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Michael Leavitt & Co Inspections, Inc. |
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MONDAY MORNING MESSENGER |
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Message prepared especially for Members of the American Institute of Inspectors® as well as Home Inspectors abroad |
GOOOOOD MORNING, A.I.I.....
It's a great day here in Orem, Utah. Time has flown by since the last issue of the MMM. Those of you who were in attendance last weekend at the Reno Mid-Year Conference were treated to a wonderful educational event. I think that the hardest part is coming back from a conference and resuming the normal flow of work.
So how is work in your area? We have found April to be a very strong month so far. This past week I had to just start saying NO to request for inspections. I was a zombie for the first couple of days after Reno, but I continued to inspect. It hit me long about Wednesday that I did not have to tell people that I had any openings. I did not owe them any favors that would keep me out in the field extra hours. I did not even need to feel a tinge of guilt for telling them that I was booked. What this onslaught of work request really means is...............?
Tell me what your best response to this question as it relates to my business. Having too many inspection requests means that I need to make a business decision. What should those decisions be? And what should be my response to those perspective clients that only allowed a 3 day window to have their inspection performed?
RENO APRIL 6 & 7, 2002
What a great event the AII Mid-Year Conference turned out to be this past weekend. Special kudos should be given to Scott Merritt, who as the chairman of the Education Committee spent countless volunteer hours making sure that the event came to pass. The room was filled with inspectors who wanted to learn and have an enjoyable time. As with every conference comes schedule changes and presenters who didn't arrive at their anticipated course offering. The Reno event was no different and I was called upon the morning of the event to kick off the conference with a presentation titled "The Philosophy fo AII."
For me, it is extremely easy to present the philosophy of AII because I spent the first year of my business internalizing the strong points of the philosophy. Many AII members trip and stumble when called upon to discuss the philosophies that make an AII inspector different than the rest of the industry. I have witnessed inspectors come into the AII fold and then leave and I have watched the majority come into the group and flourish. So what qualities are present in those inspectors that join the Association and stay?
1) WILLINGNESS TO SHARE - AII members are a sharing group of inspectors. The inspection profession is an ever learning environment and AII members are willing to share the tips and tricks with the membership.
2) WILLINGNESS TO LEARN - AII members do their best to remain teachable. Our industry is an ever changing one and we must be able to keep up with the changes.
3) WILLINGNESS TO HELP - If your "ox is in the mire," then I don't know of a single AII inspector who wouldn't go out of their way to help.
4) QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE - AII Inspectors are similar to others in the industry that crave learning. To rediscuss old topics and to discover new topics are the fuel that keep us going. The learning process is incredible and sharing the experience with others of whom you respect is a great thing. AII conferences are very personal and the learning is geared to the group.
5) PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE - As a group, the AII members are good looking "Good Lookers!" We are an attractive group because we attempt to raise the level of our professional appearance from that of a tradesman to the level of true professionals.
6) PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE - This was a highlight of the Reno conference in that I was able to bring back the almost lost philosophy of the "7 Dirty Words." The "7 Dirty Words" are the short list of a much longer words and phrases that Bill Ball originally shared with new members of the Association years ago. As a group we have had a great influx of existing inspectors who did not receive the full blown training and the professional language lessons are not taught with the same vigor. It is my hope that we return to following the advice of removing the "7 Dirty Words" from our vocabulary.
In my kick off presentation we revidited the "7 Dirty Words" and we re-instituted the "Cuss-Can." The "Cuss-Can" is the container that collects the massive fines for those violators of the "7 Dirty Words" while in the presence of other AII members. When you verbally speak a dirty word without raising your hands to place quotes around the word, then you must put a quarter into the "Cuss-Can." This tradition had been forgotten in recent conferences and the can filled quickly at the Reno event. It seems that we are still struggling with removing these words from our vocabularies. Each time a participant asked a question or made a comment they were finding themselves contributing to the "Cuss-Can."
Ron Hungarter traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to contribute to the can. In fact, he passed me a note during the conference that referenced a presentation that he gave to our group back in 2000 titled "Scary Stories From The Attic." His note stated simply "You guys must have been cringing in my 2000 presentation." Ron's vocabulary is littered with dirty words and he has vowed to clean up his act and keep his life savings in his pocket. Don Pearman is another dirty words presenter. Don relied upon the contributions from the empathetic audience to help fund his bad verbal habits and the "Cuss-Can" sounded more like a slot machine was hitting big and a quarter went into the can for every dirty word that flowed from his lips. Don was a good sport, although it didn't curb his evil ways. He is probably smiling as he reads this and reflecting upon the "You can't teach old dogs new tricks" philosophy.
I was most impressed with the way the focus back upon the "7 Dirty Words" quickly caught on again. The old time members smiled through the refresher course and the newer members struggled with every word that came forth from their lips. This slowed a few inspectors down on their speech as they attempted to curb the bad habits. It was funny as they would phrase a question truly believing that they used no dirty words, only to find out from the group that they slipped in a "Problem" here or a "Price" there. This excercise in cleaning up our professional speech was hilarious to all as we progressed through the weekends events.
Here is some other feedback from the weekend.......
All I want to say is GREAT. Many Thanks to Betty and those who put it on. Did everyone do as John Rebehstorff suggested and remove all excess stuff from their desktop, so their pc will work faster. Funny how their are things that you know and then don't practice them. Ed Strohmeyer - Rocklin, California
It was my pleasure to have met you and I throughly enjoyed your presentations at the conference. I look forward to seeing you again. Mike Toews
I just wanted to thank Betty Buckley and anyone else ,who help organize the Reno Conference.It was my first one and it was very informative and it let me know that I joined the right Inspectors organization. I had a great time and it was nice to put faces with some of the names I hear of on this Hotline. Betty your Grandchild is Beautiful and was worth the sacrifice of my name tag,hope to see everyone in Portland for the next Conference-Thanks again for all the info-Juanita -Ok- it's really Rick Stewart,Corvallis Or
Hello Fellow Inspector's, I just wanted to let all of you who attend the conference in Reno that it was a pleasure meeting all of you. This was my first conference that I felt I could afford to attend. Now after attending I realized I had it all "wrong" you can't afford not to attend. These conferences have far to valuable of information not to be there. I have now made a life's decision that as long as I have anything to do with the inspection business (and why wouldn't I it's the greatest business in the world) that I will be in attendance at all future conferences. I would like to especially thank Gary Holzbauer and Betty Buckley you both know why. I look forward to seeing all of you again in Portland. Sincerely, Chad Gheen
Hi Scott--good to see in Reno--missed alot of our friends though !! Glad you suggested the Wrestling Conference. I stayed over to watch the co-ed wet T shirt and mud events. However they did not allow one to attend just as an obsever--you had to participate. Didn't leave Reno till today !! Oh, by the way, the AII conference was interesting too !! Robert Fischbach--formerly of Sacramento, Spokane, Washington
NOTE: This response drew a lot of flack on our Hotline because some found it offensive and lacking value to us as inspectors. I laughed out loud as I read it because of the inside truism that was stated. Having attended these inspection conferences for several years now the inspection conference is very low on the billing priotity for what is going on at the hotel or city. A few years ago it was a rodeo and the hotel was all cowboyed up. This conference happened to be the Wrestling conference. We even had one where a bodybuilding competition was taking place simultaneously with our event. On every break we would go into the restroom and have to share the space with some 5 foot muscle wonder in a Speedo and have to watch them as they covered their body with the dark suntan glow lotion. Irritating........ Absolutely, but all part of the fun of attending conferences. The big draw for the general public in Reno City this past weekend was not the AII Conference. Instead, it was the wrestling conference. Oh well, we had a great time anyway!
Hello all, I won't belabor this, but I did want to say how much I enjoyed meeting everyone and learning about our businesses and industry. I was truly impressed with the amount of knowledge, but more so with the willingness of all to help fellow inspectors! Great job by those that make these events happen, and others willing to be guest speakers. We all appreciate it. You can count me in at the fall conference! Take care, Doug Barkee - Vancouver, WA
Hi all, mold, sop's, liability, slot machines, technology, bug sniffin dogs... where could you get all that except at the A.I.I. spring conference in Reno. It was good to see everyone again. All the best to you and your families till we see you again this fall. What was your favorite topic/subject/presenter at the spring conference? Every one was very good, but, I can't wait to see the bug sniffin canine from Olympia! It seems alittle early but I saw winged reproductive carpenter ants today in a structure in Everett. Happy inspecting, Mark Daughtry - Redmond,WA
Michael, Just a short note to say thanks for your contributions to myself and the assembled masses this weekend. I enjoyed myself. Got home and Polly wanted to sit down and watch some TV. She found a program on the public channel where Wayne Dyer was talking. I didn't need to be lectured to anymore for I had two full days of people at podiums, but I wanted to be with her. He ended the program with this message, that I liked and thought that you might like it as well. Thanks again, Ken
PHOTO CHALLENGE FEEDBACK #99
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"Siding appears to be a wood composite material. Several manufacturers have experienced moisture related failures. Recommend evaluation by a Licensed Siding Contractor. This evaluation may result in compensation by the manufacturer. If repair of the siding is performed, recommend special attention to sealing/painting of all joints, nail heads and all bottom edges. This same recommendation is made for the composite panel siding. Further recommend periodic inspection and maintenance." Michael, the only thing missing are the mushrooms! Around here fungus growth on the stuff is common. I have seen alot of the material ripped and used as corner trim, facia and other detail trim. Most painters never get to, or think about the bottom edges, and that is where the stuff fails first. Though surface nailing is hard to avoid, it is common and like this nail once the surface is broken it's just a matter of time befor it starts looking like a "belly button" (How's that for a run on sentence!) Some of the early generation products were not back primed. Moisture would get in the material and this really nice brown coffee stain (tanic acid) would run down the surface. A moisture meter is not required to make a call on this. The stylus for your handheld does a good job! In most cases, the compensation doesn't begin to cover the real "cost" to do the job. It goes like this, someone has a good idea. They mix a batch, make some siding, put it in a field for a few months, simulate 'conditions', call it good, sell the H*** out of the stuff, it doesn't work, the lawyers make a bunch of money, the homeowner gets the shaft, they change the recipe, call it "new and improved" and do it again! The good news is it gives us something to look for! See you in Reno. Jim Archer - Florence, OR
I had an inspection this past week that had this similar condition around the laundry room door, paint bubbles full of water on the door jamb, swollen siding above & below the door. Right above the door a roof line terminated with no kick-out flashing. The contractor tried to convince me that nothing was wrong. I stood by my findings and said prove it. They opened up the wall, low and behold, the OSB was totally shot. It sure can be fun "educating" contractors that have "been doin' this since they was a little kid." Nathan Buckley - Klamath Falls, OR
CPSC LAKEWOOD HEATER RECALL
NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Heater Recall Hotline: (888) 858-3506
April 3, 2002 CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson
Release # 02-133 (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1189
CPSC, Lakewood Announce Recall of Electric Heaters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Lakewood Engineering & Manufacturing Co., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 107,000 electric heaters. The electrical connections inside of the heater can become loose, causing the heater's metal frame to become energized. This poses a serious electric shock hazard to consumers.
CPSC and Lakewood have not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.
The recalled electric heaters have model numbers 797 or 797 DFT, which is stamped on the back of the unit. The Model 797, which is painted white, and the Model 797 DFT, which is painted gray, have a control panel with temperature and wattage selections. The rounded, metal units also have the word, "/////Lakewood" printed on the control panel.
Retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart and Kmart, sold the heaters between October 2000 and February 2002 for about $30.
Consumers should immediately stop using these heaters, unplug them, and contact Lakewood at (888) 858-3506 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday to receive a free repair or replacement. Lakewood will provide consumers with instructions as to how to return the heaters to the company free of charge. For more information, consumer can log on to the company's website at www.lakewoodeng.com.
LADDER WARNINGS - What is you favorite ladder warning?I read somwhere that about 90% of the "cost" of the ladder is the safety stuff needed to protect us from ourselves! Kind of like the directions for a fire extinguisher I saw hanging on a wall in a building when I was in the Air Force. #1 Remove extinguisher from the wall. #2 Carry fire extinguisher to the fire.....!! Jim Archer - Florence, OR
I used to be a splicer for the telephone company and worked on high ladders, mid span alot. I would recommend that you truly know the dept of the water in the ditch under you before you go up the ladder. As I was walking my ladder down the span by slipping it along to move from one splice to the next, my ladder started moving faster that I could and so I just jumped off into the 12 inches of water that I thought was there. Of course my boss was just driving up when this happened and had a bit of frightened look on his face. I don't know what kind of look was on mime while I was jumping from the ladder, but when I hit the water and discovered it was 5 feet deep, I must have looked pretty funny. Oh well, ladders can be dangerous and we as professionals should pay attention to their condition and make sure our minds on where they should be when we are using them. Ron Cloyd - Klamath Falls, OR
Do not lean ladder against a closed door. Nathan Buckley - Klamath Falls, OR
Never walk under a ladder. An inspector may fall off and land on you! Robert Fischbach - Spokane, WA
USING MOISTURE METERSI find this condition almost daily, but I don't carry a moisture meter. Instead, I simply comment that there is some moisture staining and/or damage around the toilet drain. If I see active moisture, I comment that it is current damage. If there is no visible moisture, I comment that the stains may represent past or current mositure problems. Of course I will always make sure the toilet is anchored properly if stains are present. I am curious how others report these conditions. Tim Walz - St. Paul, MN
Reggie, I decided back when I spent the $425. on my moisture meter that I was going to use it every time I entered a bathroom, and I take it into attics and crawlspaces as well. I have discovered moisture at times when there where no visible signs and I have gone whew! I feel that it is one of the "moist" valuable tools in my bag. Chris Burkhart - Sandy, Utah
All the time. I havn't kept track, but I would guess about 1:5 bathrooms has some sort of deterioration to the underlay. Nathan Buckley - Klamath Falls, OR
TERMIN-ANT-ORGreetings All, We all heard about Brent Foster’s Termite and Ant sniffing dog soon to be employed up here in Olympia, and like most, 
I await the outcome with extreme interest. As a local competitor of Brent’s, (and with all due respect to Brent), finding the aforementioned Termites and Ants is really only a small part of dealing with the condition. After all, if all you’re going to do is find the critters and move on… well really… what kind of service is that?
It is therefore with great pride I am introducing the Termin-ant-or, a highly trained animal which has been selectively bred and genetically manipulated to handle any and all insect, “problems”… (Note the quotes!!) As you can see by the attached picture, the Termin-ant-or is equipped for any situation and with a low profile, has impressive stealth capabilities.
I will look forward to working with Brent to provide full service pest detection and elimination and will keep you all posted. Larry Stamp - Olympia, WA
Larry: As a side observation, because I loved the photo, do you really consider yourself a competitor of Brent Foster? This would indicate an adversarial relationship. Since Brent’s schedule is booked to the hilt and your efforts in the marketplace have little effect on his business, then wouldn’t you be better off considering him a compadre? Your comments hit a sour spot because I reflected back to a local franchise inspector who came forth as a rookie and introduced himself as my newest competitor. Since this introduction of cockiness and brashness we have never had another meaningful conversation. He has positioned himself as the enemy as though this were a war. I would have preferred that he attempted to become my equal and together we could lift this profession in our area. He laid the ground rules and I have been called upon several times to nail him to the wall and oppose his report findings, of which I have done gladly. I think that his adversarial decision has hurt his business and I think that it is his loss that he cannot turn to me for help. And to think that all of this came from someone at a training school ingraining into his business model that every other inspector in town is the enemy and should be driven out of the business. I think that life is too short and that if you are doing your best that you will rise to the top and come to find that there is plenty of work for the best.
So what is it Larry, is Brent your competitor or your compadre? Michael Leavitt - Orem, Utah
PHOTO CHALLENGE #100
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QUOTABLE QUOTE: "The last time that I volunteered I ended up in Vietnam" Jim Archer at the AII Board Meeting |
HAVE A GREAT WEEK! Michael Leavitt & Co Inspections, Inc. The Most Qualified Inspector in Northern Utah! |
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