Slow starting

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Slow starting

by DaveHorscroft @ 12. Jun 2007 – 09:28:19 am

Hello each. 3 replies isn't too bad all things considered.

In answer to enquiries my wife got the good news from Ceri while I was getting plastered at paintball for my son's 24th birthday. I passed and to celebrate I did three assessments on Sunday with two more to go before I've ticked every box.

I've started on the portfolio and so far my only concern is that I'll miss some silly detail such as the unique identifier that's mentioned in the first paragraph on the assignment checklist, just after 1. Properties Range Checklist.

Have to take it slowly and methodically.

What do you think of this particular blog service? Does it seem easy to use? It's the first I've done so I don't have much idea.

Good luck to all

David
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33 Comments to Slow starting

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- MatHill (Visitor)
- 12. Jun 2007 @ 11:01:00 am
Some people will be too busy to get involved just yet I would imagine Dave and I guess some may not bother but it's well worth keeping in touch.

As for blogs, I have never used one myself before so can't comment.

Just got over my heavy weekend (the other halfs birthday celebrations) and have done 2 inspections this morning and am doing a flat tonight, I only have one left to do then but have offered to do all the families once I have my portfolio finished just to get in a bit more practice before I'm inundated with work come August 1st :-D (if only)
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- minardi
- 12. Jun 2007 @ 11:36:07 am
Just managed to get started with the 'Blog' has anyone done a 'story board' yet I think I missed that bit?

Cheers

Ian.
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- - Kenny McEwan (Visitor)
  - 12. Jun 2007 @ 04:56:35 pm
  Just finished a storyboard if you want I can send you an example
  - - Ian (Visitor)
    - 13. Jun 2007 @ 07:41:15 am
    Hi Kenny,
    
    If you can pass one on that will be great.
    
    Cheers
    
    Ian
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- - Kenny McEwan (Visitor)
  - 12. Jun 2007 @ 05:03:13 pm
  Anyone found a good source for standard terms and conditions
  
  cheersdvAHGH
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- MatHill (Visitor)
- 13. Jun 2007 @ 02:45:41 pm
Hi Kenny, I would also be grateful for a look at what you have done for the story board. Will have a look about now for standard terms and conditions and get back to you if I can find anything.

Mat
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- - MatHill (Visitor)
  - 13. Jun 2007 @ 03:07:38 pm
  Hi Kenny
  
  Whilst I'm sure we'll all need a set of terms and conditions when we go live this isn't aksed for anywhere in the portfolio requirements, unless of course you can point me to something I'm missing?
  - - Kennymcewan (Visitor)
    - 13. Jun 2007 @ 03:52:10 pm
    No Matt,
    
    I can-t see ought for the portfolio it was more out of curiosity really, story board will follow
    
    Cheers
    
    Kenny
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- Kenny McEwan (Visitor)
- 14. Jun 2007 @ 11:45:12 am
Hi Everyone,

Couple of things, can someone send me an exmple of method statement 3 and 4 on criteria for sampling representative properties please.

Also to help understand the criteria for assessment you can go to the NHER website, go to candidate area and enter as your userid deacandidate with a password of download, I think you will find this invaluable

Cheers

Kenny
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- DaveHorscroft
- 14. Jun 2007 @ 03:08:06 pm
Couple of method statements sent to Kenny. I'll look at the NHER site later today.
I'm pleased that we seem to have a small group who find the blog amusing. Long may that continue.

All the best

Dave
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- - minardi (Visitor)
  - 14. Jun 2007 @ 03:29:42 pm
  Hi Dave,
  
  Have you had any more response from the general email group you set up?
  
  Do you know if any of the others got through?
  
  The blo has already proved a sucess in the first few days and it would be a shame for the others to miss out.
  
  cheers
  
  ian.
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- - Mathew Hill (Visitor)
  - 14. Jun 2007 @ 05:03:40 pm
  Dave I would also be grateful to see what you have done for 3&4 if possible, as I said to Kenny in an email I have been putting 4 off and doing other things as it refers to 'using the regulations relating to the sampling of properties for inspection using the Rdsap methodolodgy' and there do not appear to be any regulations relating to the sampling of properties.
  
  I mentioned this to Grant on the course but he said they would probably be included next year when rental properties came under the EPC rules (which are the obvious choice for representative sample i.e. blocks of flats) but where does that leave us for now?
  
  Kenny, only just noticed your comment on entering the NHER area, will check that out now.
  
  Thanks all, lets hope a few more log on.
  - - minardi (Visitor)
    - 14. Jun 2007 @ 08:15:21 pm
    Hi Matt,
    
    I had a pop at number 4, I will send to all see what you think.
    
    Cheers
    Ian
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- DaveHorscroft
- 14. Jun 2007 @ 08:13:51 pm
Method statements en route to you Mat.
I ignored reference to regulations for number 4.

It's obvious to us all that we are the only people who are active on the blog but Dave Spernaes has joined and has emailed me a couple of times.

So far as who passed is concerned I only know about us - ie people on the blog - and we all passed.

I will give it a couple of days and then send out one more general email telling people that we are active on the blog. I'm conscious that nobody wants anything shoved at them so I favour just one more gentle prompt under the guise of adding info to the contacts sheet.

How about widening the scope of comments etc so that the blog has more on which to feed and grow. Has anyone heard any jokes about DEAs yet?

Back to Kenny's pointer towards the NHER site. Good spot Kenny. There's an article on there dated 11th June about how they intend to roll out HIPS to three bed houses and then all houses. Title is Home INformation Packs Implementation Update.
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- Kim Turner (Visitor)
- 14. Jun 2007 @ 09:14:25 pm
Hi everyone, I PASSED !!!! Have you received your score breakdown from C & G yet? 90-100% in 4 areas but VERY WORRYINGLY !!!!! I only scored 40% for RdSAP methodology. Best do some revision eh !! Haven't even looked at my assessments but have got 2 friends houses to assess next week. Bought a PC 2day & the guy serving is on a DEA course ( SAVA- Milton Keynes) They have to choose from a list of properties supplied by SAVA for all 5 of their EPC's. Love the blog Dave.
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- - Dave Horscroft (Visitor)
  - 15. Jun 2007 @ 07:04:07 am
  Welcome Kim. Congratulations. Not sure if I'm looking forward to my score. Passed is good enough for me.
  Dave
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- DaveHorscroft
- 15. Jun 2007 @ 07:18:56 am
Kenny
Just got a bounce back from your email -

Quote:
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

Kevin.mcgrath@ntlworld.com
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO::
host smtpin.ntlworld.com [81.103.221.10]: 550 Invalid recipient:

End quote:

Seems you might not have received the two statements I sent.

If you email me I'll attach them to a reply.
dave
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- MatHill
- 15. Jun 2007 @ 09:06:46 am
Thanks for that Dave, I think how I am going to approach method statement 4 now is to put a piece in my portfolio before it saying that there are no regulations yet in place and I will make a set of assumed regulations from which I will work, it would be pretty easy to infer what the regulations might be - common ownership, common construction, thermal standards, size, heating etc.

I did a split level property inspection yesterday which confused me when I first walked in with 3 1/3 sized staircases and for a while I wasn't sure how to tackle it then I just thought it's still really only 2 floors and I had left home, completed the inspection and got back to home within an hour (this included a 10 min chat with the owner who I sort of know)then I timed myself inputting it into the sava sofware and this took about 6-7 mins - would have been easy money if I was charging the going rate.

The roll out of HIPS according to Yvette Cooper is going to be when they have 2000 assessors (which can't be long from what I have read) they will include 3 bed properties and when they have 3000 assessors they will roll out to all properties, I think that is a sensible enough way of doing it but not everyone agrees (as usual).

Here's a copy of an article I got on Estates Gazette this morning:

RICS urges Kelly to scrap ‘unfair’ HIPs
15/06/2007 09:00

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will meet Ruth Kelly today in a bid to convince the communities secretary to scrap plans for home information packs (HIPs).

RICS said the HIPs policy was “unenforceable and unfair” and was “wide open to abuse”.

A “massive loophole” would allow people selling four-bedroom homes to avoid paying hundreds of pounds for HIPs.

It also pointed out that the rules stated that a pack had to be commissioned when a house was put on the market, but it did not have to be ready before contracts were exchanged.

The surveyors’ body called on the government to have another rethink.

It said HIPs should remain voluntary until an effective system was designed.

The Communities Department rejected suggestions the new law would be unenforceable and expressed surprise RICS was not focusing on putting its own house in order, with many of its own members split on the issue.

Kelly has issued proposals to introduce HIPs in three phases
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- MatHill
- 15. Jun 2007 @ 10:04:16 am
Also, for me to make out my letters etc. properly did anybody catch the name of the occupants of 7 Tresillian Close and 38 Clos Tyniad Glo?

I don't seem to have them.

Thanks
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- - David Horscroft (Visitor)
  - 15. Jun 2007 @ 01:59:36 pm
  7 Tresillian Close was Gary Coles
  and
  38 Clos Tyniad Glo was Jeremy Curtis
  - - David Horscroft (Visitor)
    - 15. Jun 2007 @ 02:02:13 pm
    Should have put a tail on that one Mat - too quick and brusque - apologies.
    
    All the best
    
    Dave
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- MatHill
- 15. Jun 2007 @ 04:22:18 pm
Thanks for that Dave, no need for apologies, we're all friends here :-D

I can't believe how long its taking to get this portfolio together, much more work than I thought. I nearly have all the donkey work done now but then it's a case of getting it all into some sort of order and proof reading and double checking everything.

It's been a mind numbing day today doing every enquiry management form, every risk assessment, every storeyboard - need I go on.

Thats me for today now and for the weekend and I'm probably looking at getting this finished around the middle of next week.

Hope you are all getting on well

Best regards

Mat
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- DaveHorscroft
- 15. Jun 2007 @ 04:55:46 pm
Pretentious - moi.
I've just found out how to add a pic and mine's there now. In fact it's all over the shop, even on old messages.
Those who have seen me in the past two or three years will know that this pic is just a testament to my skill with Adobe Photoshop. Where's the grey hair, the cast in the blind eye, the slight droop at the corner of the mouth, that odd tooth that pokes out when I smile and the enormous wart on the left nostril. Amazing what you can do when you can engineer the pixels.
Dave
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- Kim Turner (Visitor)
- 16. Jun 2007 @ 02:13:37 pm
Aaah Dave ---- you still look a handsome devil, 3yrs on or not !!!!!! Im off 2 do my 1st assessment on my friends property. Im taking along a pal who has recently passed his Home Inspector course with NHER, so we will be comparing how/what we have been taught.
Has anyone used SAGE (software package thats supposed to contain everything u need 2 know 2 set up a business) My pals came up with the 'catchy' business name of KIM SAVE !!!!! Not sure I want to be associated with a supermarket currently going bust !!!!!
xxx
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- DaveHorscroft
- 17. Jun 2007 @ 12:38:05 pm
Tried to start a new line of messages as this is getting difficult/tedious to navigate but this blog software placed it in the Archive section.

Here it is in a more obvious section - albeit about 30 page downs from the top.

3.2 Research

Has anyone got anywhere with the two web sites we were told to research for each property?

www.direct.gov.uk/en/DI1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm
leads you to other councils which seem not to have simple lists and searches don't get me far. The site is also restricted in that it only covers England.

www.communities.gov.uk/pub/749/TheHomeInformationPackRegulations2006ProceduralGuidance_id1500749.pdf
just takes you to an 88 page pdf that does not give any information about specific properties.

The reference to "(See part 5)" is also a bit confusing. Which is part 5? It isn't the NHER manual - part 5 of that concerns construction.

Any help or suggestions welcomed.

Regards to all - Dave
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- minardi (Visitor)
- 26. Jun 2007 @ 06:16:27 am
Hi all,

When you are ready to hand in your portfolio be sure to have either a photocopied or electronic copy of all. The feedback from Grant will be via email only and if you send the originl you could have a problem.

Cheers

Ian.
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- kennymcewan (Visitor)
- 26. Jun 2007 @ 07:45:05 am
Hi everybody,

I guess the blog has dried up a bit as everyone goes through the slog of putting together their portfolio. I still have two properties to do and may struggle to hit the 30 day deadline. Does anyone know what happens if you miss this date?

Cheers

Kenny
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- MatHill
- 26. Jun 2007 @ 01:15:13 pm
Hi Kenny

I asked about the 30 day deadline when we were at the course and someone (I can't remember who it was, Mark/Grant/Kerry)said It was more so that people don't let it drag on and I didn't get the impression that it mattered that much if you were over.

Also I remember reading somewhere the other day (again can't remember where)that it's 30 days from getting your exam results to get it in.

If in doubt though give WCTS a buzz on 01656 750320

good luck with it all

Mat
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- kenny mcewan (Visitor)
- 27. Jun 2007 @ 05:18:09 pm
Hi everyone,

can someone send me a copy of the proforma for site notes, I seem to be missing sample 12 from my folder, Nearly done on the portfolio but am still looking for a flat!

Cheers All

Kenny
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- - Dave Horscroft (Visitor)
  - 30. Jun 2007 @ 12:20:57 pm
  Kenny
  If you are still looking for a flat I might be able to impose on my daughter in Carshalton.
  I'll email you directly with this.
  Regards
  David
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- Minardi (Visitor)
- 12. Jul 2007 @ 08:36:39 am
Hi All,

Has anybody recieved any feedback from their portfolio's yet?

Cheers

Ian.
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- - Dave Horscroft (Visitor)
  - 17. Jul 2007 @ 08:03:17 am
  Had a note from Grant saying it had passed and a voicemail from Mark English saying much the same. I rang Mark and he said that the certificate would be on its way from City & Guilds. Nothing yet from them.
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- Lloyd-g
- 17. Jul 2007 @ 09:24:28 pm
Hi all. Dissgraceful I know! but I am just getting around to finishing my poretfolio. While selecting the photos for Tresilian Close, I noticed that the Extention is L shaped. For some reason this is not depicted on my floor plan therefore my dimensions must be incorect. Can anyone help Pleeeease?.

P.S. Well done to all of you who are allready there.
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