What I'm Seeing Now

"Every innovation makes its appearance as a 'luxury' of the few well-to-do.  After industry has become aware of it, the luxury then becomes a 'necessity' for all."

Ludwig von Mises (1881 - 1973)

Ironically, the very year Dr. von Mises died, I was studying economics in college and really, really wanted a calculator.

The two most prominent manufacturers were Hewlett Packard and Texas Instruments.

The HPs were very expensive, and difficult to use.  I found them impossible!  To merely calculate 2 + 2 required many key strokes, and to my mind their process was not the least logical.

Texas Instruments (TI), however, had a straight-forward calculation keyboard.  It was also less expensive.

I say less expensive, but to me, and my friends, it was a difficult purchase at best.

We waited and waited for the price to come down.  My target price was $58.  That would be approximately $300 in today's dollars.  Not huge, but for a college student difficult.

Very few of us had calculators!  So few, that in statistics class (where we had the infamous "Stat Lab," with calculators available for all) no calculators were allowed in class since so few had them.  Unfair advantage, you know!

The calculator we all wanted to buy was the TI SR-10.  You can see from its photo that it did very little really.  And it had really small red numbers!

But it was the "slide rule" calculator!  It could do everything a slide rule could do!  Only quicker!  We all had slide rules.  They did not help in statistics class very much.

In statistics tests the average grade was about 48.  Most stat calculations required adding huge columns of numbers.  Taking data required "A" numbers, "B" numbers, "A+B", "AxB", even more depending on the question, and each with more calculations.  Each row had to be brought to a number, each column added to a number, and each of these numbers plugged in to formulas, some of which are as long as your arm.  Do you think on a test you are going to get all those calculations right?  No way.  But, if we followed the formulas and demonstrated we understood which formula to use in answer to a question, we got full credit.  A 50 could be an A!

Let's say we had a simple question which asked for the probability theory development of a small population of cannibals and how much variance (or dispersion) from the mean a collection of shrunken blond heads varied, as statistical data points spread out over a large range of values, when compared to all shrunken heads in general.

A few numbers would be given on the test.  We had to develop the rest.  No problem!

is the Basic Standard Deviation formula.  It is pretty simple, but from it one is required to develop variances, correlations, and

a summing notation for Discrete Random Variables  or even

Continuous Random Variables ...

Whew!  Well you get it.  A calculator sure could come in handy!  Now look at that calculator up there!  What does it do?  VERY LITTLE!  And something similar is given out today as key chains!  Dr. von Mises predicted that!

Dr. von Mises was right of course.  Today much more sophisticated calculators are required in schools, a necessity even at younger ages, and you MUST have one.  Well, calculators and more!  And they are cheap!  A really good graphing scientific or statistical calculator now costs about $11 in 1973 dollars.

They are cheap because market needs initiated market demands which spurred market forces to produce market-ready products which attract free market disposable income to make the product (whatever the product) more available and more affordable to the market.  There were a lot of different markets in that sentence!!  Which market was which?

THIS CALCULATOR EXAMPLE IS FREE MARKET ECONOMICS AT ITS BEST, SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND, AND CAPITALISM DEFINED.  WHEN LEFT UNFETTERED CAPITALISM PROVIDES THE MARKET WITH ITS NEEDS EVERY TIME.  AND WITH PRODUCTS MORE AND MORE AVAILABLE, JUST AS DR. VON MISES SAID.

And all that calculator stuff was done without gubment intervention or control.  Gee, imagine that!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

It doesn't matter how small or large, how inexpensive or expensive or how high or low your house is.  You can always have unwanted guests that don't pay rent.

In this case, it was a very high window, on a very expensive house, with a piece of trim that must have fallen off at some point.

And it was one of FOUR such locations, with birds actively flying in and out!

The seller had no idea.

The buyer just wants it fixed and the birds foreclosed on!

I guess they will pull out all the furniture and leave it at the street.

All that needs happening is replacing the trim and sealing up any gaps.

Birds don't need a wide hole to get in!  Some can enter easily with only 1/4"!

So care will have to be taken.

My recommendation:  look around.  You might have gaps or locations that are tempting to birds.  They are very opportunistic little animals!  And what better place to nest than inside a spot that is protected, warm and dry!  But they can do damage and encourage other animals to follow.  Like bats.  You probably don't want bats!  So look around!  Seal the gaps and repair holes!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Yesterday while inspecting a little bungalow in Northern Virginia, I ran across a bonus room - a bomb shelter!

Pulling up to this little bungalow, highly fenced, electronic gate with camera, speaker and key pad, and cameras all over the house and property, I was impressed by many things!

First, you aren't anywhere near this house without being watched by at least three cameras!

Second, it looks like a house right out of Versailles!  Or there abouts.

On the disappointing side, there was only garage space for 8 cars, but I digress.

You know the seller and my client, the buyer.  You know of them anyway.  Both are prominent people who are very much into security and self preservation.

The house has all the bells and whistles, and is quite large.

One thing I liked very much was the small media room because they have it decorated, intentionally, with Washington Redskin colors!

It only has three levels and individual seating for twelve, but still, I liked the colors!  It's probably fun to watch a game there!

There are two closets in the front.

Usually that means one is for DVD storage and the other for the electronic equipment.

The closet on the left is for storage, and LOTS of it!  But the electronics are elsewhere.

The closet on the right was most interesting.  You can see into it on the top photo.  Here I opened the door slightly to give you a tease.

It is, in fact, a bomb shelter!  And more!

I have never before run into such an elaborate place! 

It is essentially a big safe.  But it can be opened from outside or in.

And it is self contained.  It is loaded with beds, food, water, medical supplies, hygiene stuff, clothing - it is ready at a moment's notice.

There is special ventilation, communication and the ability to hear what is going on inside the house.  It is surrounded with very re-inforced, 4' thick concrete all around.

In the event of a war or disastrous bomb, it would house people for some time!  And probably safely!

It also provides a place for the family to run and hide, and be protected, if the house was invaded or under siege for any reason.  Closing the closet door might actually hide the fact that the room is there.

They even had the builder present for my inspection in case I had any questions.  And I had a bunch about this room!  Counting the ceramic floor tiles the room looks to be 22'x16'.  So it's not a small space!

My recommendation:  sometimes on inspections you run into things you have never seen before.  Ask questions!  And have some fun!  And given where I live and many of the clients I serve, you have to know this isn't the only house with this rare feature!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

While sitting in the car, listening to the radio and waiting for my next client to arrive I received an email.

It said, "Jay, not sure if you remember us, but you inspected our home about one year ago.  I hope all is well.  Do you have an electrician you could refer to us?  The electrical outlets in the kitchen are all out :(   Lulu Belle"

Well, that could be any of many things.  So I probed a bit.  This began a string of emails.

"All of them?  How long has this been so?"

"A couple of days ago one side of the kitchen went out.  So we moved all the appliances to the side that worked and now, today, that side is out."

"Lulu, this sounds like your GFI outlets have tripped.  Your kitchen should have two of the outlets with the push buttons.  Push in both of the red (or stuck-out) buttons hard, or until they snap.  Then try the outlets for power."

"They work!"

"You must have overloaded one side while using the appliances one day.  By moving them to the other side you probably overloaded it too.  The next time just look to see if one of the buttons has popped out and push it in."

"Thanks Jay!  I called around to electricians and you probably just saved us $300!  U ROCK!"

Another day of doing good and doing right!  Just then my client arrived and I was off to save Lil' Nell from SNIDELY FLIPLASH!

My recommendation:   when you have a problem, don't be embarrassed to call your home inspector for advice!  The solution to your problem may be easier than you think!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

"Those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their consciences."

C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963)

Notice how those who would interfere with the free market, thinking they can do it better themselves, make life more difficult in doing so?

Notice how those who would create bureaucracy on top of bureaucracy, thinking the new one will make things better yet, make life more difficult in doing so?

Notice how those who would regulate the free market to death, thinking the regulation does it better than a trillion decision makers can do independently, make life more difficult in doing so?

Notice how those who little by little chip away at freedoms and liberties, thinking that they can do better for the individual or the family than they can do for themselves, make life more difficult in doing so?

Notice how those who would do all those things above, thinking they can do "it" better (no matter what "it" is), do so in such a wasteful manner that their fixes cost more than anyone anticipated and they need more money, so taxes have to go up to fund more and more and more as "it" grows more and more and more, make life more difficult in doing so?

Remember Mr. Jefferson's prescient quote.  He could say this BECAUSE, AS A STUDENT OF HISTORY, HE UNDERSTOOD BUREAUCRACIES, AND WHAT THEY CAN DO, AND CANNOT DO:  "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

All of the above is a short list that could be added to interminably.  It is wasteful.  It is inefficient.  It is all done with the approval of the consciences, as Jack Lewis said.  It has a common thread.

What is the common thread?

These statists, as they busily go about doing their doings, MAKE LIFE MORE DIFFICULT IN DOING SO.

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

It was a big house, 15 years old, wood siding, wood windows, wood window sills and lots of rot.  How far the rot extends under the siding, or around the windows and doors, or under the gutters, and so forth is UNKNOWN.  That will certainly need attention.

My client wanted to change the siding to fiber cement, replace the windows with vinyl and wrap all the trim with aluminum.  Smart plan.

My client got an estimate and asked my opinion.

I am not without opinions and ask my clients to contact me when they have questions.  NOT ALL DO THAT!

The contractor was arranged by his Realtor.  The contractor never went to the house but provided an estimate from a couple of photos.  The contractor never met his customer, my client.  The material suggested was vinyl siding, which I understood my client to say he did not like or want.  This contractor does not do windows and they were not addressed. 

ALL THOSE THINGS ARE RED FLAGS TO ME. 

The estimate left lots of gaps, lots of things not addressed.  That is also a RED FLAG to me as it leaves open the opportunity to add dramatically to the job later. 

What was an original estimate becomes something much bigger, takes longer and is a whole lot more expensive.  Was that intentional here?

While an estimate cannot count all the beans, it must count as many as possible.  It should anticipate problems and address their potential.

IN MY OPINION AN ESTIMATE SHOULD DEMONSTRATE THOUGHT, SPECIFICITY AND MAKE CHANGES TO THINGS THAT HAVE CREATED THE EXISTING PROBLEMS SUCH THAT THEY DO NOT CROP UP AGAIN.

THIS ESTIMATE DID NONE OF THAT.

Here is how his home inspector answered him:

• Did you do your own research?  What do you know about the company?  Did you compare this estimate with anyone else?  Did you meet the contractor?  Did you look him in the eye and hear his words?  Who are they sending to do the work?  What is the skill set of the installers?  Their experience?  Etc!
• The estimate is not specific.  What is the square footage of under-layment?  Square footage of siding?  The linear feet of gutters?  The linear feet of aluminum wraps? 
• The estimate was done with the site unseen by the contractor
• There is rot on the existing wood trim, siding and window sills.  Is the material underneath wet, moldy, damaged?  If so, your price will vary dramatically.  Does this contractor have the expertise to deal with that?  You will not be able to control a price tacked on to what is proposed.. are you comfie with that?
• The estimate was done with the site unseen by the contractor
• Does the new, styro-foam under-layment proposed trap moisture underneath like the original EIFS product?  What would be done about any existing rot or mold trapped under that?
• The estimate was done with the site unseen by the contractor
• Have you seen the product they propose?  Have you looked into the product?  Or compared the product to others?  Have you seen reviews of the product?  I thought you didn't want vinyl siding...
• The estimate was done with the site unseen by the contractor
• The estimate does not include priming and painting.  What would need to be and when would it be done - before or after?
• The estimate was done with ... well, you get it
• The estimate does not propose a different gutter arrangement to alter water flow to properly direct water so it does not rot wood.  It does not propose a different discharge method so that it no longer sends a lot of square footage of roof surface water right into the same spot.  The current gutter arrangement, as we discussed during the inspection, has caused a lot of the existing problems.  Also, the estimate does not mention kick out flashing, again as we discussed.  See my attachments on the report as to what kick out flashing is.
• Is this before or after the new window installation?
• You only have one estimate from one company!
• THE REALTOR'S NAME APPEARS ON THE ESTIMATE.  YOURS DOES NOT!!  WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?

That is a pretty aggressive answer by his home inspector!  My client could not believe that he would get such a detailed answer in response.

My recommendation:   when you want to do work on the house, consult your home inspector!  It will be well worth your time.  And please:

DO SOME RESEARCH AND GET MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Last fall we went to Disney World.  On the Jungle Adventure ride in the Animal Kingdom, we stopped to watch a group (herd?, pod?, flock?, cathedral?) of gorillas sitting and eating.

The big male looked at our bus.  Looking directly at me, and snorting, he got up and did this.

Now, looking at me on a bus I probably would have done the same thing.  Butt still...

This guy paused for a minute before making his way into the brush.

I got the message.  Communication sent.

I remember from MBA school that communication involves four things:

Output - a message is sent.
Input - the message is received.
Function - something has to be done with that message.
Feedback - the party receiving my message needs to reply back in some fashion, perhaps having done the thing I had asked.

WITHOUT ALL FOUR OF THOSE CRITERIA BEING SATISFIED, THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION.

That is why I don't consider email to be valid business communication.  When I send an email, often I don't know if the last three criteria have been met.

Sometimes I have to ask again if they got it.

There are times when I just want to strip, walk into the brush, and show the world my best side as I walk in that direction.

PURE COMMUNICATION.

Get the message?

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Some roof designs are designed for heavy loads, not only because of the style of the roof, but its size.  One thing you don't want to see is a cracked roof truss.

This is a hip roof, with two large gable penetrations.  This creates a lot of valleys on the roof.  So many valleys sets up a design for long supports.

The long truss in the center of the photo to the right is one of four in the house.

It holds a lot of weight.  There are roof sections from both sides tied into it, with collar ties everywhere (the horizontal members) that help stabilize the sections and keep the roof from lifting upward with heat.

Because these long trusses carry so much load, where they anchor to the house structural support is very important.

Surprisingly this truss rests on a corner.

They notched out the end so it fitted around the corner at a lower point and would align with the level of the roof sheath and other rafters.

But less than half of the truss actually rested on the support!

It cracked!  This arrangement was too little support!

Looking into the crack, this did not happen yesterday.  The house is 14 years old and I am thinking it happened not long after construction!

Emailing all this info to a structural engineer friend, he said it needs to be addressed, but it has been there a while so shoring up is probably all that can be done at this point.

THE TRUSS IS LIKELY TO CRACK MORE.

The owner has been there from day one.  The new owner would like to feel comfortable.

And my job is done.

There were some fun emails last night between the buyer (retired fighter pilot) and engineer (rugby coach) because the buyer went to Clemson and the engineer to VA Tech.  They had some fun together last night, including me in on their antics.

BUT THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE SOLVED AND IT WILL!

My recommendation:  this house design created a large attic space where everything was easily visible.  Some attics aren't so accommodating.  When it isn't dangerous or too difficult, the attic needs to be investigated as completely as possible to see what can be seen.  And take a good flashlight with you...

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

A roof pedicure happens when "repairs" are made by using a nailing technique called "toe nailing."

To toe nail a technique that abuts two perpendicular pieces of wood by driving nails at an angle on the very end.

This attachment technique really isn't good for most long term applications and is often only a temporary thing until the proper strap or bolt is put in place.  It should not be used long term for, say, roof support!

From the outside of the house there was a substantial dip in the roof.

That almost always means fun on the inside!

This roof was no exception.

I found two sistered joists in a row.

For all I know this was done many years ago.

But maybe even last year as the sheathing above these two joists was fairly new looking.

Nevertheless, this roof application is unprofessional and even dangerous.

When I see a dip in the roof and I can get to it, I never walk on it to test its strength!

Looking at this"repair" you can see just how wise that practice is.

And this view gives something of a close up of just how professional a job it was!

You will notice that this fine job uses three toe nails and six sistering nails!

Somebody thought that was "over engineering."

I certain worlds I guess that is.

My recommendation:  roofs sag for various reasons, but it is best to determine why.  The reason might actually be a safety issue.  Safety issues are not something one wants to inherit when buying a house.  Have a home inspector check it out!  You may be pleasantly surprised, or not...

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

About a year and a half ago I did an inspection for the head trainer for the Washington Redskins.  He recommended shots for my very arthritic knees, a viscous material that surrounds the joint and stays there, acting like a little, oily pillow.  As neither of my knees have cartilage between the upper and lower bones (my doctor calls them flat tires) I am a perfect candidate.

One of the products the trainer suggested to me was Euflexxa.  There are many such viscous, injectable materials.  No doctor since however wanted to do anything more than go in and "trim" things up.  That is an expensive and short-term solution.  And time consuming.  The final solution would be new knees.

I DID NOT WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE.

A doctor was recommended to me who was said to be very common sensical and tried to avoid surgery at all costs.  I set up an initial visit and he recommended Euflexxa. 

Euflexxa requires three shots.  It DOES NOT work on everybody.  But if it works on one knee, we will do the other.

Arriving on time for my first injection, I was immediately ushered into the furthest room.

"Wait," is all I heard, and the door shut.  I laid on the cushioned table.  It wasn't very comfortable.

I was alone for a long, long time with my thoughts.  It is easy for me to fall asleep, sometimes in seconds.

The room was dark and dank.  Were there recordings, or did I really hear tortured screams, pain-filled moans, and rumbling thunder in the distance?

The thunder got louder and the lights would flicker with each crashing roar.  I thought I heard soft, heavy objects hitting the floor, then the dragging of squishy things by the closed door to my room.  Was that bare skin squealing on the vinyl floor as it slid by?

The screams and moans continued and louder.  I'm not sure they were recordings.

A loud rap at the door was accompanied by barking and snarling dogs.  Then HE entered.  The traditional white doctor smock was replaced with a black, hooded robe.  His hands were fitted with black leather gloves, both covered in sharp, pointed studs.  The room suddenly got very, very cold!

Parting the hood briefly I saw his sinister, sarcastic smile.  The teeth had all been filed to points!

"MY TOOLS!"  Scrambling a nurse went to the cabinet to get him what he wanted.

I swear, the needle was 13", no 15", no 17" long!  That was going to be my injection!

And I remember from our first meeting that it was going to be inserted all the way!  I wasn't sure I would stay conscious, but I am certain I remember seeing the nurse pushing the doctor from behind as he slowly inserted the needle to the hilt!

Not sure how long it had been, I awoke in a deep puddle of cold sweat and a pungent shot of ammonia just under my nose.

"I NEED TABLE!"  It was the nurse.  She was not smiling.  I was being dismissed.  "YOU PAY!"  I stumbled out of the room to the front desk, greeted with knowing smiles by all present.  Demanding my co pay they merely pointed to the sign on the wall...

"REQUIRED TIP:  66%  CASH ONLY"

The waiting room was full of women and children.  I entered and in unison they all began wailing mournfully.  Was it my appearance?  They averted their eyes, mothers covering their childrens' faces as I passed.

Yes, it was my appearance...  And only two more injections to go!

______________

OK, that might not be how it went down.  The doctor was terrific.  He was gentle and the process was ABSOLUTELY PAINLESS.

In my nervousness my joke machine was set on high.  I had everyone on the staff at one point or another looking into the room.  The doctor's laughing wife grabbed my camera (I took the other photos) and said, "I HAVE to take a picture of this."

The doctor warned me that I didn't want to make him laugh!  I actually had a pretty good time.  And so did they.

And I didn't cry!  Which got me my prized lollipop.  Cherry red.

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

"Democratic government has this fundamental problem:  In broad terms, 20 percent of the people do most of the productive work and create most of the nation's wealth, but the other 80 percent command a heavy majority of votes."

Thomas G. Donlan

Well, this is certainly another view of the 1%!

It is also another take on the old "Pareto Principle," that everyone learns about in Econ 101 - the old 80/20 rule. 

This doctrine stems from the 1906 statement of an Italian economist named Vilfredo Pareto.  He observed that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the people.  He was also a gardener, noticing that 80% of the peas in his garden came from 20% of the pods.

Considering this a natural occurrence, in both ways, he came up with his 80/20 economic principle.  Looking around at business activity, society incomes, a company's sales, and so forth, it is pretty much true all across the board! 

Generally speaking, in business, 80% of the profits come from 20% of the products; 80% of the sales are produced by 20% of the sales people; 80% of the profits come from 20% of the customers.  This goes on.  In this country the top 20% of income earners pay just over 80% of the taxes.  Again, this goes on.

This 80% of Mr. Donlan's less productive people has pretty much held true if you average out the last many presidential elections.  Just in the last three the winner in 2008 won 27%, in 2004 won 83% and in 2002 won 85% of the 3113 counties in the country.  Not naming names, but looking at an election map breakdown by county, does that not appear to hold true for the most productive counties in each election versus the least productive?  WHAT A CONTROVERSY THAT INTRODUCES!

For some time now, I have said that in this country the debate is no longer between left and right, or conservative and liberal (a misnomer).  It seems to me that the real debate is between the producers and non-producers, achievers and non-achievers, and those who give and those who feel entitled to be given to.  Note which group gets pandered to the most!  Note which group makes the most noise!  Note which group creates the most election controversies!

Thomas Donlan is the editorial page editor of Barron's, The Dow Jones Business and Financial Weekly, and is based in Washington DC.

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Oftentimes HVAC units are put in the attic and the best practice when this is the case would be to include an auxiliary drip tray for air conditioning systems that is separately drained outdoors.

An HVAC system in the basement or garage will typically have one condensate drainage system.  It can send this condensate into a floor drain or an electric pump to eliminate what it removes from the air.  On a hot and humid day a large system can remove many gallons of water from the air every day, perhaps 10 or 12.  That water has to go somewhere!  If it has no where to go, it will choose to use your ceiling!

When a system is located in the attic, in former times, there was often not even a drip pan underneath!

Now all units will have such a pan.

But the condensate drainage can happen any of many ways.

There can be a single primary discharge line.  This is not good enough should a clog occur.

If it leaks, that water will hopefully get captured by the drip pan, but that pan needs to send it somewhere.

Most HVAC contractors include one or both of two back ups.

Some put in a float device which, if the pan fills with water, theoretically will float up to a point where it turns off the AC and no more condensate is collected.

At that point an HVAC contractor needs to clean out the primary line and eliminate the water from the pan.

This is fine, but in my opinion not quite enough.  In addition to, or even instead of, the float, a second discharge line should be installed into the pan.  That way, if there is a clog and the pan fills up with water, this second tube can send it somewhere.  Ideally it is discharged outdoors.  Often the HVAC contractor will set it so it drips in front of a window or onto a deck where its discharge can be easily seen and the clogged unit will be detected and fixed.

This house has the second line installed in the pan.  I like that!  This is an older system and for them to have done this way back then made this installation way state of the art.

But there is a problem.  The opening is clogged with insulation and debris.

I SEE THIS OFTEN ON NEW CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS, WHICH IS A VERY, VERY GOOD REASON TO HAVE AN INSPECTION ON NEW PROPERTIES!

The insulator sometimes blows in his product and disregards the HVAC drip pan.  Such was the case with the system here.  This pan has been clogged for many years and fortunately has not needed to discharge water!

My recommendation:  check the HVAC system in the attic to make sure 1. that it has a drip pan and then 2. that the pan has a second condensate discharge line installed.  And then be sure that it can drain water!  If it has a float consider it triple protected!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Hi friends!  Billy Jays here!

I have something so special today, I think by the end of this commercial I might just be singing!

Tell me, how often do you pull into that driveway or walk around the side of the house and look at a boring, empty, everyday chimney!?

Well, can I guess?

Everyday!

Now that is one BOOOOORING chimney!  Look at it!

Be bored no more!

Can I, your old buddy Billy Jays, introduce my newest, and certainly most decorative, product!

I am so proud of this can I introduce it with a song?

Chimchimeney, chimchimeney, a plant for you!
I'll make your chimney look better than new!

Introducing Chimchimeney Yer Chimney!

Yes, with Chimchimeney Yer Chimney! you will never again look at a boring, plain chimney!

Friends, our brainy, botanical biochemists have found a way to plant our special greenery in a chimney and have it thrive, feeding OFF your chimney!

No fertilizer, no soil, no nothing, well, except a little dihydrogen monoxide  now and then!

And BAM!

Chimchimeney Yer Chimney!

And the bigger it gets, the more decorative it becomes!

So call now!

This is breakthrough science at its best!!

And I, Billy Jays, need to broadcast this breakthrough biochemistry in every bulletin I bellow!  This needs to be shouted from the chimney tops!

SO CALL NOW!

And if you do call within the next twenty minutes, cause we can't do this all day, and promise to share this news with a friend, I will personally add a case of Billy Jays' Dihydrogen Monoxide, absolutely free!

That will give you dihydrogen monoxide to water the plant, AND offer to a friend or neighbor as you both stand by your chimney admiring this, our latest botanical biochemical breakthrough!

YOU NEED TO CALL NOW!

Remember the song!

Chimchimeney, chimchimeney, a plant for you!
I'll make your chimney look better than new!

So call me, Billy Jays, and get your very own Chimchimeney Yer Chimney! now, and start growing in popularity in your neighborhood!

CALL NOW!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Hi friends!  Billy Jays here!

I have something so special today, I think by the end of this commercial I might just be singing!

Tell me, how often do you pull into that driveway or walk around the side of the house and look at a boring, empty, everyday chimney!?

Well, can I guess?

Everyday!

Now that is one BOOOOORING chimney!  Look at it!

Be bored no more!

Can I, your old buddy Billy Jays, introduce my newest, and certainly most decorative, product!

I am so proud of this can I introduce it with a song?

Chimchimeney, chimchimeney, a plant for you!
I'll make your chimney look better than new!

Introducing Chimchimeney Yer Chimney!

Yes, with Chimchimeney Yer Chimney! you will never again look at a boring, plain chimney!

Friends, our brainy, botanical biochemists have found a way to plant our special greenery in a chimney and have it thrive, feeding OFF your chimney!

No fertilizer, no soil, no nothing, well, except a little dihydrogen monoxide  now and then!

And BAM!

Chimchimeney Yer Chimney!

And the bigger it gets, the more decorative it becomes!

So call now!

This is breakthrough science at its best!!

And I, Billy Jays, need to broadcast this breakthrough biochemistry in every bulletin I bellow!  This needs to be shouted from the chimney tops!

SO CALL NOW!

And if you do call within the next twenty minutes, cause we can't do this all day, and promise to share this news with a friend, I will personally add a case of Billy Jays' Dihydrogen Monoxide, absolutely free!

That will give you dihydrogen monoxide to water the plant, AND offer to a friend or neighbor as you both stand by your chimney admiring this, our latest botanical biochemical breakthrough!

YOU NEED TO CALL NOW!

Remember the song!

Chimchimeney, chimchimeney, a plant for you!
I'll make your chimney look better than new!

So call me, Billy Jays, and get your very own Chimchimeney Yer Chimney! now, and start growing in popularity in your neighborhood!

CALL NOW!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Hi friends!  Billy Jays here!

I have something so special today, I think by the end of this commercial I might just be singing!

Tell me, how often do you pull into that driveway or walk around the side of the house and look at a boring, empty, everyday chimney!?

Well, can I guess?

Everyday!

Now that is one BOOOOORING chimney!  Look at it!

Be bored no more!

Can I, your old buddy Billy Jays, introduce my newest, and certainly most decorative, product!

I am so proud of this can I introduce it with a song?

Chimchimeney, chimchimeney, a plant for you!
I'll make your chimney look better than new!

Introducing Chimchimeney Yer Chimney!

Yes, with Chimchimeney Yer Chimney! you will never again look at a boring, plain chimney!

Friends, our brainy, botanical biochemists have found a way to plant our special greenery in a chimney and have it thrive, feeding OFF your chimney!

No fertilizer, no soil, no nothing, well, except a little dihydrogen monoxide  now and then!

And BAM!

Chimchimeney Yer Chimney!

And the bigger it gets, the more decorative it becomes!

So call now!

This is breakthrough science at its best!!

And I, Billy Jays, need to broadcast this breakthrough biochemistry in every bulletin I bellow!  This needs to be shouted from the chimney tops!

SO CALL NOW!

And if you do call within the next twenty minutes, cause we can't do this all day, and promise to share this news with a friend, I will personally add a case of Billy Jays' Dihydrogen Monoxide, absolutely free!

That will give you dihydrogen monoxide to water the plant, AND offer to a friend or neighbor as you both stand by your chimney admiring this, our latest botanical biochemical breakthrough!

YOU NEED TO CALL NOW!

Remember the song!

Chimchimeney, chimchimeney, a plant for you!
I'll make your chimney look better than new!

So call me, Billy Jays, and get your very own Chimchimeney Yer Chimney! now, and start growing in popularity in your neighborhood!

CALL NOW!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

THIS BLOG IS ABSOLUTELY TONGUE IN CHEEK AND TO BE JUST A HAIR SARCASTIC.  JUST SO'S YOU KNOW'S...

When installing attic fans, there are some things that are important.  Let's call these The Three Amigos.

1.  Thinking outside the box
2.  Position
3.  Consistency
4.  Professionalism

In order to improve ventilation in attic spaces, many people choose the old and reliable attic fan.  They are thermostatically controlled and can be set to come on and turn off automatically.  The factory usually sets the thermostat to turn on the fan at about 110F.  It will turn itself off when the temperature reaches 100F.

This house is a very long, one-level ranch.

The attic space was very hot.

There is a small gable vent at each end.  The one gable vent is visible here.

This savvy homeowner installed the first attic fan many decades ago.

Okay, it may have been done before the popular thermostat, and it may be half of an interior fan, not exactly intended to be used in the attic space, but I said "savvy," and I mean savvy!  And in case you missed this in the first photo, here is a close up of the savvy wiring.

Thinking out of the box, and actually WIRING OUT OF THE BOX!, this savvy installer professionally thought to keep the wiring connections cool by putting them in front of the fan so that air can be drawn over them, cooling them as they work!

Notice how this fan is positioned a on the second truss rafter BEFORE the gable vent.  That's a good four feet!  Okay, the air isn't efficiently exactly blown out of the vent opening, but this savvy installer was just getting started.

Since this is such a long house, and therefore a long and very hot attic space, a couple more fans were installed.

This is where the consistency comes in!

Notice the same wiring philosophy!

These consistent connections are cooled simply and wonderfully in the air that flows from gable vent to fan!  And both fans!

And, again, thinking out of the box, the savvy installer did not overload any circuit with any connection!

The first fan's electrical power came from the bathroom vent nearby!  The second, on the left above, came from the light in the hallway ceiling below.  And the third, on the right above, from a pot light in the kitchen ceiling.  I finally found it by moving the insulation away to verify this outstanding connection.

In contrast to the fan wiring and keeping it cool, apparently the connection with the kitchen light needed to be kept warm.  Professionalism at its best, and knowing what to do and when.

And, well, these three amigos were so rusted they didn't actually turn, but when they are all operating I bet the ventilation in this attic space really kicks up the dust!

My recommendation:  when you see something so out of the box as this, demonstrating such incredible consistency and professionalism, it is important to write about it, shouting, as it were, from under the roof tops!  This electrician should be positioned in the "Who's Who" of electricians!  Or maybe the anti "Who's Who"...

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

"The way to crush the bourgeois is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation."

Vladimir Illyich Ulyanov (AKA Nicholai Lenin) 1870 - 1924

First, we have to define a couple of words.

The word bourgeois, for Lenin, was to help him define society into three players - the workers, the exploiters and HIM.

An exploitative bourgeois did not simply describe the fat, mean, selfish, sloppy, gluttonous man, with money dropping from his pockets and blood dripping from the club he used to keep everyone in his factory working 19 hours a day.  The bourgeois also included the single shop keeper, a baker, or accountant, or business manager.

(The other two players were proletariats, or workers, and HIM.  If you were like HIM, it was important to do everything he said.  One had to truly be like HIM.  In the end, this group really was the exploitative fat, mean, selfish, sloppy and gluttonous, which Orwell characterized in his book Animal Farm as the pigs.)

Second, we need to define inflation.

Inflation is gubment policy!  And so for a number of reasons, the biggest being that gubment derives the most benefit from it. 

How?  First and foremost, the currency becomes further devalued (sound familiar?) such that the national debt is easier to pay off.  The national debt is BORROWED and as the currency becomes cheaper it is easier to keep the scheme going.  While this seems like it will end in economic doom, this has been the gubment's policy for decades.  Very Keynesian, you know...

Second, inflation gives the APPEARANCE of economic "growth."  Economic growth does not necessarily mean economic health!  Was wealth really being accumulated during the real estate boom?  No you say?  You mean that wealth wasn't health?  Those soaring "values" did improve the gubment coffers though!  Didn't it?  Sales taxes, property taxes - you name it.  Why, they needed to hire more people to handle it all! GROWTH!  Which, by the way, builds in future taxes, that do not go away when the "wealth" evaporates.

Third, inflation is a built-in, hidden tax.  Notice how 45% of our budgets (energy and food) are mysteriously excluded from the gubment's inflation statistic?  Is this a mere oversight?  The gubment says these two things are very "volatile," and therefore not accurate indicators.  What thinkest you?  When the basic family budget is strained because of those two things that really aren't' getting more expensive, don't you know, it is NOT inflation.  Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...

So, inflation allows the spending scheme to stay afloat, our economy is getting "bigger," and, as people are pushed into higher tax brackets, more taxes are collected without passing new tax laws!  How cool is that!

So, when you hear how we must "PAY" for gubment, and borrowing for that can ONLY come from taxes, remember, remember, remember, brothers and sisters, Vlad's statement - THAT IS HOW YOU CRUSH AND TAKE OVER.

And control.  Two legs good, four legs bad.

VOTE SMART.

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

One thing I often see are vents that birds have moved into.  It doesn't take much to prevent them!

Vent covers now come with a bird guard.

Most vent covers are flaps, either single or multiple.  Birds are adept at getting into either one.

In a recent neighborhood of condos, only 8 years old, just from the parking lot it looked to me like birds were occupying nearly every vent!

You can see when they are present.

Sometimes bits of grass and debris will be sticking out.

Usually there are bird droppings on the siding or underneath.  If you watch long enough, especially in the morning, you will probably see birds flying in and out.

Their presence is obvious.

And it can be dangerous!  They move in and do not create cutsie little nests.

Their nest completely block the tubing so nothing can escape from inside.

The bath vent will draw air out one side and blow it back in the other.  This can be demonstrated with toilet paper.

If it is a dryer vent that is clogged, well, the dryer can overheat and start a fire.  Blocked dryer vents cause tens of thousands of fires every year.

BIRDS ARE OFTEN THE CULPRITS!

In trying to demonstrate to my client what she needed to so, I finally found a vent that has a bird guard.  It was way up high, and glued over the old vent and flap with caulking.

But the problem is solved!

Such covers are NOT a good idea over dryer vents!  And especially up high!  They will attract and accumulate lint, effectively clogging the vent, causing a dangerous circumstance.

Don't mess with the dryer vent's ability to blow out air!

My recommendation:  as a bird guard, those covers work great!  I highly recommend them.  They are made now as a complete unit, so your old vent cover can be replaced with the newer, guarded cover.

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Sometimes the listing agent will show up toward the end of a home inspection to "see if there are any questions [the] can answer." 

Can I translate that into people speak?  "Are there any problems I should know about now.  I want to gird my loins." 

Sometimes the translation is:  "I am ready to argue with you about anything."

May I say, and I know who my major audience is here, I don't like it when the "other" agent shows up at a home inspection and I certainly don't like arguments.  There is no place for this sort of thing.  Buyers should have unfettered access to a house for an inspection (without homeowners or listing agents present) and should be able to stay as long as they need to have their questions answered.

THAT IS MY OPINION, OF COURSE.

Take this chimney for instance.

It is a disaster.  The chimney cap and metal assembly are broken, coming apart and literally stuck up there with a couple of drywall screws!

Water and debris have been getting in for some time.

The flat metal top is rusting through, and water is getting behind everything.  That algae up there isn't drinking malted milk.  You can see that water is coming from inside the siding.

So much water has been getting in that the roof sheathing is rotting.  See the dramatic sag in the roof to the right of the chimney?

Inside the house, the fireplace was in similar condition.  Damaged, coming apart, rusting and UNSAFE.

This fireplace was one of many safety issues with this house, but a biggie!  The buyers really wanted a fireplace in their next home.  They were hoping to have one!

We are beginning to leave the house, I am packed up, bag and ladder in hand, and in sashays the listing agent.  Her practiced line is out of her mouth practically before she steps over the thresh hold.  The "any questions" line.  She intentionally faced with her back to me, dismissing me like a mother cat ignoring her kittens by swishing them away with her tail.

The buyers, mistakenly, mentioned how much they were looking forward to having a fireplace and this one is very unsafe.

This horrific and nuclear defamation of the house was more than she could bear!  And she launched with a couple of out-of-context sentences, not the least bit cogent, and silly really, ending with, "Well, they (the sellers) never use it, so it comes as is."

The buyers had no come back.  I think they were shocked by her diatribe.

Perhaps out of line, I put my bag down, walked in front of the agent, bent down so my eyes were level with hers, smiled and softly and calmly said, "This fireplace is not the only issue with this house.  There are many!  But it was something that disappointed MY CLIENTS because they were really looking forward to a fireplace.  This one is unsafe and could only be used if completely rebuilt, along with all the associated damage it has caused.  The sellers may not use it, but that is irrelevant.  They are selling it to someone else, clearly advertising that the house has a fireplace!  That's a bit like selling a car to someone, advertising air conditioning, and finding out after the deal that it doesn't work, saying hey, no problem, the seller doesn't use it!  I find that a bit silly.  DON'T YOU AGREE?"

I learned to use those last three words when studying debate in school.  When you DO make a clear and cogent point, in contrast to your debate opponent, using the phrase "don't you agree?" really cements your case.

HOW COULD SHE ARGUE WITH THAT?

With that I picked up my stuff, and walking toward the door said to my clients, "Thanks guys!  I will email you the report tonight."

Walking out the door I thought I heard music.  Yes, I'm sure I did.  I heard "Under My Thumb," by the Rolling Stones, and the lines:

" It's down to me, oh yeah,
The way she talks when she's spoken to.
Down to me, the change has come,
She's under my thumb
Yeah, it feels alright... "

My recommendation:  stand your ground!  "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."  Wow, that should be a proverb!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Walking around this house I saw what looked like a little child growing on the side of it.

The poor little fellow had so many birth defects I took pity.

It makes me angry when it is obvious parents don't care enough when creating a new one.

Eating and drinking properly, taking vitamin supplements, taking financial responsibility and exercising a little during construction is very important.

And then, using the right materials, properly placed, with planned forethought, dressing the child once born with the best stuff one can buy is the next phase of parental responsibility.  Fancy stores don't matter as much as quality and matching ensembles.

Now, just looking at this little one, you probably can't see that the walls are not plumb; no gutter can be installed because there are three pieces of haphazardly-placed wood there so rain drips on your head as you go in the door; there is no flashing between the shingles and main house and in fact a rather large hole there; the stairs bounce; the rail wobbles; there is no siding on the back side; the door isn't level; the door is unpainted; the door's thresh hold has no support, leaning from right to left, and there is a hole without anything covering it under the front door. Well, I take that back - there is plastic siding tape.

Inside the child's floor bounced, its walls are ugly, there is no heating or air conditioning and the ceiling is only 6 1/2 feet high!  It only has two receptacles for any power -  one that is on the main house, probably pre-existing this child's life, and the other wired directly from the outdoor light near the rear door 30' away!  That cable goes in this child's side wall.

That isn't all (yikes!), but you get the idea - this poor child is just another problem child foisted on society.

Certainly these parents want society to take care of this child, from the cradle to the grave.

But what bothered me most was that after these parents abandoned this house, and child, leaving behind, one might say, their agreed-to responsibility, this lonely and inadequately-created child was obviously left without much support.

If this child support was a four-legged chair, three of the four legs were too short and not founded well.

Nobody thought this child support out.

In my mind, not only was the support illegal in its conception and materials used, but this child is an utter danger to society.

Quickly glancing and you might miss it!

In case you cannot see what I'm referring to, here is a closer view.  As I said, three of the four "support" arrangements looked like this! 

What kind of parent arranges support that includes a solid block, two loose bricks, a flat piece of non-pressure-treated wood, a small block of pressure-treated wood and two metal shims?

I'll tell you what kind!  A parent who doesn't know or doesn't care!  THIS IS NOT SUPPORT!

As a society we need to rise up against this sort of thing!  Our society will fail with this type of inadequate, inconsiderate and ignorant parental responsibility!

What can be done?

My recommendation:   as a society we need to band together and rise up!  Please join my organization "People Against Improper Support."  And we, WE, shall overcome!!  Sing it with me now!

That would be the twin organization to "Home Inspectors Against Schmuck Work."  We, WE, shall overcome too!  Well, I hope so...

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com