Leaving equipment behind

Originally Posted By: kmcmahon
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Anyone ever left equipment behind at an inspection? So far I’ve left two levels at the inspection and two screwdrivers.


Thing is, I don’t have a clue which one I left it at because I don’t always use them, and don’t notice it until I need it.


Have yet to have a client call and say “you left your equipment, I’ll have it here for you to pick up”.


That’s probably because the current homeowner says…that MF’r cost me money and I’m keeping it!!! icon_biggrin.gif



Wisconsin Home Inspection, ABC Home Inspection LLC


Search the directory for a Wisconsin Home Inspector

Originally Posted By: tallen
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Water pressure gauge, 2ea. 10-1 screwdrivers, Leatherman (got that back)


I am sure there is more that I can’t remember.


Originally Posted By: jpope
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I once left my ladder behind. . .


BEHIND MY TRUCK!! ![icon_confused.gif](upload://qv5zppiN69qCk2Y6JzaFYhrff8S.gif) Those Little Giants are no match for my Dodge.


--
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738

Originally Posted By: rwashington
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My cell phone in the attic. The clip on the phone case holder had attached itself to a wire. Fortunately, I realized before leaving and called it with the other inspectors phone to locate it.



Richard W Washington


www.rwhomeinspections.com

Originally Posted By: jpeck
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I left a Sure Test STD-1 (the original Sure Test Digital) behind once. Never got it back.


I've left many other things behind, but nothing nearly that expensive.


--
Jerry Peck
South Florida

Originally Posted By: rmoore2
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YEA, icon_redface.gif icon_redface.gif icon_redface.gif


Left a tool bag, with amp meter, flashlight, level, and other tools, just lucky


went back and homeowner give them back to me… …just one of the


downfalls of the business…i was lucky…haven’t done it again…


thanks, RM


Originally Posted By: dharris
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Digital camera, and did not realize it was missing till I got to my 2nd insp 70 miles away on other side of town


Originally Posted By: jgallant
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I’m on my third set of kneepads because of this. Sure like my latest kneepads though, so maybe that’s not all bad. Also left a nice LED headlight behind, never got it back.



-Jim Gallant


Owner, All Point Home Inspections - Poulsbo, WA www.allpointinspections.com


Co-founder, ReportHost (Web-based report writing service) www.reporthost.com

Originally Posted By: igompertz
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Any one who has been on more than 1 job has left something behind. I know I have had a ‘brain fart’ and left stuff behind.


Originally Posted By: jrabanus
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I did a crawlspace that was so bad that when I realize I left my screwdriver in there, I said heck with it! It is worth the 2 dollors not to go back in that again. icon_lol.gif icon_lol.gif icon_lol.gif


Josh Rabanus


Originally Posted By: rmoewe
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There are 3 questions I always ask myself, before I drive off. I have learned these from experience.


1. Do I have ALL of my tools.

This may be the biggest thing I learned from Home Inspection School. ![icon_eek.gif](upload://yuxgmvDDEGIQPAyP9sRnK0D0CCY.gif)

2. Did I take a picture of the front of the house.

I have had to go back and take it, more than a few times. Then I learned to steal it from the MLS, this will work for most of them.

3. Did I leave my standard letter, card, and brochure for the sellers.

I get many inspections from doing this.

You are always going to lose a few things, especially when you are doing 2-3 inspections a day. It is the cost of doing business, although it can be minimized. I have found many tools in the attics and crawls of homes, left by other trades.

Hope this helps, Rick


Originally Posted By: cmccann
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Telescoping ladder in a closet, home was vacant. Went back the next day and got it.


Fluke clamp meter near the main panel, took about a month but got it back.

My CO detector on many registers, had to go back and get it.

Digital camera fell out of my pocket in an attic space, had to go back and look for it, after about 15 minutes found it.

Laser thermometer, not sure where that went.

There's more, but I don't have all day. I now go through my tool bag before leaving every inspection, have yet to leave anything behind since.


--
NACHI MAB!

Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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I used to carry the battery operated screwdrivers, until I went though my fifth one in six months. On the last one I called the seller and told him where it was. He got back on the phone and of course told me it wasn’t there, and he’d call me if it turned up. Funny, I don’t leave these $5 standard screwdrivers behind icon_biggrin.gif


Originally Posted By: Vince Santos
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jrabanus wrote:
I did a crawlspace that was so bad that when I realize I left my screwdriver in there, I said heck with it! It is worth the 2 dollors not to go back in that again. ![icon_lol.gif](upload://zEgbBCXRskkCTwEux7Bi20ZySza.gif) ![icon_lol.gif](upload://zEgbBCXRskkCTwEux7Bi20ZySza.gif) ![icon_lol.gif](upload://zEgbBCXRskkCTwEux7Bi20ZySza.gif)

Josh Rabanus


I did the worst crawl in the world only to find out upon exit that my digital camera was left behind. I had to crawl around in there searching till it was found.


--
Desire is half of life, indifference is half of death.
--Kahlil Gibran

Originally Posted By: bbadger
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After replacing many tools I have a system.


I have a tool bag with pockets for everything and I can do a quick look to see if anything is missing before I leave.

This has worked great.......but....

Last Saturday I left a ladder behind ![icon_redface.gif](upload://f7DX2EWhmUfsDapWaYT3oJHMCj1.gif) (it does not fit in tool bag ) Luckily another employee had to go there Monday and got it for me.

Another time I went home with a key, 130 mile unpaid round trip to bring the darn key back.


--
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Moderator at ECN

Originally Posted By: kmcmahon
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bbadger wrote:


Another time I went home with a key, ![icon_mad.gif](upload://j9pysYkUDeHxjgaVCpqL5B8x4z3.gif) 130 mile unpaid round trip to bring the darn key back.


US Mail....$0.37


--
Wisconsin Home Inspection, ABC Home Inspection LLC

Search the directory for a Wisconsin Home Inspector

Originally Posted By: bbadger
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.



kmcmahon wrote:
bbadger wrote:


Another time I went home with a key, ![icon_mad.gif](upload://j9pysYkUDeHxjgaVCpqL5B8x4z3.gif) 130 mile unpaid round trip to bring the darn key back.


US Mail....$0.37


Ahh if only that would have been OK.

The key was for a business, they needed it to lock the doors at closing time.

I would have gladly paid for UPS overnight.


--
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Moderator at ECN

Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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Kevin,


Just curious about what you use a level for at an inspection??


Originally Posted By: jpope
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Come on Blaine, give the guy a break. . .


So, Kevin. What's up with the level?? ![icon_lol.gif](upload://zEgbBCXRskkCTwEux7Bi20ZySza.gif)

Actually, I use them on new construction inspections, but only a little two footer.

I use this little baby one for illustration purposes




--
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738

Originally Posted By: Don
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how much should i budget for tools? I have a flashlight a screwdriver a ladder and a clipbored.


BUDLIGHT


--
Don Warnig
Advanced NY Inspections