Commercial property inspection riddle.

[Nick Gromicko]

Even after you buy me, you don't own me. You only get to view or print a single copy of me once. You may not let your client see me. You may only put it on one computer, even if you have more than one computer. You may not copy me. You may not put me on a disk and certainly not give the disk to your client. You may not email me to anyone, ever, even to your client. You may not link to me. If there is a link to me somewhere, you may not tell anyone, even your client, where that link is. You may not transmit, copy, or distribute me, even to your client, in any manner for any purpose. You may not forward an electronic copy of me, even to your client. You may not photograph me or store me. You may not use me in any course about me. You must cooperate in any investigation of anyone using me. You must allow investigators to look at the files on your computer to make sure you aren't using me other than temporarily, once, for just yourself, individually. You agree to pay if caught sending me, in any form, to your client.

What am I?

[Michael Roberson]

A Illegal download.

(best guess)

[Nick Gromicko]

Keep guessing.

[Nick Gromicko]

A Illegal download.

(best guess)

Nope. After paying for me, you are free to download me once, onto one computer. But then you can do nothing else with me, other than read me.

Hint: I (Nick, not the riddle answer) am in Las Vegas right now, sitting in a commercial inspection management class.

[Stephen W. Stanczyk]

The key to the answer is in the question....


ASTM Standards

[Dale Duffy]

I use 2018-08; like "MOST" commercial inspectors----

Hope you had a good time Nick...I had to head back to work...Nice meeting you though....!

[Robert Ernst]

I knew it would take a little while for someone to get that, but 1:15 isn't bad.

[Nick Gromicko]

Yep. ASTM E2018.

The class is packed and great. The instructor (19-year veteran commercial inspector) praises InterNACHI's International Standards for Inspecting Commercial Properties about every 10 minutes and says it's much better. He claims it's because ASTM used committees to author their 2018, and those committees are made up primarily of special interest vendors. He won't even refer to 2018 as a "Standard" (hm, where have I heard that before? )... and instead intentionally calls it a "guideline."

InterNACHI's Commercial SOP is a class handout. Hilariously, they can't handout 2018 because, get this... you have to buy it every time you make a copy! LMAO. They should just give IQ tests and prohibit anyone who scores over 75 from using it... same effect.

Russell Buchanan from HomeGauge taught the report generation session using InterNACHI's Commercial SOP template today.

Lovin' this course.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Yep. ASTM E2018.

The class is packed and great. The instructor praises InterNACHI's SOP about every 10 minutes. He says 2018 isn't even a Standard (hm, where have I heard that before? )... and calls it a "guideline." InterNACHI's Commercial SOP is a class handout. Hilariously, they can't handout E2018... because you have to buy it every time you make a copy. LOL! They should just give IQ tests and prohibit anyone who scores over 75 from using it. Same effect.

Russell Buchanan from HomeGauge did the report generation segment using InterNACHI's Commercial SOP template today.

Lovin' this course.

Hoped you learned the importance of the industry accepted standard---

[Dale Duffy]

because you have to buy it every time you make a copy

Why would any seasoned commercial inspector want/and/or need to purchase multiply copies of the industry accepted standard for a baseline PCA?

The "Scope of Work" is defined by the standard, nothing more.

You don't place a copy of the ASTM standards in a PCA...the Scope is defined before any signatures are in place to commence the PCA.

[Nick Gromicko]

The "Scope of Work" is defined by the standard, nothing more.

That's just it. It isn't defined by 2018. 2018 doesn't lay out exactly what is and what isn't part of the inspection. That's why (as our instructor explained), 2018 isn't a "Standard" at all. I was thrilled to hear our instructor explain why 2018 isn't a standard and to listen to him meticulously correct himself when accidentally referring to it as such.

InterNACHI's is though and does establish a baseline... and then you and your client agree where to veer from it (only adding or subtracting depending on what the client wants/needs or doesn't want/need) in the Scope of Work section. It's a beautiful thing.

The two aren't even in the same league.

As a side note: InterNACHI's free, online commercial inspection course, which is based solely on InterNACHI's International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties has been approved by most states that license inspectors and actually mandated by the most recent government to adopt licensing... Alberta (not to mention the world's largest inspection organization).

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by gromicko

That's just it. It isn't defined by 2018. 2018 doesn't lay out exactly what is and what isn't part of the inspection. That's why (as our instructor explained), 2018 isn't a "Standard" at all.

InterNACHI's is though and does establish a baseline... and then you and your client agree to veer from it (adding or subtracting depending on what the client wants/needs) in the Scope of Work section.

The two aren't even in the same league.

As a side note: InterNACHI's free, online commercial inspection course, which is based solely on InterNACHI's International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties has been approved by most states that license inspectors and actually mandated by the most recent government to adopt licensing... Alberta (not to mention the world's largest inspection trade organization).

Nick, as you well know, you type the Scope of Work, which is the standard of practice for "That" PCA; each property is completely different, there is not a one document which fits all.

In the last two days, I've typed proposals for a 120 sf Industrial Flex Property and a 350 Unit Apartment Building, neither were written to anything besides the "Scope of Work" defined by my clients(s) and I agreed upon.

[Dale Duffy]

Nick said:

InterNACHI's is though and does establish a baseline... and then you and your client agree where to veer from it (only adding or subtracting depending on what the client wants/needs or doesn't want/need) in the Scope of Work section. It's a beautiful thing.

I don't disagree with you, to me you made a good document, its just to confusing and longgggg.

The few clients I did show your SOP to were crossing eyed reading it, its simply to to confusing and not necessary for a baseline and "Scope of Work" to be written and signed by client(s).

Personally I like keeping it simple, as do my clients.

[Nick Gromicko]

Dear Client. Enclosed, please find your inspection report performed to 2018 Standards. You are probably expecting to find a copy of those Standards with my report, but I'm prohibited from printing them. I'm not permitted to email a copy of them to you either. I recommend that you light a soft, aromatic candle, close your eyes, and try to spiritually imagine the 2018 standards that your building was inspected to. That's the best I can do for ya. Sorry. XYZ Inspections.

LOL!

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by gromicko

LOL!

If YOU inspected thousands of properties without one complaint I'm apparently accomplishing something correct.

Have a good remainder of the evening, Nick.....