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Professional Learning Institute Newsl etter
Now Read in 42 States and 11 Nations PRICELESS
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Happy New Year! | December 2011 |
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Greetings!
Hit the ground running when the New Year begins.
You've got what it takes. We've got your back.
Professional Learning Institute is here for you, year-'round, from start to finish, year-in, year-out, nonstop.
Lots of home inspectors saw a pick-up in business in the last quarter. Many even saw a nice December pop, usually the start of our slow season. Things are picking up. 2012 looks better than last year. It could be the start of something really good. You'll find all the news here -- to stay ahead.
Happy New Year 2012 to you! Keep up the good work. We look forward to seeing you soon.
And stay safe out there! 
Lorri Keeney
President Professional Learning Institute 4U |
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New KBHI Chairman Writes to Builders!
Here's a welcome change of pace!
The new chairman of the Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors (KBHI) just published an article to help remodelers and homebuilders recognize what home inspectors do.
He even says it is good for business! And he's right.
Talk about venturing where prior KBHI chair's feared to go in years gone by! At last, home inspectors have an ambassador to our colleagues in other real estate fields.
Hats off to Mark Schmidt, the new KBHI chairman, whose article just came out in the current issue of "KBJ" (the Kentucky Builders Journal, a bimonthly journal from the Homebuilders Association of Kentucky, or HBAK). The real problem with the new "remodeler" exemption is that anyone can call themselves a remodler -- because it is unlicensed. There may be some HBAK remodelers who blur the line, but the real problem is those "jack of all trades" unlicensed home inspectors who now can claim they really are remodelers and their reports are remodeling evaluations. That has yet to play out. Yet reaching out to other real estate professionals is long overdue. The main regret PLI hears from original KBHI members is their decision to "go it alone" - instead of working hard to collaborate with other real estate boards and groups. For the last six years, the
Read the complete story- click here |
 Electric Bills Grow During the Holidays
Every year, we send out holiday greetings to business sources and clients - like most home inspectors do.
Every year we look for something a little new, or a new twist on an old chestnut.
Here's a list of annual holiday tips, good for the holidays each year.
Electricity bills can grow during the holidays if you decorate with strings of lights.
Light-emitting diode, or "LED," holiday lights offer a quality alternative to traditional lights and save both energy and money. If every household switched to LED holiday lights, the country would save approximately $410 million in electricity costs, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) says.
If both residential households and the commercial sector switched to LED holiday lights today, the savings would be equivalent to the output of almost one large (1000 MW) electric power plant or the annual electricity consumption of almost 500,000 households, according to the DoE.
Running LED holiday lights on one 6-foot tree for 12 hours per day for 40 days can save 90% or more energy when compared to traditional incandescent holiday lights. LED holiday lights also last longer. LEDs have an operational life span of roughly 20,000 hours, enough to last for 40 holiday seasons. LED holiday lights are cooler than incandescent bulbs, reducing the risk of fire and personal injury.
Because they use less power, it is safer to connect multiple strings of LED holiday lamps end-to-end without overloading the wall socket.
Energy-Star certifies energy efficient light strings.
Learn more: http://www.energysavers.gov/seasonal/led_lighting.html. |
 Overloading Electrical Outlets Can Burn You Up!
More holiday tips that we find homeowners appreciate each Christmas:
Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch. Never leave holiday lights on unattended.
Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of the home. Test them monthly. Keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know what you -- and your family -- will do in case of fire. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan. Be sure to pick a place for everyone to meet in case of emergency.
Every holiday season, fires claim the lives of over 400 people and cause over $990 million in damage. You can keep your family safe by using nonflammable decorations, not overloading electrical sockets, and avoiding the use of lit candles. If you have a live Christmas tree, water it regularly. Dry trees could catch on fire and rapidly fill your room with deadly gases. Don't put cut trees by heating vents. Learn more - click on this link |
| 100 - Watt Bulb R.I.P
The law to phase out good ol' incandescent light bulbs was sold as cool, simple, energy efficiency when Pres. Bush signed it back in 2007.
On Friday (12/16/11), the House voted to delay enforcement of it until at least Oct. 1, 2012.
This may be one of the few things the Senate agrees with this year. Republicans are pushing for a full repeal of the new rules. (More, in our year-end Law Wrap-Up, next issue.)
House sponsors said there were a whole lot of good, scientific reasons to postpone enforcement. There were not. But 2012 is an election year and telling people what kind of light bulb they can buy is not likely to win friends, or votes.
The whole thing got twisted off its tracks at the start. To its credit, DoE (the U.S. Department of Energy) admitted its mistakes. It apologized that CFLs ("compact fluorescent lights"), the first replacement bulbs out of the gate, failed to last as long as they said, gave a harsh off-color light, warmed up too slowly in the cold, and worked poorly on dimmers. Oh, and they had mercury in the bulbs, which was kind of an environmental hazard in landfills.
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Home for the Candidates
Michele Bachmann bought this house in 2008
for $760,000 in West Lakeland, Minn.
Originally listed for $1.75 million, it was a "Dream
Home" for a Builders Association of the Twin Cities
charity project.
Looks like the race for the big White House will be evicting important news about housing from our screens for a while now. Like anyone might miss "Holmes on Home Inspecting."
Presidential primary electioneering is all Republican this time, of course.
This year's field is something special. One candidate called it "zany."
Everybody knows we have no opinion on politics. But we do have opinions on homes.
Here's out favorite clue about politicians. Every home inspector knows it works.
Look at the home they live in. Some people listen to candidate "sound bites." We look at their homes. We're not the only one.
The GOP primary field this year has not one contender living in a sleek metal and glass modern home. Surprised?
Photos of each home, with commentary, just came out. One comment: "I hate to call them McMansions. It gives McDonald's a bad name," said Thad Hayes, a New York City designer who restored the Palm Beach mansion of Estee Lauder (the cosmetics lady).
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 Historical Trivia
In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal.. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.' |
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Christmas Cash Back -- from PLI -- 4U!
$20.00 Savings 
Register now for any course, any time in 2012. Pick your date later.
You get a $20 PLI Cash coupon, good for all the tools, software,
upgrades, and books on your Christmas list from the PLI
store, for order totals over $100. Or apply it to our contract review.
Just mention this Year-End Newsletter. You know you've been planning to
get in on PLI's industry-leading courses. We can't wait to see you. |
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Register for 2012 CE Classes today: 502-896-2020
Call to register for 2012 CE Classes, 502-896-2020 or click on this link and register online; 2012 CE Classes . Be sure to change the calendar date at the top to the month you are interested in attending (don't forget to change the year). We offer CE classes every month. Register on the website early to reserve your place in class. We will call you to confirm your reservation.
License # KBPE R-0403, KBHI P-1001, KBHI CE-1002Louisville, KY | Phone 502-896-2020 | Fax 502-895-4766 | Email pli4u@aol.com Content copyright 2011. Professional Learning Institute 4U, LLC. All rights reserved. |
We hope you find this helpful. Please remember this is a news and reporting service only. It is not legal, accounting, or any other professional advice. It is not a substitute for the advice of a knowledgeable professional who is acquainted with your individual situation. Users should rely on their own professional's advice rather than any news or publication for their individual decisions. Any and all use of PLI Content, this and any PLI site, any newsletter, and the Services is subject to the Terms of Use (TOU) "which may be found on the PLI site. PLI does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content or Services. By your Use of this Content or the Services, you agree that under no circumstances will PLI or its members, officers, directors or agents be liable in any way for any Content or Services, including but not limited to any errors or omissions in any Content, any offensive, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable Content, or any loss or damage of any kind incurred. Articles and comments reflect only the views of the author and not of PLI. You are entirely responsible for all content that you upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available.
We all are in this together. We believe everyone should be able to understand the laws, regulations, decisions, and decision-makers that govern them. PLI stays closely tuned to our industry and professional developments, though PLI does not support or oppose any organization, office holder, or candidate, or contribute to any political campaigns. Articles from the Newsletter Archive may be reprinted provided PLI's copyright is credited, notice is given of the PLI TOU and to PLI, and a copy of any such reprint is delivered at the time of reprinting to PLI. Article updates may be available; contact us. For other information, explore Resources on the PLI site. |
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