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The next chapter meeting is scheduled for March 27,
2008. We have an evening program that contains two
unique topics that shouldn't be missed. One program
will be presented by the Boston Lightning Rod
Company. They are a family owned business that
was established in 1873, and have been installing
lightning protection for over 130 years and have been
installing Underwriters Laboratories listed lightning
protection systems since 1921. The company is
registered with the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI),
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and
United Lightning Protection Association (ULPA).
Parker M. Willard, president of the Boston Lightning
Rod
Company will discuss how lightning protection
systems protect homeowner's property. They will talk
about the elements of a proven lightning protection
which would include air terminals, conductors, ground
terminals, bonds with metallic bodies and surge
arresters.
The second program of the evening will be led by Mark
Tyrol, P.E., president of Battic
Door Energy conservation Products. They
manufacture and
distribute low-cost, high-value, energy conservation
products for the seven largest "holes" in the house:
attic stairs insulator covers, house fan shutter seal
covers, fireplace draft stoppers, clothes dryer vent
seals, air conditioner covers and bathroom fan draft
blockers. By sealing these air leaks, our products
reduce cold drafts and heat loss in the winter, as well
as air-conditioning loss in the summer.
These products conserve energy, lower your utility
bills, reduce noise and pollutants, improve indoor air
quality, reduce the chance of ice dams and attic mold,
and improve the comfort of your home.
I look forward to seeing you at this program.
Bob Mulloy, Education Chairman |
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ASAP Environmental
HEALTHY HOMES FOR BETTER LIVING
1 Arcadia St. Dorchester, MA 02122
inspections@asapenvironmental.com 800-349-7779 www.asapenvironmental.com
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A new study on Massachusetts home buyers and
sellers shows that the Internet continues to be one of
the most important tools in the home buying process
with 90 percent of buyers and 94 percent of sellers,
reporting that they either searched or listed their
homes on the Internet. The 2007 Massachusetts
Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, compiled by the
National Association of Realtors® (NAR), also found
that 34 percent of home buyers surveyed (and half of
home buyers aged 18-24) reported participating in
social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook,
LinkedIn, and Friendster.
While the use of Internet in the buying and selling
process continues to rise, so does the use of real
estate professionals. The study found that 88 percent
of home buyers bought their home using a real estate
agent or broker. Of the people who used the Internet
to search for a home, 91 percent also used a real
estate agent or broker to buy a home. The results
were similar on the seller side as 87 percent of home
sellers also reported working with a real estate
professional.
When it came to selling the home, 84 percent of
sellers used an agent or broker to sell their home.
The home was on the market for an average of eight
weeks, up from four weeks in 2006, and sold for 97
percent of the listing price. In fact, 42 percent of
sellers didn't reduce their asking price at all.
"With the vast amount of real estate information
available on the Internet, the demand for Realtors®
who can help buyers and sellers interpret that data-
and act on it successfully- will only increase," said
Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® President
Susan M. Renfrew, broker and co-owner of Renfrew
Real Estate in Greenfield. "As the study points out,
there is no question that it will be important for
Realtors® and other real estate professionals to not
only understand, but also become active members of
the social networking world."
The number of For Sale By Owner (FSBO)
transactions declined five percent to 13 percent in
2007 compared to the year before. Among those
sellers who decided to sell their home on their own,
seven percent knew the buyer.
The median age of home buyers in Massachusetts in
2007 was 39-years old, up a year compared to 2006.
Median incomes were up slightly to $84,400 from
$82,600 (income is from 2006 reported data). Fifty-
three percent of home buyers were married couples,
24 percent single females, 10 percent single males
and 11 percent un-married couples. Thirteen percent
of Massachusetts home buyers reported they were
born outside of the United States compared to 9
percent nationally.
The median age of first-time home buyers was
unchanged at 32, but as a group, there was a drop in
the number of buyers between 25 and 34-years old.
In 2006, the 25- to 34-year old group made up 60
percent of all first-time home buyers, while in 2007
that number dropped to 49 percent. Median income of
first-time home buyers was also down to $73,500
from $75,800 in 2006. The national median income
for first-time home buyers was up $300 to $58,600.
"The drop in the number of buyers in the 25-34-year
old age group, is further evidence of the exodus of this
educated age group from our state and the continued
need for the development of starter homes in the 100-
150 percent median income range," said Renfrew.
While 35 percent of buyers went directly online as their
first step in the home buying process, 13 percent of
first-time home buyers and 21 percent of repeat
buyers reported contacting a real estate agent as their
first step. However, the home search process did
differ by age. The typical Internet searcher was 37
years old and visited a median of 12 homes. The
typical buyer who didn't use the Internet was 60 years
old and saw a median of eight homes.
Underwriting standards in 2007 became tighter, but
that didn't prevent 93 percent of all home buyers from
financing the purchase of their homes, which was up
seven percent from 2006. Of those buyers, 96 percent
of first-time home buyers and 76 percent of repeat
buyers financed the purchase of their home. For first-
time home buyers savings was the chief source of the
down payment (81 percent).
Despite the downturn in the housing market, 52
percent of all buyers felt their home purchase was a
better financial investment than stocks, while 27
percent of buyers felt their home purchase was at
least as good as stocks.
The median age of the Massachusetts home seller
was 43 years old and had a median income of
$102,100 and owned their home for seven years,
which is up two years from 2006. Sixty-six percent
were married and over half had no children under 18
living at home.
(www.marealtor.com) |
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FREA
E&O Insurance for Home Inspectors
800-882-4410 www.frea.com |
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Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY),
Chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Small
Business, has introduced a bill that would greatly
expand and enhance how HUD's homebuyer
counseling programs advise prospective homebuyers
about home inspections. She has filed this bill at the
request of ASHI.
The bill would provide ASHI-proposed training to HUD
counselors on how to advise prospective homebuyers
in obtaining home inspections; that home inspections
do not and will not occur unless the homebuyer asks
for one; why home inspections are important; how to
find a home inspector; and much more.
Further, HUD counselors would need to be certified to
give this very specific counseling on home
inspections.
HR4776 would also generate new, easy-to-
understand training tools for HUD counselors, tools
that would also be made available to the general
public through an aggressive public outreach
program.
In short, HR4776 would provide a major boost in
enlisting the federal government - an unbiased,
authoritative 3rd party - to inform homebuyers why
they should obtain home inspections. A homebuyer
needs to know these facts - and have them top-of-
mind at an early time in the process - to make a
good decision.
Congress is seeking remedies to the subprime
mortgage crisis. Many homebuyers say the
homebuying process is too confusing. Congress is
looking at ways to better educate homebuyers.
HR4776 fits that mold.
Congresswoman Velazquez understands the positive
role that voluntary home inspections - conducted by
professional, independent home inspectors - can
play in this process. She is sending a "Dear
Colleague" letter to all other Members of the U.S.
House of Representatives, seeking their co-
sponsorship for HR4776.
We need to help Rep. Velazquez. ASHI members, as
industry leaders and as constituents, need to contact
their Representatives in Congress to seek their co-
sponsorship of the Velazquez bill.
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CORCORAN & HAVLIN INSURANCE GROUP
THE SUPERIOR HOME INSPECTOR ERRORS &
OMISSIONS INSURANCE PROGRAM!
Underwritten by AIG's Lexington Insurance Company - Rated A++ by A.M. Best Home Inspector E&O Coverage offers these features:
For a quote or more information, please call Debi
Drury (x244 or ddrury@chinsurance.com) or
Mike Curtis, Marketing Manager (x243) or visit
website at www.chinsurance.com
287 Linden Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 800-304-8242 Fax 781-235-7190 |
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The JLC LIVE Residential Construction Show New
England will take place on March 26 - 29, 2008 at the
Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI.
The unique combination of hands-on education in
conjunction with manufacturer exhibits is what
differentiates JLC LIVE from any other trade show in
the industry. In addition to all the education found in
the exhibit hall JLC LIVE also offers a top-notch
educational conference program. This will be the 13th
year that JLC LIVE has been in New England.
JLC LIVE New England offers a four-day, educational
conference program featuring over 75 unique
sessions covering a full range of topics in a
classroom style setting.
Exhibitors include manufacturers and regional
distributors encompassing all aspects of residential
construction. Due to the interactive aspect of JLC LIVE,
exhibitors not only sell their products on the show floor
but demonstrate them as well.
In addition to the exhibits, attendees will also find
many educational opportunities on the show floor. The
LIVE events are taught by some of the top experts in
their fields including Gary Katz, Michael Byrne, Mike
Sloggatt and Myron Ferguson. These LIVE events
include educational demonstration clinics, business
clinic, design software workshop, decks and rails
under construction as well as exhibitor
demonstrations.
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CRACK-X
Got water in your basement?
Since 1985, CRACK-X has been a full service company specializing in residential and commercial foundation welding of cracks and other concrete repairs such as bulkheads, penetrations, cold joints, elevator pits, and slabs. We are committed to 100% customer satisfaction and back up all vertical wall crack repairs with an unconditional 10-year warranty. 25 Washington Avenue, Natick, MA 01760
877-272-2539 www.crackfx.com |
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B-Dry Systems
20 YEARS OF SOLVING WATER PROBLEMS
Written warranty for the full life of the structure. 800-320-2379
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with A.O. Smith Electrical Products Co., of
Tipp City, Ohio , today announced a voluntary recall of
approximately 6,300 whole-house exhaust fan electric
motors that can be miswired and overheat, posing a
fire hazard.
The recalled electric motor is part of a residential
whole-house exhaust fan that is typically mounted on
the floor of an attic. The shutters of the fan are visible
on the ceiling of the floor beneath the attic and must
be opened and closed by the consumer. The motors
were included with exhaust fans manufactured and
distributed by Air Vent Inc. and Triangle Engineering of
Arkansas Inc. "A.O. Smith," the model number, and the
service date code are printed on the rating plate of the
motor.
The recall includes model numbers S56A30A54
andS56A30A97, and service date codes 032076M -
334076M, 03207JY - 33407JY, and YB07 - YL07. Units
that have a sticker indicating that the unit has been
rewired are not subject to this recall.
The fans were manufactured in Mexico and the
recalled motors, included with the exhaust fans, were
sold at home improvement stores nationwide or by
professional installers or builders from February 2007
through November 2007 for about $3,000.
Inspectors finding these fans should advise
homeowners to stop using the recalled unit
immediately and contact A.O. Smith to arrange for a
free inspection and repair of the motor.
For more information, contact contact A.O. Smith toll-
free at (866) 567-3878 between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site
at www.aosmithmotors.com
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Vent Master
ATTIC VENTILATION SPECIALISTS
Inspectors, when you see signs of:
Recommend Vent Master For a FREE consultation, call Don Marcoux at Vent
Master
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The annual Residential Design and Construction
show will be held on April 2-3, 2008 at the Seaport
World Trade Center in Boston. The event is
sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects and
ArchitectureBoston.
The event is a two-day convention and trade show
focusing on the entire residential design and
construction process. It is the only event in the country
for residential architects, interior designers,
construction professionals, specifiers, and
consultants. Through a variety of exhibits, workshops
and events, the show provides the residential design
and construction industry with access to the wealth of
new technologies, products and services that have
emerged in this industry over the past decade.
The event contains over 75 workshop and
professional development opportunities to enrich
residential design and construction professionals'
design and technical skills. In addition, there is an
exhibit hall with over 240 exhibits from manufacturers
and distributors of residential products, services and
technologies.
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Peter Greifer Enterprises
ASBESTOS REMOVAL & MOLD REMEDIATION
Serving Eastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island 800-582-5288
401-946-4506 (Rhode Island) peter.greifer@verizon.net |
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The ASHI NE Chapter maintains a library of
educational books, video tapes and CD's for Chapter
members and candidates to utilize for personal and
business growth. Those who wish to sign materials
out may do so for a fee of $16 per item ($10 per
tape) which covers two-way shipping and handling.
Library materials may be used for a two week period,
beginning on the date of shipment. Those who fail to
return library materials on time will be assessed a
fine
of $1 / day. If the materials are not received back
within two months of date of shipping, you will be
charged the cost of replacement. To sign materials
out, there is a form that is posted on our web site
that is to be completed and sent to the executive
office. It is always recommended that you call the
executive office to check on the availability of an
item. Once this form is received, the executive office
will ship the items out with a postage paid return
envelope. The list of the materials that are currently
available in the chapter library is on the web site as
well.
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Rene Mugnier Associates
When in doubt, refer to a structural engineer
specializing in the investigation of homes and
commercial structural problems.
REHABILITATIONS & INVESTIGATIONS
777 Concord Ave., Ste. 201, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-547-7773 |
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The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Home
Inspectors holds meetings on a regular basis that are
open for home inspectors to attend. These board
meetings are usually held at 239 Causeway Street,
2nd Floor, Room 204 in Boston from 10:00 am to 3:00
pm.
The meeting dates for 2008 are as follows:
April 9, 2008 May 14, 2008 June 18, 2008 August 13, 2008 September 10, 2008 November 12, 2008 You are encouraged to call the board office at 617-727-
4459 for any posssible changes in location and time
of these meetings.
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Atlas Watersystems
WE DON'T MAKE THE WATER.
WE MAKE THE WATER BETTER!! Residential & Commercial Water
Filtration & Purification Water Testing & Analysis
Radon & Arsenic Remediation Softeners * Filters * Purification 800-215-9966 www.atlaswater.com "Bringing Technology to Water"
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President
Lisa Alajajian-Giroux /
homequest1@comcast.net
Vice President
Mike Atwell /
m.atwell@rcn.com
Secretary Donald Bissex /
dbissex@comcast.net
Treasurer
Paul Kristenson /
absinspections@comcast.net
Directors
Paul Cornell / pcornell@inspecthouses.com Paul Rogoshewski / paul@harmonyhomeinspection.com Council of Representatives
Paul Kristenson / absinspections@comcast.net Lisa Alajajian / homequest1@comcast.net Bill Sutton / wsuttoninspector@hotmail.com Committee Chair
By- Laws: Mike Atwell / m.atwell@rcn.com Communications: Mark Forkey / mark_forkey@msn.com Education: Bob Mulloy / rmulloy@verizon.net Legislative: Len Rucker / lrucker1@comcast.net Membership:Ernest Simpson / esimpson@evergreenhomeinspection.com Executive Director
Walter Perry /
wperry@choiceonemail.com
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We look forward to seeing you on March 27th.
Sincerely,
ASHI New England
email:
clough@choiceonemail.com
phone:
800-248-2744
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