Build a House (av)(aw)

Hey Bob,

I use a lot of the Guerrilla marketing ideas.  I also market to realtors, but having a great web presense is key also.  I wish you the best of luck in you marketing efforts.  Should you have any questions about anything please feel free to call me or send me a note, I would be happy to help. 

Lately I have been marketing to mortage company's and banks doing draw inspections.  I also target new constructin phase inspections relying less and less on realtor referrals.  I have also been doing a lot of marketing to new construction warranty inspections.  Hope this helps a little. 

I think what you are doing with the series is great, keep up the good work.

That's the beautiful part of being a home inspector, we don't have to design the corrections or repairs!

I would suppose that the only way to properly take care of improper foundation bolts would be to replace them.  Logic tells me that one would do it the same way one would add foundation bolts.  A hole is drilled through the sill plate and into the concrete slab or wall.  Then the proper threaded bolt would be set in the hole with and epoxy designed for concrete and metal bonding.  But none of this should be done without it first being designed or approved by an engineer or the architect who is over the project.

The cost of the repair and the fact that it is seldom done has little to do with the builder correcting it.  All I can do as an inspector is to report the problem.  The only time an inspector will see this is if the drywall is not up or the walls are open, unless it is a crawl space. 

I see most of them while I'm doing draw inspections for banks, and the banks are only looking (and paying) for percent complete not quality.

While I do market to realtors, I do not beg.  I also make it clear that my report is in the best interest of the client and will never be a fluff report.  Believe it or not some realtors respect this and some do not.  I am only looking for the honest reputable realtors that want a great inspector.  You can market to realtors and still hold your head up high, just find the ones who respect what you do and want whats in the best interest of the client. 

As far as the rest of the marketing, Have you tried banks and title company's? 

I don't go into RE offices either. I think that is a waste of time. I do speak to people every day and always find ways of letting everyone know what I do. You never know when your services are needed or can be recommended.

Sometimes, I'll spend a couple of hours on a Saturday or Sunday stopping by some open houses. Not to beg or bribe. I just introduce myself, sometimes chat a bit. If they like me or my personality, perhaps they will recommend me. Perhaps another day I will meet them elsewhere. At some point, when they think of a Hone Inspector they may think of me.

Why didn't anybody mention the spacing of the foundation bolts? OK, who knows the answer?

And since your talking brick shelfs, then also mention that the ends of the beams should be fire cut. Meaning the top of the joist that is buried in the masonry has to be cut back, so in the event of a fire it allows the beams to drop out when they burn... so the building will "fall in" and not "fall out". There should also be ties at the ends of the beams into the masonry to keep the building from bulging out. I usually make my own by weld a "T" out of 1/2" square steel stock. I drill two holes on the straight end to attach to the beam and bury the "T" end into the bricks/blocks.

Since the treated lumber is no longer made with arsenic, can it be used for more than the first layer of lumber.

On anchor bolts:

Bob, you got part of it right. 

The requirement for building/homes over two stories is every 4 feet.  And all require them to be no less than 1 foot from the corners.  So you start in the corner and space them out either 4' or 6'.   This is from the IRC so it might be different in areas that do not use the IRC.  I'm betting that the Florida Building Code is completely different.  Maybe Mitchell can chime in.

Florida's building code is different. I think the insurance companies had a lot to do with that. I think they got tired of their houses blowing away. 

Bob, What do all the abbreviations (aw), (ag), etc. stand for?

What's for dinner tonight?

Or are you spending the evening out. You had better behave yourself!

I figger'd it was some type of "filing" system, but I didn't see a pattern and was a bit confused.

My weekend is non stop too. I have to work today, this was a surprise, but I have to install a piece of lami at UCP in Manhattan. I was hoping to work on my boat, maybe I'll still get in a couple of hours. Sunday my son starts football camp, his first time, and I volunteered to help, so now I am a "football dad".

Getting old is a bit frightening at times and it can be depressing at others, but it sure beats the alternative. As far as limitations go, I'll bet you're just complaining out loud. I don't think you are the type of guy has has any limitations.

As far as all those links are concerned, buy a bag of onions, a bushel of peppers and open a stand at one of those fairs that are going on. You'll probably meet some young chick there and you can show her your blog and wiki.

The water is fine, although I don't like swimming in the harbor. We do have a few favorite spots. We also like to fish a bit and simply going for a ride is relaxing. Especially at night.

I also enjoy the boat without even leaving the dock. I shut the door, close the shades and turn on the air conditioning. The peace and solitude are like medicine to me. The only time I ever oversleep is when I stay on the boat. The gentle rocking is so relaxing.