What do you mean you won't get on the roof and inspect with me? - 12/31/07 07:13 PM
Another agent at an inspection absolutely refused to get on my ladder and check the roof with me, and it was a calm day!
Breaking the ice at the home inspection is lotsa fun. Usually, the agent, if they've never met me before, is not prepared when I ask "Will you go on the roof with me?" , or when we get in the house for the introductions and another agent joins the group I ask "Did you bring the shrimp and cocktail sauce?" The looks and comments are priceless, and we all have a laugh.
Today I did an inspection (yes, on … (5 comments)

Don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous (Home Inspection)! - 12/29/07 12:17 PM
My friends own an Exit realty office on Long Island, and last night was their holiday party. Almost 2/3's of the agents did not show up or renew their LIBOR dues. Most of these people were part timers who lacked motivation, or couldn't commit to the time needed to do it properly. The agents who stayed are go-getters, and nothing stops them, although they all feel the slowdown, as I do.
My friend, the broker, expresses frustration when he offers training for free, seminars to learn more about the business, and these people do not even respond to the emails. I would … (0 comments)

Does the rest of the U.S. think like we do on Long Island? - 12/28/07 08:39 PM
I am always on the side of my client when it comes to the home inspection, and am one of the most realtor friendly home inspectors you will ever meet. I don't nitpick the little stuff, or quote prices on repairs, as many of the competition, but what I heard today makes me wonder.
The buyer took my inspection report as a 'to do' list for the seller, and the funny part is the seller did almost everything the buyers lawyer wanted done. Some of the things I mentioned, like replacing regular receptacles with GFI receptacles near sinks, was in the report as … (4 comments)

Another termite damaged home on Long Island! - 12/27/07 12:44 PM
I performed an inspection yesterday at a house that was from 1910 (probably was older), and I found so much damage. The homowner repaired with non-permanent adjustable columns, holding up cocked 2 by 8's nailed together with 6 nails and three bolts, and little nails attaching this to the lumber above - some had no nails attaching the column to the load above. Asbestos pipe insulation was everywhere, an old pile of cast iron - a dissssembled boiler - was all over the floor.
I recently started a little promotion for the slow months of Dec and Jan. Heavily discounted pre-listing inspections … (1 comments)

Are wealthy people on Long Island better than regular people? - 12/25/07 06:38 PM
I used to get many inspection referrals from a local agent who married well and lived in a very exclusive neighborhood, before she was an agent. She didn't need to work. Then, her marriage fell apart years after, and  her life changed significantly. Eventually she got into real estate, and like many on Long Island, she struggled and worked hard for the offices she worked for, and she made a decent living.
She is now a broker and works for herself. She lives in a lower-to-middle class neighborhood, and is surviving, like many Long Islanders who are overburdened by the taxes, the price … (1 comments)

Don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous (Home Inspection)! - 12/23/07 06:29 PM
Being adept at talking to first time home buyers regarding the home inspection without the alarmist slant is what sets Meticulous Home Inspection apart from its competitors. We take the time to explain things without the attitude and insult which can accompany some inspectors. So don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous! ... and Happy Holidays!  - Ray
… (4 comments)

Don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous (Home Inspection)! - 12/19/07 06:07 PM
Another inspection today, and two for this weekend! The real estate market has slowed quite a bit, but for the most part the agents that recommended home inspections are working on deals, and I have inspections.
This business is not a part time business, you either do it full time or not at all in my opinion. When I first started this busness over 3 years ago, some of the guys in my association said 'I hope you don't plan on doing this full time', or 'Don't expect to make a living doing home inspection'. When I heard these things from inspectors who … (0 comments)

Fireplace safety during the holidays. - 12/16/07 02:25 PM
Everyone loves a fireplace in winter, especially at Christmastime. But do you maintain the fireplace and the chimney? What?? These need to be maintained? No way! Many buyers who buy a home with a fireplace say the fireplace was one of the reasons they liked the house. As an inspector, I try to let the buyers know that fireplace fires are somewhat common when the maintenance has not been done.
These fires can be the result of too much soot build-up in the fireplace and flue. Creosote forms on interior surfaces of the fireplace and flue - especially when you burn pine and other soft woods. … (2 comments)

Extension cords bring Christmas disaster! - 12/16/07 11:54 AM
We have all used extension cords for Christmas lights and other things, but some people use extension cords way too much. Parents teach babies that things are 'hot' or are 'bad', but they still use those cheapo extension cords, and leave them in easily accessible areas.
Not to be a holiday 'killjoy', but my friend told me a story many years ago that still makes me think of this particular holiday disaster. Her dog was chewing on a cheap externsion cord, the type that has 6 receptacles so you can overload the circuit 6 times the normal amount. The dogs fang got … (1 comments)

Does your staircase have a handrail? - 12/16/07 11:05 AM
I performed an inspection on a house that had almost every upgrade imagineable, from a camera system for every room and the exterior, to radiant flooring. The seller was very proud of the money he spent (not the work he performed) on the house, and some of it looked nice. I asked him when he was going to install the handrails on both the main and basement staircase, and he said this would 'take away' from the 'look' of the house.
My brother took his handrail away from his basement staircase to move furniture, and never reinstalled it. He fell down the staircase and … (6 comments)

Don't deal with a dealkiller home inspector on Long Island! - 12/14/07 05:42 PM
I just got home from a long day of visiting mortgage companies and real estate offices to promote my home inspection business. I bought 6 dozen bagels for a very large mortgage company that was just taken over by a larger mortgage company. Between the bagels, butter, cream cheese, knives, etc. I spent $85. As they entered the cafeteria, I invited them to have a bagel, and introduced myself, using my now famous tagline "Don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous!"(Home Inspection). Well, about 1/4 already had heard of me, and the rest appreciated the bagels, and took my brochures and business cards, … (2 comments)

Is this a poor reason to not join a networking group? (Long Island) - 12/13/07 06:18 PM
I am constantly going to networking events that I'm invited to for obvious reasons. BNI is one of the more pro-active ones, and you are required to be there every week, within reason of course. I hesitate to join because I feel I cannot bring the 'warm' leads to my fellow members, which is of course the point of belonging - helping your fellow members get business. If I cannot reciprocate, I feel funny. I do not want to be only receiving contacts, I want to help my fellow members, but just don't have the lead resources for them.
I am also wrapped up in self-promotion of my business … (1 comments)

What? Do something for free on Long Island? Are you kidding? - 12/11/07 09:46 PM
I love 'shock' value! I was speaking to a receptionist at a real estate office who used to be an agent. I was telling her about a recent flyer I made up for distribution to agents about a discount fee for prelisting inspection, which I thought would be a good idea to drum up business in these slow times. She was relating a problem about a leak from her chimney that she can't fix. She has had several chimney companies evaluate, but they cannot find the problem. She will soon be selling her house and wants me to do a prelisting inspection … (0 comments)

Going out into the world (Long Island) - 12/10/07 07:38 AM
Well its Monday, a few weeks before Christmas, and the market is slow. This should not deter anyone, as it does not deter me. Getting new buisness at real estate offices is difficult, but not impossible. People still buy houses and still need to have them inspected. Real estate agents still want an inspector to let their client know what they are buying. It is all in the presentation. State it the right way, objectively, without the bs. Some treat you badly because they are not doing deals, and I completely understand. I still smile and say thanks, because some are … (1 comments)

New construction on Long Island does not need to be inspected! - 12/09/07 11:35 AM
This is what I was told recently by a listing agent. But after I pointed out some defects, she was not vocal about this subject. Some of the things I found were: 1- front door poorly installed so it did not seal well and would be drafty. 2- insulation installed backwards in basement ceiling (kraft paper should face living space, not basement) which traps moisture between paper and sub-floor above. 3- hot and cold water reversed at bathroom sink (don't get burned!). 4- No handrail for basement staircase (my brother broke his ankle 8 months ago because he removed his handrail … (1 comments)

Foundation settlement in homes on Long Island - 12/08/07 03:52 PM
I did an inspection today in Copiague near the water. The house had settled and a noticeable ridge was present above the main beam of the house. Basically the center of the home was a high spot and the two longest walls parallel to the main beam had settled. This is an issue, but is completely correctable. The agent had a quote prepared before I inspected the house, and the contractor wanted $6000 to correct the problem (actually a pretty fair price). The house is priced very low to begin with due to this problem, and the sellers need to sell. I never … (2 comments)

Do you need an inspector or an engineer? - 12/06/07 11:51 AM
Homebuyers are sometimes lead to believe that you must have an engineer do your home inspection, and many don't know the difference between an inspector and an engineer. Let me clarify. Although engineers are 'degreed', this does not assure you of a complete and all-encompassing inspection. Many of these engineers have background on things like structural loads, moment arms, spanning of trusses, etc, but do not recieve updates, as I do from NAHI, on things like CPSC recalls, problematic boilers and furnaces, environmental testing (now part of my services), plus in many cases they charge much more. I attended a recent … (0 comments)

Price quotes on home repairs by inspectors - 12/04/07 07:03 PM
I have touted myself as pretty reasonable when it comes to the inspection of an older home. I grew up in one with asbestos pipe insulation, lead paint and other things that are now not considered safe. I make it a point to tell my clients that I don't quote prices on home repairs. Unless you are a licensed contractor you shouldn't. What percentage of inspectors do agents feel quote prices at home inspections? Thanks -Ray … (5 comments)

Does the brochure really matter? - 12/04/07 11:00 AM
I recently came up with a new brochure that would catch the eye - my previous one was a little bland, and it is usually seen amongst my competition. As an inspector on Long Island, I go to real estate offices regularly to make the face to face contact with agents which I feel is necessary in promoting business. Do you, the real estate agent, look at these brochures and make judgements as to the quality of service or any other aspect of a decision? Any comments on literature are appreciated. Thanks - Ray … (4 comments)

How about a FREE pre-listing inspection? - 12/02/07 01:59 PM
Do you as a listing agent have to deal with unreasonable expectations of sellers who overvalue their house? Is their house the 'best on the block', or 'the only house with a built-in pool', or does it have 'new appliances (12 years ago)'? Since many sellers these days think their house is gold, savvy agents are recommending pre-listing inspections. This way the seller will have a better understanding of the shortcomings of the house. I will tell them what potential buyers' inspectors are looking for. This will be strictly a verbal communication to the buyer, and no report will be furnished, but I will speak … (5 comments)

My recent client just bought me breakfast! - 12/02/07 11:50 AM
Yet another client gave me a return phonecall thanking me for the way I delivered 'the news' about the condition of the home I inspected, which she purchased. She invited me to breakfast to thank me, and also had some questions about her steam boiler and converting to baseboards, which in this case (and in most cases) is not necessary. It was worth the 90 plus minute consultation. The market is not so good, but, overall, life is good!
… (0 comments)

Don't shoot the messenger. - 12/01/07 09:02 AM
A recent inspection in Port Jefferson resulted in a buyer that, after reading the inspection report, decided not to buy a property. This buyer I met as a result of leaving my business card on her kitchen table after an inspection at her house. I met her husband when I arrived, but she was not there that day. I was surprized to hear from her, but she said she wanted a 'Meticulous' inspection of the property she was buying. The house she was interested in was turn of the century with a foundation made of stone and mortar, as well as … (3 comments)

 

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