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Michael Leavitt & Co Inspections, Inc.

MONDAY MORNING MESSENGER

Message prepared especially for Members of the American Institute of Inspectors® as well as Home Inspectors abroad

April 1, 2002

GOOOOOD MORNING, A.I.I.....

It's a great day here in Orem, Utah. Easter was a real joy here in the Leavitt household. I hope that your Easter Sunday was memorable and the true meaning of the day was manifested. Bunnies, eggs, and chocolates are nice, but the celebration of the ressurrection and atonement give deep meaning to every aspect of our lives. The chance to repent and start over with a deep resolve to do better is a key to happier living. I hope this message finds all of you well and that you are striving to be better day by day.

I am so glad that within just a few days many of us will get to socialize in person in Reno, Nevada at the AII Mid-year Convention. The Board Meeting will kick off the event Friday evening in the Mandalay Room in the basement of the Main Tower. The previous 6 months has flown by and I am ready to recharge my batteries to make it through the sure to be busy spring and summer inspection seasons.

I have also been putting on the finishing touches for my 2 hour presentation titled "Technology and the Home Inspector." If you are sitting out there dreaming high technological dreams, but you are uncertain how to get there from your current location, then this presentation may be a good one for you. Just like a Pine Wood Derby Racer these presentations take a lot to prepare for the event. If you haven't registered, then please call Betty today at 1-800-877-4770. For more information on the AII Mid Year conference please visit www.Inspection .org

PINE WOOD DERBY 2002

Hi Michael, Well it's been 40 + years (WOW!!!) but once upon a time I was a Cub Scout and built 3 race cars. I still have the trophies. I recall a few tips that I can pass along.

1) Make sure the bore of your wheels where the axles go through are very smooth. Also make sure that the axles themselves are smooth. (As I recall we had nails for axles). Apply graphite for lubrication on the axles.
2) Make certain that your wheels are aligned. Put a straight edge on the outside of the wheels front-to-rear. Also make sure that the wheels themselves have no burrs on the outer circumference.
3) I shaved my racers down below the maximum weight, and then added additional weight to the very front under the bottom of the car. (As I recall I recessed a quarter flush with the bottom).
4) Be a really good boy so that the Good Lord will shine his grace down on you.

You have a sure winner!

Good luck, Will Baley Northwest Home Inspections

Adam after a second place finish, again!

The Pine Wood Derby 2002 is now over, and the pressure has now subsided. Pressure is defined as watching your son's racer cross the line in second or third place and he looks at you as the father as though you have betrayed him. In between each race comes the pit stop that had me frantically helping to get the wheels to spin faster. We even repositions the body weight, realigned axles, and generally did everything within our power ti increase the speed of the machine. Adam was in a group of three cars that raced a total of 9 races. There were about 24 participants and trophies for the first three. Then they had ribbons for the first three places of each den. There were three dens, the Wolves, The bears, and the Weblos. Adam is new to the program and belongs to the Wolf den.

The track was rigged with electronic timing to score each racer to the

thousandth of a second. Adam won only one race outright the entire evening. He was desamated at the conclusion of the event because he did not win every heat.

The 3 trophies went to three of the 10 year olds that had two prior years of racing behind them. Then came the joy of technology. Since the races were timed with the sophisticated timer it tracked every racer and every race. Adam came in fourth place out of the large group and first place within the Wolf den.

THE COMPETITION - Can you guess which one is Adam's?

His eyes beamed with delight as he was given the blue ribbon. The kid who kept beating him over and over again was the second place overall winner.

I am so glad that the Pine Wood Derby Race is over. It is so tough to watch my children fall short of their dreams. I am so thankful that they are tough and are learning to get back up after their disappointments. Each one of our children have such a fighting spirit and a great desire to suceed. Adam is no exception and learning to both win and lose gracefully.

Adam learned a lot that night. It does pay to try your hardest and come in second place. Sometimes our comparisons to others is unfair in that we are using the wrong yard stick to measure our own success. Adam was a winner for trying and turned out to be the winner amongst his own age group. Sure the trophies went to others, but there is always next year........ Watch out Pine Wood Derby 2003. Adam will be back with another competitive racer. Until then, we have the Space Derby Race 2002 to gear up for.

PHOTO CHALLENGE #98

Looks to me as if some one ran out of money to finish the repairs. Or did not have all the parts to finish the job. Had to cover it up to to use it till the parts come in some in the next 5 years to finish this job. Alan Muenzel - Sandy, UT

Replace gray duct tape with higher grade duct tape that will not come loose as easily. Chris Burkhart - Sandy, UT

They should have used a different tape! Duct tape does not hold up in moist environments. And they forgot the vice-grips for the cold valve! Reggie Ayres - Medford, OR

Someone's idea of fixing up the shower? Typical landlord/good old boy job? Please don't say this was a contractor.... Tom Pittman - Roseburg, OR

PLUMBING INSPECTORS TAKING PAYOFFS Do you ever accept tips for prompt and excellent service?

None have ever been offered to me, but the only way that i can see it being a bad thing is if the Realtor offers the tip to you, especially if he/she tries it before your client arrives. then it would be a firm No Thanks! Chris Burkhart - Sandy, UT

CPSC LADDER SAFETY ALERT

Ladder Safety Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20207

CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1188

CPSC Offers Safety Tips to Prevent Ladder Injuries

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Each year there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries in the U.S. relating to ladders. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers the following safety precautions to help prevent these injuries.

Make sure the weight your ladder is supporting does not exceed its maximum load rating (user plus materials). There should only be one person on the ladder at one time.

Straight, single or extension ladders should be set up at about a 75-degree angle.

All metal ladders should have slip-resistant feet.

Be sure all locks on extension ladders are properly engaged.

Do not place a ladder in front of a door that is not locked, blocked or guarded.

Keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all times. Do not lean too far to the side while working.

Do not use a ladder for any purpose other than that for which it was intended.

Do not step on the top step, bucket shelf or attempt to climb or stand on the rear section of a stepladder.

Never leave a raised ladder unattended.

Follow use instruction labels on ladders.

MY TAKE ON THE CPSC LADDER WARNINGS

Below I have added my thoughts to the warnings issued by the CPSC when using ladders.

Make sure the weight your ladder is supporting does not exceed its maximum load rating (user plus materials). There should only be one person on the ladder at one time. I'm fine with the one person on the ladder at a time, but the rating is difficult. The ladder with my weight rating is a little on the flimsy side when fully extended. However, the heavier rated ladder is just too heavy to carry and position so I went with the flimsier model anyway.

Use a ladder that is the proper length for the job. Proper length is a minimum of 3 feet extending over the roofline or working surface. The three top rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder should not be stood on. I violate this regularly on full 2-story roofs. My ladder just barely clears the rain gutter on these tall roofs. I could get the next taller model, but then it is too difficult to carry around inside the home without breaking the fragile items.

Straight, single or extension ladders should be set up at about a 75-degree angle. There are times when I violate this because of the snow or ice that I am setting the ladder up on. I have found that standing it straighter and hugging the ladder on my ascent and descent keep the ladder from slipping out at the base.

All metal ladders should have slip-resistant feet. My Little Giant has nice rubber coated feet, but they are not the best in snow and ice.

Metal ladders will conduct electricity. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder in the vicinity of power lines or electrical equipment. Do not let a ladder made from any material contact live electric wires. The fiberglass models are beasty and heavy. This makes them more difficult to safely position. I have opted to stay with the aluminum models and stay far away from electrical wires.

Be sure all locks on extension ladders are properly engaged. This is extremely important and with the Little Giant I have never had an issue. I had a standard extension ladder just about cut my fingertip off several years back because the latches did not latch and it started to collapse with my finger in the way. The ladder one and I have been gun shy ever since.

The ground under the ladder should be level and firm. Large flat wooden boards braced under the ladder can level a ladder on uneven ground or soft ground. A good practice is to have a helper hold the bottom of the ladder. That sounds like a scary setup to place a board underneath and me to be 20 feet above. The better solution is to fork out the big bucks for ladder levelers. These allow you to extend the leg so that you have a firm footing and a vertical ladder.

Do not place a ladder in front of a door that is not locked, blocked or guarded. This is also difficult when you are entering a garage attic access and the owner of the vacant home just happens to stop by and they open the automatic garage door opener. It is a good practice to pull the safety cord on the door opener track or unplug the opener while you gain access. I have also not found a way to keep little kids away from the ladder climbing up to follow me. Sellers many times do not understand when I tell them to keep their children back from the ladder. I haven't been involved in any injuries, but I'm certain that somebody has had to deal with this.

Keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all times. Do not lean too far to the side while working. I violate this when hanging Christmas lights, but rarely have to do it on inspections. EIFS moisture intrusion evaluations are also tempting to lean out. This is where my Little Giant ladder really shines because it has a wide base. The rubber feet also help to grip the wall surface that the ladder leans upon.

Do not use a ladder for any purpose other than that for which it was intended. That is a dumb statement. It sounds like a label on a ladder.

Do not step on the top step, bucket shelf or attempt to climb or stand on the rear section of a stepladder. Yeah right. I have yet to see anybody but the fireman not abuse this guideline. Of course there would be less accidents if everybody followed the rule, but it's not going to happen. And I don't think telling people 10,000 more times is ever going to change this practice. The Little Giant helps with this because not only is it an extension ladder, but it is also and extendable A frame ladder. This means that if you had to stand atop a 5 foot A-frame ladder that you can extend the Little Giant to a 7-foot A-frame and not have the same safety risk.

Never leave a raised ladder unattended. Yeah right to this one too. We work alone and once upon the roof we have no idea what is going on at the base of the ladder.

Follow use instruction labels on ladders. Who in their right mind has enough time in their lives to read all of the safety labels on one single ladder? The labels are ridiculously funny and obviously driven by the large amount of lawsuits from falls.

AII HOTLINE PUBLIC APOLOGY

AII Hotline readers:

I apologize if my recent postings on moisture meters and wet houses have offended anybody. I especially wish to apologize to Jim Lucas, from California, for jabbing at his method of signing off e-mails with a huge tag line. I have known Jim for a long time and I can always tell when he is getting real mad on a topic because the title after his name gets sterner and longer with each additional posting. It was unprofessional of me to razz him in public on this topic and I wish to apologize here in public. I need to learn to control my weak attempts at humor because it can be taken as a fatal stab instead of just a good old fashioned jab. Jim is a very knowledgeable inspector and trainer and my flippant remark was uncalled for. Please accept my apology Jim.

I also read with sadness Reggie Ayres' posting saying that his feelings were hurt that his recent posting on wet houses on the AII Hotline had been ignored. The simple fact is that it was a great post and very definitive in its objective. The lack of response is because the only thing that could be said is..... "Way to go Reggie." When I originally read his words I was impressed and left with no response other than "He hit the nail on the head of that one."

As for feeling chapped when a question goes unanswered, I get overlooked as much as anyone. I post at least 4 options for responses each week in the MMM and ask all of you to reply. There are weeks that the only feedback I get is from a few true friends who take the proactive approach and respond just because they are my friends. They know that I take it personally when no feedback comes in. Each week I find myself girding up my loins and try to offer something worthwhile again in the MMM. The key is to not let the lack of response to a question get you all worked up...... Life is just too short.

As for getting singed tail feathers, I put my feathers out there as much as anybody I know. Singed...... Some of you have taken blow torches to my tail feathers and I've come away smoking. That's all part of the learning curve. The key to getting a response to your postings is to leave the message open for response. Definitive statements elicit little feedback.

So keep posting Reggie because your experience and knowledge is great to draw upon.

I look forward to seeing all of you in just a few days in Reno.

Michael Leavitt - Orem, Utah

Reggie Ayers' great Wet Houses posting.........

Scott, You make some very good points that I agree with, but how do you verify if proper repairs have been performed? Maybe it is different in California concerning moisture damage. I know that you have separate inspections, home and WDO, ( Termite ).

Are you ever asked to reinspect water damage repairs when new floorcovers are installed? If you reinspect before the vinyl is installed who finals the floorcover installation and toilet reset? Do you come back twice? Many times I have reported wet and swollen floors, made recommendations to replace underlayment and floorcovers, then come back and see the same swell that I reported. The repair contractor swears that the underlayment was replaced, but my meter says not. When the contractor finds out I have the tool to measure moisture through the vinyl, a lot of backstepping and excuse making occurs. Usually the blame is passed off on temporary help that was used on that particular job.

My point is this. I only use my meter to verify visual signs of moisture damage. I do not use it arbitrarily in search of hidden moisture. I use this example because bathroom floor damage is so common. If building codes would require marine grade plywood or backer board used in bathrooms for underlayment, it would save consumers untold amounts of money nationwide, especially in rental units. Don't you find a lot of bathroom floors damaged from tub spills or leaking toilet seals? Reggie Ayres - OR

ELECTRONIC MEASURING TOOLS

Many of you like to take room dimensions for your inspection reports. Using a tape measure in homes with easily scratched wood floors, fragile belongings, or overstuffed rooms is cumbersome at best. I found the following article this past week in an appraiser's newsletter to which I subscribe. You might like to visit AppraiserDepot.com and see what the appraisers are now using.

Matt Johnson is a real estate appraiser in Oklahoma. He is also the owner of AppraiserDepot.com, the internet's leading source of products and services for real estate appraisers. Feel free to email any questions to mjohnson@appraiserdepot.com.

As an appraiser, I know how frustrating it can be to measure a property. We have all run into situations where obstacles made it difficult to get our tape to the wall. It might have been shrubs, boxes or bicycles in the garage, muddy areas, or even a snarling dog. The good news is that there are tools available that are as accurate as your fiberglass tape but make measuring much easier and faster.

Ultrasonic Measuring Tools

These tools send out ultrasonic sound signals that bounce off hard surfaces causing a ricochet effect. Distance is calculated by the amount of time that it takes the signal to reach its target and return to the unit.

Where should you use an ultrasonic tool?

Because extreme temperatures and humidity can affect the rate of speed at which sound travels, these units are recommended for indoor use only. They are perfect for measuring interior rooms, attics, and basements. I began using mine to measure 2-story homes because there are very few homes in my area where the gross living area for the 1st and 2nd floors are identical. Just about all of them require me to measure the 2nd floor from the inside. Unfortunately, I have never been able to devise a really good system with my tape measure that will allow me to hook on to something in the interior of a home without causing damage. The ultrasonic tool solved my problem. All I had to do was aim it at a wall and press the button. The distance would be displayed on the unit.

Laser Distance Meters

After using the ultrasonic tools for a year, I decided that I needed a tool I could use both inside and outside. I found Leica's Laser Distance Meters to be the answer. With a range of 300 feet and weighing less than 16 ounces, these tools are perfect for appraisers. Since I started using the "Disto Lite Laser Distance Meter", my measuring time has been cut in half. I no longer have to find creative ways to measure around flowerbeds, muddy areas, boxes, bikes, etc. I just aim the laser at the wall and push the button on the unit. The measurement is displayed on the unit instantly. What if I don't have a wall to use as a target? No problem. I can create a target by using anything that is solid and flat. It can be as simple as using a post-it note.

How accurate are the Laser Distance Meters?

These tools are as accurate as traditional measuring tapes. By using "phase shift laser technology", the Laser Distance Meters are able to measure within 1/16th of an inch. This type of technology ensures that you will be getting the correct measurement every time regardless of weather. It is also important to note that these tools were designed for construction workers and craftsmen. They were built to handle daily outdoor use.

For more information on these measuring tools and other appraisal products, please click on the following link: http://www.appraiserdepot.com/merchant3/merchant.mv

PHOTO CHALLENGE #99

I need some help from the readership. I am located in northern Utah which is the vinyl and aluminum siding capital of the world. We don't get to see the pressed wood siding that much and we especially don't get to see a lot of failure photos like the one below. Would those of you that live in LP land please share some of your boilerplate for this stuff. I'm particularly interested in what you say about class action suits, websites etc. Now I realize that all you really have to say is that there is a failure and further evaluation is recommended by a siding specialist. But I know that some of you are siding specialist and I'm really asking for a quick lesson in where to send a client specifically. I would like some details and the where to go places for more information.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work." Thomas Edison

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! Michael Leavitt & Co Inspections, Inc.

The Most Qualified Inspector in Northern Utah!

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