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Poll
Question: What did you do before becoming a Home Inspector?
I was in construction - 8 (36.4%)
I was in an unrelated field - 9 (40.9%)
I have only been a home inspector - 0 (0%)
I do home inspections part time - 0 (0%)
Other - 5 (22.7%)
Total Voters: 22

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Author Topic: Life before HI  (Read 11820 times)
Jay Markanich
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« Reply #20 on: July 21, 2008, 02:39:19 PM »

You probably didn't fit real well in the rack either...
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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia
www.jaymarinspect.com
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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #21 on: July 21, 2008, 02:46:40 PM »

Ouch. I wonder how many times you forgot to duck.
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Dominic Maricic
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John Adrian Sopher
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« Reply #22 on: July 21, 2008, 04:54:37 PM »

LOL ya the racks were 6' long by about 2 1/2' wide.  Needless to say, I was bigger than the racks.  And for some reason I can’t remember how many times I forgot to duck.  hehe pun intended.
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
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We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Oklahoma City, Moore, Mustang, Yukon, Tuttle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.NormanHomeInspections.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Norman, Oklahoma City, Moore, Blanchard, Newcastle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Norman

I am licensed Realtor with Keller Williams.  Office Phone # 405-691-2708
www.OklahomaCityHomesForSale.biz

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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #23 on: July 21, 2008, 05:12:47 PM »

Yikes, that must have been uncomfortable!
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Dominic Maricic
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John Adrian Sopher
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« Reply #24 on: July 21, 2008, 09:21:29 PM »

You do what you gotta do for Uncle Sam
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We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Oklahoma City, Moore, Mustang, Yukon, Tuttle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.NormanHomeInspections.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Norman, Oklahoma City, Moore, Blanchard, Newcastle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Norman

I am licensed Realtor with Keller Williams.  Office Phone # 405-691-2708
www.OklahomaCityHomesForSale.biz

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Julian Benton
Location: Santa Rosa, Sonoma County CA
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« Reply #25 on: August 21, 2008, 05:52:38 PM »

I spent 5.5 years in the Coast Guard, half of which was on the icebreaker Polar Star.  I did enjoy spending time in Antarctica and the Arctic, but much like John, the accommodations left something to be desired.  As Mark Twain once said, "The only difference between being in the Navy and prison, is that in the Navy you have the added fear of drowning."
After the CG, I spent the next 10 years in various Electronics Engineering positions until deciding that I could make money doing Home Inspections that I had been doing free for friends.
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John Adrian Sopher
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« Reply #26 on: August 21, 2008, 06:01:44 PM »

Its funny you used that quote.  LOL  I use to tell everyone that I was a legal slave for the government.  lol  I had a lot of fun though.  Too much I think!  Its all a blur now! Wink
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
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We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Oklahoma City, Moore, Mustang, Yukon, Tuttle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.NormanHomeInspections.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Norman, Oklahoma City, Moore, Blanchard, Newcastle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Norman

I am licensed Realtor with Keller Williams.  Office Phone # 405-691-2708
www.OklahomaCityHomesForSale.biz

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Brian OKeefe
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« Reply #27 on: September 15, 2008, 09:47:32 PM »

Hey Jay,

I am the 3rd other. I have worked on boilers since 1987. Worked at the same company and worked my way to management. I could only handle that for 2-1/2 yrs too much stress. Talked it over w/ my wife she said she would go back to full time instead of part time till I got the HI thing going which has only been since the first week of August. Have had a couple of inspections now so far so good.
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Brian O'Keefe
O'Keefes Home Inspections LLC
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Serving Grafton, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, Milwaukee, West Bend and surrounding areas
Jay Markanich
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« Reply #28 on: September 16, 2008, 06:24:54 AM »

Better home inspections than boiling over from stress...

Keep on truckin' Brian!  Well, woohoo, then truckin'!

I am afraid "woohoo" is going to become a site word.  Way to go, DeVries!
« Last Edit: September 16, 2008, 06:27:12 AM by Jay Markanich » Logged

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
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Steven Turetsky
Location: Staten Island, NY
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« Reply #29 on: September 17, 2008, 07:37:42 PM »

I've been working since I'm 9 years old, and have done so many different things. It always seemed that no matter what I was doing, I always was involved with a construction, whether it was my own or someone else's.

Ok, lets see.

From early childhood I was quite involved with horses, and besides being a steerwrestler (sport), I was a practicing horse dentist. I also had a security company and supplied armed guards, etc. During that period, I built a central station and taught myself how to install alarms. That is when I learned about low voltage wiring.

As a teenager, I installed alot of water diversion systems and became familiar with the business end of a shovel, helped a few friends renovate their houses, etc. I still get involved with water diversion, I've straightened out some really difficult water problems. My solution isn't "out in a french drain", I've always tried to control the water before it came in.

When I was in my twenties, I also had a Karate school, and bounced in nightclubs. That is how I ended up in the security business.

My first real construction job was in the 70's. I build reinforced concrete buildings all around New York City. If you've ever taken the Outerbridge Crossing from NJ into Staten Island, you drove past the administration building that I built.

I ran a glass factory and then started a glass company and built stores and  custom glass storefronts in alot of fancy malls, airports and public buildings around the east coast.

In 1993, I walked into a collapsing building that I bought from the bank and three years, when I walked out it was a laundromat. I learned about plumbing and electrical and alot of other stuff then.

For about two years, I was a project superintendant for a mid sized construction company in NY, I did a great deal of hospital work, including building a maternity ward, instant hot water system for the OR's, a mammography clinic, sonnography clinic, and so much more. I also renovated hi rise condos for these people.

Well, that's the "short list", there is so much more. One of the reasons I became an HI is because of all of the different things I've done. It seems like everything brought me here.

I also feel off a roof a few years ago. Drove myself to the hospital. I walked out 13 hours later, went home, removed my own intravenous , and drove to South Carolina to pick up a trailer.

I love the ocean, old cars and young women.

I really enjoy inspecting. Besides inspecting homes, I also inspect EIFS... which I really love doing. Right now I'm also doing insurance inspections. If I wanted I could be busy with that 7 days a week. I don't because the pay sucks... big time.

I also take on side projects to fill the holes.

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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #30 on: September 17, 2008, 08:21:36 PM »

Wow, you've been busy!
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Dominic Maricic
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John Adrian Sopher
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« Reply #31 on: September 17, 2008, 09:02:52 PM »

Wow Steven, lol do you stop and smell the roses?  lol  Thats alot, and in different areas!
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.OklahomaHomeInspector.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Oklahoma City, Moore, Mustang, Yukon, Tuttle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.NormanHomeInspections.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Norman, Oklahoma City, Moore, Blanchard, Newcastle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Norman

I am licensed Realtor with Keller Williams.  Office Phone # 405-691-2708
www.OklahomaCityHomesForSale.biz

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/jasopher
Steven Turetsky
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« Reply #32 on: September 18, 2008, 05:52:21 AM »

I love to smell the roses. I think life is a beautiful thing. It doen't always follow the big plan. I'm sure we all have our stories. I'm sure they aren't all peaches and cream.
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #33 on: September 18, 2008, 06:48:47 AM »

Renaissance man!!
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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia
www.jaymarinspect.com
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John Adrian Sopher
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« Reply #34 on: September 18, 2008, 08:20:49 AM »

lol
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.NormanHomeInspections.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Norman, Oklahoma City, Moore, Blanchard, Newcastle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Norman

I am licensed Realtor with Keller Williams.  Office Phone # 405-691-2708
www.OklahomaCityHomesForSale.biz

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/jasopher
Gregory Scheer
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« Reply #35 on: September 20, 2008, 02:52:58 AM »

I'm late on this post--but never late to enter the AOR.  Long and short of it my dad is a general contractor (sort of--now retired) and I joined the AF because I was too afraid to climb a ladder (scared of heights).  Ironically as it sounds, I finished up a 26-year career flying solo in a space suit (yep, peeing down my leg) for HOURS at a time above 70,000 feet.  Now I inspect homes.  I did this before, in the late 90s, but 9-11 put me on the road far too much to have any desire to do anything extra when I was home.  A trip to Korea for two years finished up the GA-based business and then the Deuce (U-2) took all of my time the last few years.  I thought I had a DoD contractor job for USfalcon but they didn't get the bid and their job offer meant nothing--so I figured after 26 years of working FOR the man, I'd become THE man.  I like it but it is truly slow starting.  I miss the flying and the cool things but not other things...


* Golden Gate Bridge for bigger than 70K--Camera at 5x zoom.jpg (13.87 KB, 640x480 - viewed 129 times.)
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Gregory Scheer
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« Reply #36 on: September 20, 2008, 03:01:00 AM »

Another cool pix--solo high flight


* DSC01659.jpg (36.09 KB, 640x480 - viewed 130 times.)
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Dominic Maricic
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« Reply #37 on: September 20, 2008, 03:11:59 AM »

That's so awesome! You're very lucky to have had those experiences!
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Dominic Maricic
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #38 on: September 20, 2008, 04:28:33 AM »

Greg - that had to be fascinating, if not fun (minus the schedule, which was probably grueling).  Can I say to you and John Sopher that I for one appreciate very much your service.  So thank you.  I understand that 70,000 feet is quite the view! 

Great helmet by the way - goes with your outfit...  What did you breath?  O2 or a mix?  What's the outside temperature at that height?
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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia
www.jaymarinspect.com
Northern Virginia Home Inspector
Festina Lente - Make Haste Slowly
John Adrian Sopher
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« Reply #39 on: September 20, 2008, 08:20:34 AM »

Hey thanks Jay.  I didn't go in to serving my country, but I sure came out having served!  If there is one thing I think the military gave me, it was a pride of having done something bigger than myself!

Oh and Greg, I'm soooo jealous, I want a cool lookin helmet like that!  lol Wink
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HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.OklahomaHomeInspector.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Oklahoma City, Moore, Mustang, Yukon, Tuttle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Oklahoma-City

HLC Home Inspections LLC
www.NormanHomeInspections.biz
We are a licensed inspector for the state of Oklahoma.  Our focus is Norman, Oklahoma City, Moore, Blanchard, Newcastle, and many other areas surrounding OKC.
HLC-Home-Inspections-Norman

I am licensed Realtor with Keller Williams.  Office Phone # 405-691-2708
www.OklahomaCityHomesForSale.biz

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/jasopher
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