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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! Saturday found the Leavitts at another car show. This one was dedicated to Mustangs, but all Ford's were invited to attend. I have never seen so many Mustangs together at one time in my life. It was exciting and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all of the different options. If I had my way, I would have driven off in a 65 convertible. I spent some time asking the kids what they liked. Adam gravitated to the brightly painted show stoppers. High polished rims and colorful paint jobs really caught his eye as well.
I flashed back to the past and referred back to the August 16, 1999, edition of the MMM and was surprised to read..........
It's still a sad day at Michael Leavitt & Co Home Inspections. This week found the Leavitts again mourning the loss of two loved ones. Shelly's Grandmother died and my Mother's Aunt also passed on. We traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to attend the funeral of Shelly's Grandmother. I got off easy by flying into Phoenix with our littlest son Aaron on Tuesday night, while Shelly drove the rest of the family down a day earlier. I somehow think that my 75 minute flight was a lot easier than Shelly's 14 hour drive. I then got to fly back home Wednesday evening. Shelly on the other hand traveled on to Southern California to spend time at her parent's home.
This seemed really odd to me because I received a phone call three years to the week later and learned of the sad news that my Aunt Rita passed away. Aunt Rita was my fiesty aunt that I always loved to visit as a youngster. Rita is the wife of my father's brother (Harley Leavitt.) Together, Harley and Rita operated one of the best traveling carnival shows in the country. Uncle Harley invented many ride improvements, such as the truck-mounted ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, and zipper, to name a few. Aunt Rita managed the books and the personnel. Visiting Rita always meant traveling to a city where they were currently set up and spending the weekend riding every ride on the show. They also let me play all of the midway games for free to help attract business. This was a kid's dream come true!
My aunt and uncle lived a much different lifestyle than that of our family. They were on the road 9 months a year and all of their children continued on in the carnival business. My dad opted to go to college and spent his work days in an office buildings. Dad hated the fact that his brother was making it without having a college degree. In my opinion, Dad didn't miss out on anything. Life on the road was tough for Aunt Rita and Uncle Harley. Uncle Harley passed away quite a while back and Aunt Rita spent her last few years in a nice home in SE of Phoenix, AZ, suffering from emphesema. I feel like flashing back a bit further.
Back in the 1980's I had long hair bleached out by long days of surfing in Southern California. Dad wanted to go visit his brother, so we climbed into his Plymouth Champ and headed north to a smaller city where H.A. Leavitt shows was set up for the weekend. We pulled into town about 11:00 pm and looked for the area where the carnival would be set up. It was a Thursday night and the show was to open the next day along with the local town fair. I was driving and we could see the carnival through the trees about 200 yards away, but I couldn't figure out which road to take to get to it. We came to some train tracks and there was a little dirt trail running along side the tracks meant for bicycles and motorcycles. It was heading right for the carnival so I convinced my Dad that it wouldn't be a bad idea to take the trail. Afterall, the car was a very small one and it seemed like a lot quicker way to get there.
I turned down the trail and was within 75 feet of the little road leading into the carnival when the front end of the vehicle fell into an 8' wide hole. Boy, did I feel like a fool. My dad and I got out and looked at the car. What a pathetic site to see the front half of the car hanging over the hole. I thought quick before Dad could lose his temper and told him that I would go over to the carnival and bring back some help..... Dad agreed with the plan and off I went.
Walking through the show, I came upon some typical carnie types and asked where I could find Harley or Rita. They offered to take me there themselves and on the way to the main trailer, I saw Aunt Rita walking along. It was very dark and when we walked up to her I said, "Excuse me, I was wondering if you had any work that I could hire on to do?" Standing at 4'11" she looked way up at me with my long hair and told me that they didn't have anything to offer and that I should move on. That is pretty bad when you get rejected from doing grunt work with a traveling carnival! I then said, "C'mon, you must have something that your nephew Michael Leavitt could do?" She did a double take and gave a huge smile and said, "Is that you Michael?" and then gave me a big hug.
Even though I had been rejected by kinfolk, I was able to enlist the help of 4 strong types and they easily picked up the little Champ and got the Champ out of the hole. Dad settled down from my damaging his car and we spent a few fun days with his side of the family. I am not sure what I learned out of that experience, but I had to rule out the thought that I could always give up on life as I knew it and run away with the carnival. Not even they would take me! If I was going to make a success of myself I was going to have to make some changes in my life and make something by myself. I also learned that when you are stuck in a ditch it is important to have a helpful loving family to fall back upon.
MISSED INSPECTIONSWhile flashing back I also found this great topic of missed inspections.......
MISSED INSPECTIONS??? August 16, 1999
I mentioned that I was missed during my short jaunt to Phoenix. I spent the rest of the week trying to catch back up with the missed phone calls. I lost several inspections as a result, but that is life. It used to be that people were patient if their phone calls were not returned until later on that evening, or at worst the following morning. With the general acceptance of cell phones perspective clients get antsy after just a couple of hours if their call is not returned. With the time deadlines and pressures of the real estate transaction perspective clients don't waste time calling another Inspector. This is one major drawback to cell phone technology and I hate it. At the same time I only really want to do the strong referral inspections anyways, so it may be a great blessing in disguise. Let me give you a real life example.
The day of my return from Phoenix I was inspecting out of my cell phone reception area both in the morning and in the afternoon. With Shelly out of town there was not a real person to answer the office phone. The answering machine message directed interested parties directly to my website to place their inspection orders. I returned back to the home office in the evening and picked up a wonderful $435 inspection order via the e-mail order form on my website. I immediately called the perspective client who stated in his e-mail that he needed the inspection done by Saturday. This is the regular routine, yet this time the perspective client told me that since I hadn't called back earlier they went ahead and called 3 other inspectors and lined one up for the following morning.
At first I was chapped...... I was frustrated that I had lost a $435 inspection. The referral was from an agent that I recently inspected their purchased home and they were impressed with my report and work. I could not believe that this perspective client would visit my site and take the time to completely fill out the order form and then contact another Inspector. If they are a looky-lou perspective client, they will rarely commit to placing an order online. Upon receiving their order I had already figured out a way to clear the schedule and work their inspection in so that their deadline could be met...... Their impatience led them to call the other inspectors. I'm certain that the fee they were to pay was $200 less than my fee, but I also know the limited quality of the work that they were to receive. I'm certain that they will receive a subpar inspection and a very inadequate report. I know that they are sitting back unaware of the difference in the product that Inspectors in my area offer...... That means that my website information did not spell that out clear enough.
I'm still a little chapped, but I am consoling myself with the fact that this perspective client was a Price Shopper and Convenience Shopper. They were clueless to the Quality Shopper and had lumped the services of Home Inspectors all into the same group as though everybody performed the same cookie cutter service. When the perspective client beamed with the fact that the Inspector he contracted with could do it in the morning I politely shared.... "You certainly must realize that this is the busiest time of the year and that if there is an Inspector sitting there with no inspection lined up the following morning they may not be the Inspector that is best suited to inspect your future home." I let them know that I was booked out through the following Tuesday, but that I would have to juggle the schedule to work them in the following evening. This flew right over their head as to why their choice made solely on the basis of "Inspector Availability" was not the wisest.
The mixed blessing is that I did not perform their inspection, but I may have averted a troublesome client. I have tried to build in the sifting steps necessary to weed out the price shoppers and sue happy clients. My e-mail online order form has done a great job of doing this. It separates the wheat from the chaf so that I don't even have to speak with most of the Price Shoppers. This was the first Shopper in over 80 online orders that has hired someone else after placing the online order with me.... Oh well, I really didn't want to be inspecting last Friday evening anyway.
My thoughts still ring true 3 years later. I feel a strong edge to my written words, but I understand my sentiments. Price shoppers are not good for business. I think that over the years there have been many red flags that I have learned to help identify price shoppers here in Orem. How do you weed out price shoppers?
WHAT IS THIS?  |
A cupola - pronounced cue -pe-la (I think). They are somewhat common in the Midwest, especially on barns (often made entirely of sheet metal). They were originally used for ventilation purposes, though now are often more a decorative item. They are quite spendy. They mount on the roof ridge (base cut to fit the roof pitch). Tim Pietsch - N.Mankato, MN
I've only seen a few of these and I referred to them as a Cupola. It's pronounced "coop a la". I don't know their purpose, but I think they would attract birds if nothing else and could have originated in Europe. Bill Bergstedt - S. Lake Tahoe, CA
I think it is called a cupola, we see them mainly on barns and country style homes here. I hear they were originally for lights or lanterns but now they are mainly for decoration or maybe ventilation. Jim Maass - Columbia, SC
Cupola - Often used for roof ventilation in less sophisticated times. Still often used in our rural areas on barn roof. Will Etherington - Selma Oregon
CPSC CARRIER A/C RECALLWASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Carrier Guam, of Tamuning, Guam, is voluntarily recalling about 2,100 window air conditioners. Salty sea spray can cause the electrical capacitor within these units to corrode, posing a possible fire hazard.
Carrier Guam has not received any reports of fires as a result of corrosion in these air conditioners.
These are 7,000 BTU window air conditioners with model number 77ZFA007101. The recalled air conditioners have a serial number within the following ranges:
The model and serial numbers are located on the top of the plastic evaporator scroll behind the unit's front plastic grill. "Carrier" is written on the front of these units.
The Carrier Guam store in Tamuning, Guam, sold these air conditioners from October 1995 through July 1997 for about $380.
Consumers with one of these recalled air conditioners should call Carrier Guam at (877) 467-3544 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Guam time Monday through Friday. Carrier Guam will schedule a free inspection and repair visit. Alternatively, consumers may elect to purchase a brand new unit at half price to replace the old unit.
GARAGE DOOR TALE CONTINUEDShould we continue being responsible to test the downward force of garage door openers?
The postings and comments by Michael are thought provoking. I have to admit, I have broken one door. Fortunately, the owner was standing with me and happened to push the button. When the arm failed at the door connection, he admitted it was previously broken. This event was some time ago, but it sure emphasized to me that you check the connections before operation and watch the connection during the operation. But lately, I am wondering about the liability issue. The electric eye is simple...the force test is not. Ways of knowing which opener has the reverse function is needed and testing that it works is now questionable, in my mind. What reversing force is correct? That it works...is that sufficient to keep the liability off our back? This is a very good question to continue evaluating for the Standards of Practice committed, I believe. I, for one, would not like to pay for a door. Jim Corbin, AII 2002 President - Bow, WA
I don't think it's a good idea. I told every one what happen to me. I had to pay to fix door. Rolland Pruner - Livermore, CA
No one mentioned the time lost when a loose chain slips when being tested and the travel is thrown off (just happened to me). Good luck knowing HOW to reset the travel on all the possible makes out there. Safety certainly should be our concern, but these things are so filled with trouble I'd vote for simpler measures. Tim Pietsch - N.Mankato, MN
Oregon SOP's also state: REPORT whether or not any garage door opener will automatically reverse or stop when meeting reasonable resistance during closing. I don't see any leeway NOT to report. Ted Harris - Cove, OR
I will continue to test garage door openers, just not by the method that the opener manufacturers recommend. I can apply enough pressure with my hand to test the auto reverse and can let go if it does not reverse. When I first started I used to use a plastic milk jug but I had a door almost buckle. After that incident I decided that the best method, for liability sake, is using my hand. Jim Maass - Columbia, SC
Most of the garage door openers I test purr like kittens and reverse just fine. The problem is, there are the few others... We're out there alone, on this inspection, with this particular garage door. First, engage and use the brain; second, protect the body; third, protect the equipment; fourth, proceed with the SOP. Diane Capp
PHOTO CHALLENGE #116 RESPONSES |
The chimney is too close to the roof and surroundings...2/10 rule. There is no spark arrestor or weather cap (depending on locality). The flashing does not appear to be installed in the brick as counter flashing and has the potential to leak. The upper flashing does not appear to extend beyond the edge of the chimney to prevent rain water entry along the side. Jim Corbin, AII 2002 President - Bow, WA
There is no cricket/saddle on this chimney. Chimney is not tall enough. A rain cap is with screen is suggested. Robert E Lee - Rochester, MN
No cricket! This is required for 30" or longer, No spark arrestor/cap, Hairline crack top liner. Cant see ridge for proper height. Rolland Pruner - Livermore, CA
Chimney should be minimum of 3 ft higher than the roof and 2 ft higher than any thing with in 10 ft . A good concrete cap to stop water from penetrating the chimney that overhangs the chimney 1 inch to provide protection from the water that drips from the chimney. There should also be a bead breaker like a strip of plastic so the tile can expand upwards with out destroying the cap. Roy Cooke Sr. - Brighton, Ont, Canada
OTHER CHIMNEY QUESTIONS Maybe some of you can answer the questions that come to my mind.
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I tell buyer to have a Chimney contractor evaluate and advise on repair needed. Rolland Pruner - Livermore, CA
I have used the 2/10 rule as explained in original training. I find the reference in the manuals and green sheets. Spark arrestors are a different thing. The green sheets refer to them, but location of the home may dictate requirements. I advise of their absense...we have a lot of trees, dry areas, shake/shingle roofs. Having the arrestor, I think, is a good thing regardless. If I were to check on requirements, I would call the local building department for county/city. In the northwest it rains a lot. A weather cap on a chimney protects the internal grout from decay due to excess moisture. It attaches to the clay liner at 4 points and is simply a flat "hat" over the opening with 8"-10" clearance over the opening. Most hardware stores carry them. I have seen deterioration of the chimney grout and smoke shelf as well as excess rusting of metal due to rain. The older homes had gunite or cinder block liners. I have seen them. Most I have seen, though, are clay liners. With the brick chimney alone I would not be too concerned. The flashing is not completely visible, but it should be functional; the rain cap/spark arrestor should be there and the 2/10 rule checked. The grout and chimney cap appear to be good in the photo. There is a clay extension of the liner so can't see the remaining liner. As to a reference for fire rating of the liner...that is beyond our domain and should be referred to the proper professional if there is a concern. Jim Corbin, AII 2002 President - Bow, WA
CPSC COOKTOP DRIP PAN RECALL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 294,000 drip pans. These drip pans are used under the burners of kitchen ranges to catch food that drips while cooking. The hot burners can ignite the drip pans and pose a fire hazard.
Dollar Tree Stores has received seven reports of the drip pans catching fire. No injuries have been reported.
The recalled drip pans were sold in various sizes, ranging from 6- to 9- inches in diameter. The SKU Number 845289 is either on the pan or on a cardboard insert in the package. All of the drip pans are black.
Dollar Tree Stores sold these drip pans nationwide from April 2002 to May 2002 for about $1.
Consumers should stop using the drip pans immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers can contact Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., at (800) 876-8077 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm ET Monday through Friday.
PHOTO CHALLENGE #117 Bill Bergstedt from Lake Tahoe passed along this classic photo......
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QUOTABLE QUOTE: "We're out there alone, on this inspection, with this particular garage door. First, engage and use the brain; second, protect the body; third, protect the equipment; fourth, proceed with the SOP." Diane Capp |
HAVE A GREAT WEEK! Michael Leavitt & Co Inspections, Inc. The Most Qualified Inspector in Northern Utah! |
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