Venting

[David Macy]

OK

This post is not about plumbing.

It is about the need for me to vent my anger! Even though my dog is a great listener as she tilts her head wondering what my problem is.

I just need to talk to someone as my wife and kid to not understand.

This week has been very agitating. I have been very slow for January and February but that is not my problem as I am using the time to hopefully become a Certified Rater and I have completed 6 Modules so far.

At the beginning of the week I have Monday booked up and the rest of the week is open.

On Sunday night at 11PM I receive a call for a guy who needs a Monday inspection. First I am half a sleep and second I really do not like people calling so late on a Sunday. I tell him I can do any Day or time but Monday. This is no good for him. The same dolt calls me at 630 AM on Monday asking the same stuff thinking I am someone else. I tell him I can not do today, how about tomorrow. No good!!.

Ok I have a Thursday job(today) that was set up a week ago. Guy calls 1 hour before canceling because the utilities are still off. He waits till the last minute to check. So I loose out on today. He wants to reschedule. I tell him I am booked up till Wednesday of next week. (Got a few calls)  So he moves on.

Then I get the call looking for MR cheap. I spend 15 minutes educating her and she may call back as she has not signed a contract yet and was appreciative of the time I took.

Inspected a lady's house a month ago. She calls stating the electric for the dryer is exposed. House had a gas dryer when I was there.

I really felt like telling the guy that called late and early, the guy that cancelled to kiss my ***.  The lady about the dryer I took the time to figure out how we went from a gas hookup to exposed wiring.

So I know you guys deal with the same stuff but I just wanted to vent cause it pissed me off this morning. All I had to do was walk outside and the snow just melted wherever I went.

By the way this Energy program is extremely difficult. I do thank Dom for taking the time to help me learn once again about algebra and geometry.

[Dominic Maricic]

Sorry about the problems, but at least it sounds like you're booking inspections.

You might want to find another inspector locally to refer jobs to when you get something like the guy calling Sunday night/Monday morning. It works out nicely because then the other inspector will return the favor when he's in the same situation.

Glad to help with the math. I taught it for years, let me know if you have any more questions.

[David Macy]

Seems like I book them so they can cancel.

I do refer to other inspectors. They guy that called at 11 PM and 630AM I told to look in the yellow pages and find the cheapest price.

I refer often to a SE, a fellow inspector that knows a lot about building science and investigative studies. General inspections I tell them to go to the Nachi/Ashi sites as I refered to a few guys that never return the favor.

Dude I have so many questions pertaining to math, Rem program, energy audits that I can not even write them all down. I wish the support for the energy certification was half of what you provide. Seems like I wait days for returns to emails and calls. Unprofessional in my opinion.

[John Adrian Sopher]

It will be ok.  Even when times seem crappy, you just have to stop and think about all the good in life.  Take a deep breath... And say, ahhhhhh a new day!

I do that every morning and then I face all my worries.  lol

Okay I'm just trying to make you feel better.  And if you ever need someone to take a lil work load off your shoulders, I'm here for ya. 

[Jay Markanich]

Dave - I love you man!  Thus becometh the world of the self employed...

I have to blow off some 4 or 5 inspections some weeks.  My problem is that people (realtors, who tell their clients) know I am busy and feel I am good at what I do.  So they call to schedule inspections they may or may not do.  We ask them if they have a ratified contract and are serious.  They always have the right answer.  Translation:  people lie.

Don't give up!  We all understand the stress of being self employed.  There is not much safety in it, especially when employed in a market that is driven by local or national economics.

I had a guy call Thanksgiving morning wanting an immediate inspection.  I politely thanked him for calling, but saying that I had the day reserved for family.  He said, "C'mon!  Football doesn't start until the afternoon!"   That, I guess, defined Thanksgiving for him.  Then he began calling me names and later bad-mouthed me to the realtor.  What do you do?

And here, when I clicked on your post, I thought you were going to give us a great lesson on the Venturi effect!  (Not the golfer...)

Count your blessings...

Remember Sir Winston Churchill - "Nevah, evah, evah, evah, evah give up!"  Or something like that!

[David Macy]

Jay, John and Dom

You guys are good friends thanks!!

John I could send you some work now as it seems I am booked now until Thursday and I will be gone 4 days in Mid March to do my Energy Certification.

Now the girl that called me price shopping called back as she appreciated the education I gave her on how to hire an inspector.

But same ole same ole. Water is off. So she is going to call utility to turn on day before I am scheduled.  Now I bet not only does she cancel due to utility I loose another job for someone that wants that days inspection.

Now tomorrows inspection the client expects me to shovel the snow off the roof and walk it. I DO NOT THINK SO. Buy a house in the summer then!! 

Back to the RESNET training. Yippie!!

[John Adrian Sopher]

LMAO shovel the snow off the roof!  I wouldn't either.  Tell them to do it.  Or charge $300 an hour.  Tell em money talks.  lol

[Jay Markanich]

No roof shoveling?  Weenie...

Had one of tomorrow's postpone from tomorrow until next Saturday.  The bank did not get the papers to them today, despite promises all week...  I've seen the bumper stickers:

Banks Happen

[David Macy]

Weenie Huh!!

Now I have a guy that wants to no how Uncle Joe and Aunt Marys inspections went. I was like who?? 

A client emailed and called me 5 months ago to inquire about 2 properties. I must of spent 2 hours talking with the guy. Had not heard from him since and now he wants to know how the inspections went? 

Maybe I should get his credit card number and bill him for 2 inspections I did not do.

[Jay Markanich]

Bill him!!   

[Dominic Maricic]

Now that most of you have credit card processing on your web site, have you considered a $100 deposit, not refunded if they cancel within 48 hours of the inspection? This will get them moving on the utilies and pay for some time lost if they cancel.

[Ian Niquette]

David, I hope your weekend goes betther than your week went. Dom, that brings up a good pint. May be I will start a new thread on that.

[Jay Markanich]

Bill him!!   

Stoooohhhnnne hiiiiim!!!