anthony dicolandrea

new assistant.

get skype... it will help us video conference

we dont have time to get together and we need to meet every now and then to work on developing a better system.

sign up for a skype.com account - get a web cam and lets start having our meetings online.

appraiser petition for fees

if you want to support fair fees to appraisers, go to the link below.

it wouldnt hurt to forward this to other appraisers too.

http://www.petitiononline.com/CnR2011/

quick release latches comment

THE PADLOCKED WINDOW BARS ARE TYPICAL OF SECURITY BARS. THERE "IS/IS NO" QUICK RELEASE LATCH.

Requirements for a Quick-Release Mechanism

According to the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC), basements and sleeping rooms should have at least one operable emergency

escape and rescue opening. Windows that are equipped with bars and which are intended for emergency egress should have a

quick-release mechanism installed. If a room’s egress requirements are already satisfied by another window or door, it is still helpful for

window bars to be equipped with a quick-release mechanism. Where window bars are installed in windows that are part of a building’s

means of egress, the IRC requires that they be equipped with a quick-release mechanism that complies with the following requirements:

·

It should be accessible from the inside of the house. Although not addressed by the IRC, the device should not be accessible from

outside the house if the window were to be broken.

·

It should not require a key or combination. Likely reasons for this requirement are as follows:

·

During an emergency, occupants may become too panicked or confused to remember the combination or where they

put the key.

·

Fire and smoke may prevent access to the key or obscure view of the lock.

·

Occupants may not know the combination or know where the key was placed.

·

It should not require any special tools, such as a screwdriver.

·

The mechanism should be able to be operated with relatively little force. Children and the elderly should be strong enough to

operate the release mechanism.

·

Operation of the mechanism should not require special knowledge.

Although beyond the scope of InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice, inspectors may want to test release mechanisms to make sure that they

comply with the IRC’s requirements. Even if the mechanism appears functional, it is possible that its ability to operate has become

compromised by rust, paint, or some other factor. Inspectors should call out any hindrances to the release mechanism’s functionality as a

safety defect.

In summary, window bars are valuable anti-burglary features in residences, but they should be able to be easily disengaged so occupants

are not trapped during an emergency

Paired sales comment

Paired Sales Analysis is a technique for estimating the value of an element of value or unit of comparison.

Paired sales analysis is also called matched pairs analysis. The theory is that if two houses are identical except for one feature then that

one feature is the reason for any value difference.

• Two sales identical in all aspects except one are compared

• The difference in value must be attributed to the single difference

chinese drywall comment

CHINESE DRYWALL REFERS TO DEFECTIVE OR TAINTED DRYWALL IMPORTED FROM CHINA FROM 2001 TO 2007 WHICH

EMITS SULFUR GASSES WHICH USUALLY (BUT NOT ALWAYS) CREATES A NOXIOUS ODOR AND CORRODES COPPER AND

OTHER METAL SURFACES.

CHINESE DRYWALL CAN ALSO CAUSE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, ALTHOUGH EXPERTS

DISAGREE WHETHER THESE EFFECTS ARE MERELY IRRITANTS OR PRESENT A MORE IMMINENT OR CHRONIC HEALTH

HAZARD.

WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT A HOME HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY TOXIC CHINESE DRYWALL, VISUAL INSPECTIONS

CAN BE DONE VERY EFFECTIVELY AND ACCURATELY BY ANYONE. HOMEOWNERS CAN SIMPLY LOOK FOR THE BASIC

FINGERPRINT THAT DEFECTIVE DRYWALL LEAVES BEHIND.

THREE TELL-TALE SIGNS:

1. BLACKENED AND CORRODED GROUND WIRES CONNECTED TO THE BACK OF THE HOME’S AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT.

2. BLACKENED AIR CONDITIONING COILS ON THE BACK OF THE HOME’S AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE

AIR HANDLING SECTION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT..

3. “MADE IN CHINA” LABELS ON THE BACK OF THE DRYWALL. ALSO, LABELS STAMPED “KNAUF” USUALLY INDICATE THAT THE

DRYWALL WAS MADE IN CHINA.

AS AN APPRAISER I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES

BUILDING MATERIALS, BUT BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH OWNERS, OCCUPANTS AND OR PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN

THIS TRANSACTION THERE SEEMS TO BE NO “CHINESE DRYWALL” ON THE PROPERTY.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A CERTIFIED INSPECTOR WOULD BE BETTER SUITED TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION.

Suggested Chinese Drywall comment for Appraisal reports

it has become apparent that we, Appraisers are now being asked to determine if any "chinese drywall" has been used in the properties we inspect.
Of course, we have no real way to know, but a comment is required nonetheless, even if just to say that we "are aware or not aware" of any such material, and that we have asked the "owners, brokers or others to verify such.
Here's some text you might like to use - feel free to amend it to your liking.

Chinese Drywall refers to defective or tainted drywall imported from China from 2001 to 2007 which emits sulfur gasses which usually (but not always) creates a noxious odor and corrodes copper and other metal surfaces.
Chinese drywall can also cause adverse health effects, although experts disagree whether these effects are merely irritants or present a more imminent or chronic health hazard.

When determining whether or not a home has been affected by toxic Chinese drywall, visual inspections can be done very effectively and accurately by anyone. Homeowners can simply look for the basic fingerprint that defective drywall leaves behind.

Three tell-tale signs:
1. Blackened and corroded ground wires connected to the back of the home’s air-conditioning unit.
2. Blackened air conditioning coils on the back of the home’s air conditioning unit. Be sure to look at the air handling section of the air conditioning unit..
3. “Made in China” labels on the back of the drywall. Also, labels stamped “Knauf” usually indicate that the drywall was made in China.

Disclosure:
As an appraiser I am not qualified to determine the chemical composition of the subject properties building materials, but based on conversations with owners, occupants and or professionals involved in this transaction there seems to be no “Chinese drywall” on the property.
It is recommended that a certified inspector would be better suited to make this determination.