[Michael Leavitt's Home Page | Back Issues of the MMM | Current Issue of the MMM]
|
|
It's a great day at Michael Leavitt & Co Home Inspections. What an action-packed week we just passed through. I found myself earning as much in just 4 days as I did in the whole month of January 1997. We have some lofty goals for May 1999, but at this pace we should obliterate them in no time. And if we don't and the phone stops ringing, then we will just sit back and take a well-needed rest.
SPORTSFLASH: All
of us in the Northern Utah area are saddened that the Sacramento
cowbells were not more effective in bringing your Kings into the
second round of the NBA playoffs...... On second thought, we don't
have time to think about your despair....... We're too busy celebrating
the Jazz's victory!!!
EIFS NEWSFLASH: I just received my application for the EIFS Inspector
Training presented by the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau in
Bellevue, Washington. It will be given in a one-day format on
Wednesday, June 16th from 8 am to 4 pm at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency.
The entry fee is $295 and from all reports is a well-respected
program. I do not believe that it would be the "end all"
of EIFS training; it does appear to be a great start. For more
information you can e-mail them at info@nwcb.org. You can also visit their site at www.nwcb.org.
LITTLE
GIANT LADDERSWhat kind of ladder are you currently using??? Up until Friday afternoon, my ladder collection consisted of a 6-foot Werner aluminum A-frame ladder and a 20-foot Werner aluminum extension ladder. I drive a Plymouth Voyager mini-van with custom roof racks to carry the two ladders. It is professional, but I could easily be mistaken for a window washer....... Not the best mis-identification.
A Home Inspector's ladders can say a lot about his professionalism
without any spoken words. For this reason, I have felt embarrassed
about my extension ladder. Some time last year I was coming out
of a garage carrying my extension ladder towards my 1-ton Chevy
van (don't have this vehicle anymore). As I approached the van
my cell phone sounded off. At that particular time of my business
I was very excited about receiving cell phone calls. I now dread
the inconvenience, but I digress. I took my ladder and quickly
set it down on the ground next to my van. I quickly answered the
call and found myself sitting comfortably in the driver's seat
taking down the vital information for an inspection. 
When the call was done I was then running behind schedule for
the next appointment. Knowing this, I started my van and proceeded
to back out of the driveway. After moving only a foot I felt,
and heard, the crunch of metal as the van was lifted up on the
driver's side.
I immediately realized my error and pulled forward off of the ladder. I jumped out and the lower portion of the ladder was collapsed. I was surprised to find that the ladder still functioned fine, but it looked crunched. One would think that I would have immediately purchased a new unit, but I could not bring myself to do so. The ladder is still working to this day, but I have been investigating ladders ever since.
My search landed upon
the Telesteps® telescoping ladder found in the Professional
Equipment catalog, but it only raises to 12 ft 6 in. Homes in
my area are typically at least 1 1/2 stories which greatly exceeds
12 ft 6 in. I have patiently been waiting for them to come out
with an 18 ft version, but I am still waiting. The idea intrigues
me. I love the size and can even tolerate the inflated purchase
amount, but it will not fit my needs.
I was scheduling an inspection for last Friday when the client said that he worked for Wing Enterprises in Springville, Utah, and they manufactured the Little Giant ladders. I did not know which ladder that was at the time, but for some reason I thought it was the Telesteps® telescoping ladder. When I told him what my needs were he said, "We have just the ladder for you." He then asked if I would consider bartering the inspection fee. I said that I would be very interested if the ladder would fit my needs. He said that he would bring one to the inspection.
When
the inspection was completed we walked out to my Buyer's SUV and
he pulled out a Little Giant ladder. It was not the ladder that
I was envisioning, but what a ladder it turned out to be. I later
found out that the Telesteps® is still only 12 ft 6 in max,
but the Little Giant will fit all of my needs. He demonstrated
the features and it is both an A-frame and an extension ladder
combined into one.
As an extension ladder it will extend to 22 ft so I can finally get on top of those 2-story buildings. My previous extension ladder was just too short for two story buildings. It was also very unstable at the very extended length. The Little Giant height is amazing to me because the ladder collapses to about 5 ft3 in long. The extending lengths are set at 1 foot intervals.
As an A-frame ladder, the Little Giant will offset so that one side is vertical with the other angled. This feature comes in handy inside of closets where I used to leave my 6-foot A-frame ladder closed and leaning into the closet shelf. With the Little Giant I won't have to lean it, it will be self-supporting. It will make a 5 ft to 10 ft A-frame with one foot intervals.
I have the Type 2 ladder in the 22 foot length, but they do also make 2 smaller versions. If you are interested in purchasing one, I would recommend that you check around because every place that I have found is overpriced. The type 2 models are rated for 225 lbs. The type 1's are heavier, but are rated for 300 lbs. The type 2's have a suggested retail of $315 for the 13 ft, $355 for the 17 ft, and $395 for the 22 ft like mine. As to be expected, Professional Equipment's "Prices" are exactly the same except for a $3 savings on the 17 ft ladder.
Now the good news. I received the flier from my client for the specials that they offer to Home Inspectors at trade shows. The 13 ft ladder is $229, the 17 ft is $249, and the 22 ft is $269. This includes the freight to your home. If you are interested, call my client Kenyan Allen at 800-542-9464 at Wing Enterprises. Tell him that you heard about it from me in this MMM.
The
Little Giant Advertising TextWelcome
to the wonderful world of Little Giant Ladders, the safest and
most versatile adjustable ladder on the market today. If you are
using inferior, questionable ladders, or have concerns about employee
safety, may we suggest a look at the Little Giant Ladder System.
Please don't confuse it's patented telescopic design with the
cheaper 6-hinged folding ladders which have flooded the market
recently. As you will see, these ladders are totally different
in design and function. Folding ladders are unable to adjust in
height as our telescopic Little Giant Ladder can easily do. Relying
on 3 pairs of hinges, the competition merely bends into a number
of contorted positions in an attempt to mimic our patented design.
Little Giant Ladders are telescopically adjustable in one foot increments, both in the stepladder position and extension position, so you are not stuck with just one size of ladder. Pinched fingers are not a problem with the Little Giant Ladder, due to design and engineering measures incorporated into the ladder. Little Giant Type 1A ladders are tested at 1200 lbs. in every recommended ladder position. In the stepladder position, there are rungs on both sides of the ladder, so it can be used as a 2-man ladder. In fact, they meet or exceed OSHA's highest rating for ladders (Type 1A, 300 lb), and they come with a full five year warranty. A 225 lb Type II OSHA rated ladder is also available. It functions the same as the 1A version, and comes with a 3 year warranty. They also meet ANSI 14.2 requirements for ladders. Fiberglass models are also available.
All our ladders are proudly Made in the USA. Most orders shipped out within 24 hours after receipt of order. Free shipping in the continental US. Think of the time saved by taking only one ladder to a job site, and knowing you will have the right size ladder with you. Think of the space saved around the home by having only one versatile ladder to use and store instead of 3 or 4 ordinary ones. And Little Giant Ladders demonstrate professionalism for businesses. If you show up to a job site with cheap or worn out ladders, what does that say to your customers? But if you show up with a Little Giant Ladder, it shows professionalism and demonstrates a sense of quality attributed to your work. And at home, are you reluctant to pull out that old rickety ladder to do some work, and hope the ladder holds up without collapsing? Wouldn't it be nice to have one good quality ladder around to take care of all your ladder needs? The Little Giant is that ladder.
REMEMBER THAT THE BITTERNESS OF POOR QUALITY REMAINS LONG AFTER THE SWEETNESS OF THE PRICE FADES AWAY.
EYE
TO EYE
Steve, thank you so much for taking a photo of this unsafe Harvey Homeowner installation. I have encountered this about 6 times in the last 4 years. Most of the time it has been this obvious....... Who did the installer think they were kidding?
I encountered the latest jerry-rigged installation about 3 weeks ago. Instead of being out in the open, I found the eye beams mounted inside the above attic. I talked with the owner and he had done the installation. I recommended to him to install the eye beams properly and he blushed. He had forgot that he had done that. His reasoning was that he had intended on redoing the drywall in the garage and he did not want to have to deal with the wiring until the job was complete. His story seemed legit because the garage had been converted into a recording studio and there were holes everywhere. As usual though....... He never got around to doing the drywall job. Now he was going to have to get the job completed to restore the firewall protection and restore the garage door opener electric eye beam protection.
Now I will take the quiz from Steve........
http://www.liftmaster.com/ResidentialHome.html
Your
garage door opener has two safety systems. The first and most
apparent is The Protector System® which is located 4 to 6
inches above the garage floor on both sides of the door. To test
the sensors, first open the door, then place a carton or an item
that completely blocks the opening of the door. When commanded
to close, the door will not move more than an inch and the opener's
light bulb will flash for 5 seconds, equaling 10 flashes. Removal
of the carton or item will allow normal operation. If the safety
sensors become misaligned or obstructed, the garage door can be
closed by pressing and holding the wall door control button until
down travel is completed.
Secondly, the opener has a built-in automatic reverse system that should reverse upon striking an obstruction.
After
adjusting the opener, always test the safety reverse system. We
recommend repeating this test monthly.
Place a one inch board (or 2 x 4 laid flat) on the floor, centered under the garage door. Operate the door in the down direction. The door must reverse upon striking the board. If it does not, refer to your owner's manual, speak to one of our technical service representatives by calling our S.O.S. HotLine® at 1-800-528-5880, or call your local Lift-Master Authorized Dealer. Failure to pass the above test could result in serious injury or death.
Please remember to repeat this test
once a month.
The above information also answers the question that we have had on the A.I.I.™ Inspector Hotline recently of how to test the downward force on garage door openers. Some have used the hand method. Some have tried the foot method at least once. The commonly referred method is the roll of paper towels. I thought that the duct taped roll of paper towels was going to be recommended at the LiftMaster website. Instead, they say to use the "2x4 on the floor in the center of the door" testing method.
The question arose because one of our members used the hand method and broke the top portion of the door. Another mentioned derailing the door with the roll of paper towels. Neither of these tests are recommended here. So here is my question to all of you..........
If we use a test method that is not recommended by the manufacturer and we break something in the process, then how do we have any right to not pay for the damages incurred???
If we are going to safely stay underneath our Umbrella of Protection, then shouldn't we keep our testing methods in accordance with those recommended by the manufacturers??? If the device breaks when we are following the recommended testing method, then we have every right to use the "Not Responsible" disposition expressed so well by Steve Dansby.........
Cathy: Should you pay? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Why?
They (the Sellers, Buyers and Agents)
should be grateful that this happened during your simple, non-technical,
non-destructive (typical) test--especially the Sellers. I would
point the finger toward the person who illegally installed the
door and its mechanisms. HE/SHE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ENTIRE FAILURE. Lucky for that person it
was not a child who discovered this defect.
Just because YOU were there and touched something, no matter what ITEM, it doesn't make you responsible for "its" action. If it fails, as this certainly did, then it was due to an illegal, improper installation. If you walk on the roof to inspect its condition and it has some challenges, such as a soft spot, and you happen to identify it with your body weight breaking through, do you owe them a roof repair? NO!
We are "The Testers" of systems. If they fail before, during, or after our inspection we are no more responsible for their repair than the buyer is. It is the Seller's home and their responsibility--either directly or indirectly--to check the person who works on their home (like a garage door installer). Now if you backed into the garage door and caused an "accident" then yes, you would be obligated to pay. But certainly not for doing your job. You are not going to impress anyone by taking this responsibility on. You may make it easier on the Agent(s) and Seller, but the reward for taking on someone else's liability is foolish and could make you look foolish, unprofessional and certainly a scape goat.
TIP: (I "never" test a door with my hands and neither should you or anyone else for that matter.) Take a new roll of paper towels, (preferably a stout heavy type like the ones you would use in the garage for cleanup or washing car windshields), in 3 sections place duct tape around the towels to secure it. Now, when you test the garage door's reverse mechanism you first place the roll on the floor (locate it under one of the panel's struts for strength to the door and maximum pressure on the roll) and then press the button. This method simulates the size of a child's body (neck) and it is a consistent test method each and every time. If the reverse is in good working order it will back up. If not, it will remain on the towels until you push the button to release the door. Works well and "you haven't touched the door" if something goes awry.
I had a garage door come off of the tracks last week and it broke the top panel and came off track (using the button on the overhead operator). It required a technician to repair (whom the Agent contacted) and that is what I put in my report "Recommend further evaluation by a licensed overhead garage door technician due to..." and I stated in my report what had taken place. The Buyer was there, but not the Seller. Did I pay to have it fixed? Why should I? I didn't create the situation. The sellers did through their lack of maintenance. I did leave a warning note regarding the door; that's it. Personal responsibility over and done--correctly I might add. Good luck! Steve E. Dansby - Portola, CA
Steve Dansby then further clarified his position with......
Folks, I am not writing this to defend my position. I believe that we must venture into this question of liability further in order to understand it more clearly.
I must add this, too! If we are going to assume the responsibility for items that fail during or after we perform a home inspection, we leave ourselves open for the "deep pocket" potential. (Bad PR) We place ourselves on a slippery slope when we have the attitude that taking this responsibility is good PR.
If it was not our responsibility, we may open ourselves up to the bottom feeder Agents--not good, you know, the word gets around. We are an underpaid industry as it is. Giving away our fee, time and energy each time this happens can put us out of business quickly. If we spend 3-5 hours on an inspection and the fee is, let's say, $300 +/-, and something not your fault fails, good-bye money, time, etc.,followed by depression or at least a bad day.
If we are truly responsible for an action, then accept it and move on. However, if we accept someone else's responsibility then we are being foolish. Foolish with our time, money and education. With that reasoning, we should be willing to pay for any and all of the challenges that we "recommend for further evaluation" in our reports. After all we exposed the conditions. (Silly, huh!?)
As to the paper roll vs. the arm test: I defy anyone to guarantee that they can take each and every door they test and use the same value of resistance each time. Every door is different in its makeup and manufacture. Some are extremely light (cheap) and others can be extremely heavy (typically wood). You cannot possibly identify what is going to take place using this method, unless you check prior to operating the door all of the hardware, connectors, springs, runners, wheels, weather-stripping (if any), supports and, of course, the overhead operator.
Heck, we cannot even tell if the overhead operator is going to fail at the moment we hit the button. (I had a unit that stripped the gears at the time that I was inspecting it. My fault? Why? Yes, the door operated fine until that moment; lucky me. I said, "Have a service tech out to identify the condition of the operator and let me know what he says." You guessed it-- old age. Plus the insulated door was too heavy for the Stanley 1/2 hp, it was time for replacement. Just because I was there doing my job did not make me responsible. Heck, it made me the hero to the Buyer and the Seller understood--eventually. Best of all, the Broker/Agent was pleased in the manner that it was handled. I digress.
Anyway, I encourage you to consider or reconsider the paper towel method. This is a consistent testing method. It does not vary in resistance one day to the next as we can, depending on our testosterone. Imagine Woody Allen vs. Arnold Schwartznegar (?) in testing resistance. Would you say that they would test them the same or not? Food for thought, I hope. Steve E. Dansby - Portola, CA
QUOTABLE QUOTES: "Remember that the bitterness of poor quality
remains long after the sweetness of the "PRICE" fades away."[Michael Leavitt's Home Page | Back Issues of the MMM | Current Issue of the MMM]
       |
       |
AII™
Web Site: www.INSPECTION.org