precautions that should be taken while removing, installing and adjusting to the new environment in the home immediately after the installation of the carpeting. Here is the Q&A section from their site regarding carpet and indoor air quality.......
Can carpet affect a person's health? The carpet industry has worked very closely with academic institutions, the government, and independent laboratories to evaluate carpet's role in the indoor environment. Throughout those evaluations, scientific evidence has indicated no links of adverse human health effects to VOC emissions from carpet. Although it is highly unlikely you will experience any effects from your new carpet, some individuals have reported allergy-like symptoms after new carpet has been installed. Some of these reports investigated by the CPSC resulted in a conclusion that it "could not establish a cause and effect relationship between the carpet and health effects experienced."
Is carpet an emitting product? New carpet is a very low emitter. As with most other indoor products, choosing a low-emitting product, ventilating, and cleaning are the keys to good air quality.
How long do new carpet emissions last? New carpet's emission level will drop significantly within the first 24 hours of installation, and with fresh air ventilation, the emission level will dissipate to an undetectable level within 48 to 72 hours.
What is the "new carpet" odor that sometimes is present after the installation? This possible odor usually comes from 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PC), a by-product of the latex binder used to hold the fibers and backing together. It, like a "new car" odor, will dissipate within a few days and is not harmful.
How do I know which carpet, cushion, or adhesive has been tested for emissions? Look for and purchase a carpet, cushion, or floor covering adhesive that displays the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Indoor Air Quality Testing label. These three indoor air quality testing programs identify the products that have been tested and meet stringent indoor air quality requirements for very low emissions. The programs cover carpet, carpet cushion, and floor covering installation adhesives.
How do the IAQ testing programs work? In the testing programs for carpet, separate carpet cushion, and floor covering adhesives for carpet installations, samples are collected from the manufacturer's production process. Each sample is tested individually for chemical emissions by an independent laboratory, using a dynamic, environmental chamber and highly sophisticated, scientific analytical technology. Volatile organic compound emissions are identified and quantified as though the products were in a real building indoor environment. Products that meet the emission criteria are allowed to display the label. Products are retested on an on-going basis to ensure compliance. In each of these programs, the authorized label displayed on the product contains an identification number assigned specifically to the individual manufacturer for each product type that meets the criteria.
Regarding indoor air quality, is there any difference between natural and synthetic fibers? No. All types of carpet have very low emission levels, regardless of whether they are natural or synthetic fibers.
What can I do to minimize possible exposure to emissions? Always choose carpet, cushion, and adhesives that display the CRI Indoor Air Quality Testing label. Before carpet is installed, ensure that the installer will follow the installation guidelines (CRI 105) established by the Carpet and Rug Institute.
I have an allergy to natural latex. Will new carpet cause a problem for me? The backing latex on broadloom carpet is not a natural latex. The latex that bonds carpet fibers and the backing fabrics together is made from a synthetic latex, "SB latex" or styrene butadiene latex. SB latex is a synthetic, water emulsion made from compounds different from those found in natural latex. Latex allergies are the results of protein enzymes in natural latex. SB latex used in carpet does not cause the allergic, dermatological reaction associated with natural latex
Does new carpet contain formaldehyde? No. Formaldehyde is not used in the carpet manufacturing process in the United States. Sometimes, formaldehyde can be found in old carpet and other home textiles that have absorbed formaldehyde from other environmental sources.
Do stain and soil-resist treatments or dyes used to color my carpet affect IAQ? Manufacturer applied dyes and stain and soil-resist treatments are included in the finished carpet tested in its entirety in the CRI Testing Program.
Do carpet cleaning products, fresheners and deodorants, and pesticides add emissions? All household cleaning products and pesticides add emissions. Read the contents of the label on the container. If you have decided to use the product, be sure to vacuum thoroughly after each use to reduce any residue.
Should I be concerned about dust mites in carpet? No. Most mite allergen is found in bedding and upholstered furniture. Exposure to mite allergen usually occurs while sleeping, sitting, or through direct surface contact with the allergen itself. Dust mite allergen is very large and is not released from carpet into the breathing zone, even during periods of heavy activity. Maintaining humidity levels below 65% and regular vacuuming and cleaning will minimize mite population in your home.
Why has my allergist recommended removing carpet and other textiles from my home? One of the approaches that allergists use in allergy treatment is allergen avoidance in the belief that the removal of all possible places where allergens are held will reduce allergic symptoms. This is a misconception. Although allergen (dust, pollen, mold spores, etc.) may be present in carpet, carpet is not a source of airborne allergen that produces allergic symptoms.
Will removing my carpet reduce my allergic symptoms? No. Removing carpet will not reduce the number of airborne allergens that produce allergic reactions; in fact, removal of carpet may actually increase the amount of airborne allergen, because other surfaces do not offer the capability of holding allergen. Removing allergen materials from a carpet is as easy as regular vacuuming and routine cleaning.
I greatly question this last statement that the carpeting is not resposible for an increase in airborne allergens. I say this because I have stripped up the old carpets in my home when we upgraded and they were filthy underneath. The amount of dirt, dust and crud that migrated through the floor coverings was incredible. Getting all of that muck out of our house and cleaning the walls and floors did make a difference in the quality of life within our home..... Although this site is interesting, I do not think that I will make it the last in my quest for knowledge.
I saw something for the first time in an inspection today. 2x3 @ 24" oc. rafters with 1/2" sheetrock sheeting then 3/8" plywood sheeting with two layers of comp shingles.
Originally built in 1940. I don't think sheetrock (gypsum) was available then, must be a Harvey Homeowner upgrade. The sheetrock had a thick black paper coating (vapor barrier), and amazingly it was all sound. The issue was the two inches of deflection at the middle of the field and at the center of the living room ceiling. The ceiling joists were also just 2x3" with 24" on center spanning 12'. Look out for the snow load! Reggie Ayres - Medford, OR
Please include your name or I don't know who it is from...
Thank you, Scott Merritt of Grass Valley, CA, for this beauty........
For more information E-MAIL Us