Gregory Scheer
Location: Plumas Lake, CA
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Karma: 3
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Posts: 47
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« on: June 04, 2008, 02:32:57 AM » |
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Hi All!, I'm Greg Scheer, recently retired (well, 30 Jun) from the military and decided I'd go back to something I've done in the past--Home Inspections. I was last stationed out in CA at Beale AFB and I plan to remain here for a spell. I'm looking for some tips, but let me tell you first what I've done so far: I joined INACHI and got my certification through them--good for a number of things, check it out: www.nachi.org and then I bought HIP and have been talking quite a bit with Dominic about computers. I used to do the manual inspection report where I wrote in a notebook and gave my customer a three-ring binder of info. I like the round-wheel concept but needed a computer that I could tote around vice drag around like an anchor--enter my purchase from www.clearanceclub.com a Fujitsu U810. New machine price is $899 which is much lower than I've seen it elsewhere. Thanks again Dominic for the web site! I checked into the local requirements and there isn't anything huge except doing my ficticious name, and registering my business in one of the towns requiring a license. Next I joined the Chamber of Commerce. Being a member of INACHI makes us automatic members of the national Chamber but I thought the local chamber gave me better networking capabilities. I've also joined into a couple of the local neighborhood forums and posted my services. This caused a call from a local realtor requesting some cards. I dropped those off today. Next I intend to to make some fliers for realtor offices, the Chamber, and where ever else would be a good place for them. I've also joined Active Rain, www.activerain.com which is a network to better realtor business. That's what I've done so far. Any other tips out there? v/r Greg www.GCSHomeInspections.com |
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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2008, 03:26:58 AM » |
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Hey Greg, It's been great talking to you online over the past few weeks, glad you finally made your way onto the forum. First I think it's only fair for you to show these guys a few of the pictures you showed me of you with your helmet on  Absolutely awesome. Don't forget you also got your website going! Bob Elliot has started a group on ActiveRain, you can add him, myself and quite a few of the others on here as your affiliates. You can also join the LinkedIn network. Once you get some sample reports going, one thing I've heard some of the guys doing is dropping copies of them off at local realtor offices with your business cards so they can see your good looking reports. A few of the guys have even used the upload service to send realtors sample reports and the upload system and how easy it is to use. I'm sure the other guys will have more ideas for you. |
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2008, 04:51:31 AM » |
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Greg - I have linked your site to my site. Please favor me by adding mine to yours - www.jaymarinspect.comThanks, and welcome. As a tip, don't feel shy about asking questions of anyone (particularly Dom) as I am sure all will be very happy to help with thoughts or experiences. Tip #2 - do the same inspection for everyone else that you would do for your mother... My youngest son just got back from his second tour in Iraq (US Marines). He re-upps in January for another 5 years and is going back in spring 09 - counter intel. Jay Markanich, oh, um, I mean Sung Pao Ying (that's for Keating...) |
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David A. Keating
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« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2008, 08:59:25 AM » |
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Greetings Greg! Post your info on this message board & I'll link you.......... do it like this and you can "copy" and "paste". Highlight the info. below, click on "Copy" then paste in the big box on your "links" set up page. Then you can copy and paste the company name and url in their respective boxes. Then when those two are done delete them from the big box which leaves "areas served" etc. Denvers Best Home Inspection http://www.denversbesthomeinspector.com Providing the Best Home Inspections and Radon Testing Serving Castle Rock, Denver, Parker, Aurora, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village and all Surrounding cities in the Denver Metro and Front Range Area. So Greg, post your stuff back here and I'll link you. Other will probably see it and do the same. (Sung Pao Ying back at you Jay!), let's leave our Mother's out of this.......... Good Luck! Dave Keating |
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Denver’s Best Home Inspection http://www.denversbesthomeinspector.comProviding the Best Home Inspections and Radon Testing. Serving Denver, Parker, Castle Rock, Aurora, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village and all Surrounding cities in the Denver Metro & Front Range Are |
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2008, 09:10:55 AM » |
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Look at the first three letters of the names Sung Pao Ying...
And my mother's name was Nancylee... though it could have been Nungsi Li...
Sorry, Greg - this is kind of an inside joke. I was accused by the Keatster of being a spy... you can probably find it somewhere in other posts...
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Gregory Scheer
Location: Plumas Lake, CA
Newbie
Karma: 3
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Posts: 47
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« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2008, 09:14:25 AM » |
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Dave, Done. It took some looking around but I figured it out. GCS Home Inspections www.gcshomeinspections.comHome inspection service in Yuba and Sutter Counties, CA; Yuba City, Marysville and the surrounding area. Thanks Dave |
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Gregory Scheer
Location: Plumas Lake, CA
Newbie
Karma: 3
Offline
Posts: 47
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« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2008, 09:25:23 AM » |
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Jay,
I added your info onto my site as well. On a side note: I'm very interested in Thermography for inspections. I've looked at a few cameras but I have no idea what I really need, and the training is essential as well. Tips? I like your pricing page on your site.
Greg
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David A. Keating
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« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2008, 09:45:11 AM » |
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Greg, here's your link: http://www.denversbesthomeinspector.com/links/weblink/2Go to the part of this message board (Search Engine Optimization, Links)and post the same info there and/or copy the links on my site and contact those guys, they were all good about adding me and responsive . Dont make the mistake I did, I added quite a few guys assuming they would link me back and they did not. It took my wife and I a couple of hours to delete them when I found out they were not going to link me back. Now I wait till I see me as their link and then do them afterwards. (Jay, I finally got your first 3 letter thing.......clever! , only a seasoned infiltrator would know these kinds of codes) Dave K. |
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Denver’s Best Home Inspection http://www.denversbesthomeinspector.comProviding the Best Home Inspections and Radon Testing. Serving Denver, Parker, Castle Rock, Aurora, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village and all Surrounding cities in the Denver Metro & Front Range Are |
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #8 on: June 04, 2008, 09:48:33 AM » |
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Zhai zhing round eyes...
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2008, 09:59:27 AM » |
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Greg - I saw a post on the NACHI site by Nick Gromicko and he suggested the NACHI thermal imaging training. I contacted John McKenna who is teaching the class and signed up for the Atlanta class in July (I have jury duty that same time, but am trying to get out... wish me the best). I took a website course produced by my camera company (RAZ-IR) which was very good. I also fooled around with it a lot. Figuring out the software might be easy for Dominic but not for me. I think I have it mastered. However, I have always wondered if I am stuck on stupid and doing wrong stuff. In talking with John I think I might just take the class to see. So I signed up. I hope I can go. Plus, it gets me "certification," at least the logo on my site...!
As to my website, thanks, but it is only 2 months old! My pricing is as simple as I can make it. I like the KISS principle - Keep it Sweet and Simple (I don't like to use the word stupid...). I see some guys' sites and you need a degree from MIT to figure out pricing...
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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2008, 08:07:36 PM » |
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Jay, why do you need any software for an IR camera? Are you merging IR and non IR photos?
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2008, 03:35:34 AM » |
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It's probably pretty basic stuff, but the software brings the images from the camera into a program that allows photo comparison (IR/non-IR, two IR's per page) along with a chart that describes the temperatures that are seen and a place for where the photo(s) are taken and what is being seen. You can change the color palette, and basic stuff like client name, address and date and time. The report that is generated is based on the number of images taken and described. It is a very powerful report, definitive results and professionally "pretty." Clients love it. I had problems jumping between screens and bringing things up. You know me...
I still haven't figured out, two years later, how to save just what I want to be able to migrate it out of the program and into my docs so I can email the report. You know me...
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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #12 on: June 05, 2008, 04:23:51 AM » |
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You need to try HIP at some point. Lots of guys use IR with it. It even has a special mode for the side by side shots when importing. Usually you can just copy directly from your camera to your docs. Do you see the camera drive under My Computer when you plug it in?
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #13 on: June 05, 2008, 04:36:52 AM » |
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I will look. Go to bed...
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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #14 on: June 05, 2008, 12:29:32 PM » |
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I did, you happy? Only for about 3 hours though. I'm tired! You guys run me ragged |
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Home Inspection Software allowing you to create easy to read, customizable reports that can be uploaded online, emailed, or printed out on the job site. Runs on Windows, Mac & Linux!
Create a professional looking home inspection website for $20-$25 a month. We give you all the tools you need to create a site and get it to the top of the search engines. No previous skills required!
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