Got THE call today

[Bob Elliott]

The Chicago Department of Public Health is offering free Radon testing for all residents of single-family homes in the City of Chicago. To schedule your free test, call (312) 746-7820.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by belliott

The Chicago Department of Public Health is offering free Radon testing for all residents of single-family homes in the City of Chicago. To schedule your free test, call (312) 746-7820.

1) I would be interested to see if the people who the City has do this are state licensed. Not saying they aren't, just asking.
2) I will bet $20 that the people that the City "recommends" to do any needed remediation are, somehow, "connected".
3) The percentage of positive tests, east of Pulaski, are only 3.2%, according to the most current statistics.

Maybe some Alderman's Brother-in-law got licensed? Go figure.

[Bob Elliott]

Free testing is a good thing.Not everything is sinister.
May not help during a property purchase agreement period much if there is a wait however.

[Ben L. Garrison]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Anything less than the maximum deductable is hardly worth fighting for, right?

Sorry, Ben. I couldn't help it.

Typical...

My deductible is $1,000... I would encourage any inspector to try and settle a claim on his own if he can get out for less than that.

[Bob Elliott]

Just had yet another person ask me the question "Can I sue my Home Inspector"
Got permission from Inland News to reprint a Dave Barry article and this piece from 2007 has since taken on its own life.

I give no legal advice of course but do listen and it is interesting to hear the stories of people that often wish to vent their frustration.

Here is a link if you wish a little more insight as to why they often hate the Inspector that was there to help them.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/6391...ome-inspector-

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Originally Posted by wdecker

Helps to have a) A good friend who is also a good lawyer with a lot of experience in deailing with insurance fraud and b) a wife is is a former insurance actuary and knows, personally, a couple of the state regulators.

Also, the general public feeling that insurance companies are trying to rip us all off. Helps if you have a jury trial.

Know your market, know the law, in your state. All part of being a good businessman.

Point of fact. I got a call from another local inspector, the other day. I had never heard of him or his company before, but looking him up, he had a high license number which means that he is pretty new, like about a year licensed.

Anyway, he asked if I had any spare REadon canisters. He said that he, mostly, did insurance inspections and roof inspections, but that a couple of Realtors used him for pre-purchase. He said that he was in a bind and needed to have a Radon test done, but it could only take 8 hours. He said that he could not find any canisters and wanted to buy them from me or sub the Radon out to me.

OK, a couple of facts from this area, based upon state laws:

1) Radon tests take, minimum, 48 hours and must use electronic monitors. You can't speed these things up.
2) In Illinois, there is a separate license for Radon technicians and Radon labs. I do neither and sub it out.
3) Seems like this guy has been going to Home Depot and buying the charcoal tests from Pro-Lab (no slam intended to them, BTW) and placing them at the clients house for a few hours and then sending them in and presenting the results and charging the client (like $200) for the "Radon test". In Illinois, the only people who can, legally, do a charcoal, DIY test is the homeowner.
4) We also talked and he told about how he used the state HI license to get creds to do all kinds of inspections (not pre-purchase) and that he only did this part time to make a little money, "on the side".

I am very close to reporting him, because he is violating about 10 state laws.

I calmly and clearly explained to him what he was doing wrong, citing the state laws and licensing regs. After listening to me for a while, he asked me "What are you, the Police?" I tried to keep it non-confrontational, just explaining to him that he was, maybe without knowing any better, breaking the law. He thanked me, but then told me to mind my own business.

Should I turn him in? My reason for doing so would be because thus guy is just plainly too stupid to be in business.

Opinions?

You warned him. If he does not want to play by the rules, he needs to be turned in.

[Russell J. Hensel]

Will the way I look at these things, if your not part of the solution the you are part of the problem.

If it doesn't start with you, then who?

Or another way to look at it is, what would people say if they knew that you were aware of this and did nothing. Would it shine a positive light, negative light or indiffent light?

Being the outstanding inspector you are, its all in your hands. You knowledge, candor, professionalism has gotten you where you are today. Your a smart guy and will do what is right for Will. Whatever that may be.