From The Desk of Rodney Shull
Chief, New Construction Inspections
My 25 years of construction and
remodeling experience gives me the ability to ensure that the Alban
customer receives a thorough, knowledgeable and informative
inspection. Whether old or new construction, I believe my expertise
is particularly strong in the structural field. It is so important
to the homebuyer that they have the assurance that what they are
buying is structurally sound, and that it will be a safe, enjoyable
place to call home. I enjoy helping my clients receive that
assurance by giving them peace of mind about what they are buying.
Having loads of hands-on experience in framing and trim carpentry
work as well as owning my own company, I know how to spot a shabby
or a quality job in new home construction. In old homes, I have done
extensive remodeling and can help the prospective buyer with what
they see at present and what they want to achieve in the future
insofar as home improvement and maintenance is concerned.
I encourage questions as we go along and always try to involve the
prospective homebuyer by showing how to operate and maintain those
big-ticket items, such as the HVAC systems and the water heater.
Replacement of these components would be costly, especially if they
had to be replaced just after move-in. I try to make sure this kind
of thing doesn’t happen. I want my clients to be satisfied and
content that they received a good inspection for the investment they
are about to make. My goal is to make them so pleased with my
services they want to use Alban again and they recommend Alban to
their friends and relatives. |
George Ash Leaves Alban |
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 George
Ash is truly a special person. Saying good-bye to such a friend and
colleague is particularly difficult. We have known for at least a
year that Cathy and George were trying to sell their farm in
Sykesville to enable them to devote their full energies to their Bed
and Breakfast horse-training farm in Florida. With its enclosed
riding and stable areas, outdoor training facility and sixty acres
of trails, their Bed and Breakfast has become a smashing success in
just two seasons.
George has been an Alban Home Inspection Service, Inc. home
and environmental inspector for almost six full years, having
received has five-year plaque at our company holiday party last
January. George’s clients appreciate his professionalism, the depth
of his knowledge and the kindly manner in which he treated them. The
Realtors with whom he works have likewise been effusive in their
praise of George’s fine work and warm personality.
George told a story at his “going away” dinner July 28 about his
first inspection. After completing his classroom training at
HomeTech and Alban’s on-site training, we met one morning at the
next scheduled inspection. George thought this would be just another
training exercise with the boss doing the inspection, except the
boss turned to him and said “this one’s all yours.” He stood frozen
and speechless, not really confident that he was ready. He was
ready, he did a superb job that morning and he has continued to do
so ever since.
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George had varied experience in construction and real estate
development before joining Alban. He had an excellent reputation
around the Frederick area for his work redeveloping older properties
in the downtown area. He also had been a general contractor,
specializing in siding and window replacement. At one time, he had
both a real estate salesperson’s license and a MHIC home improvement
license.
Every business needs a sage. When our company focused on
homebuilding, Chuck Gilmore played
that role. Chuck, now semi-retired and living in Ashville NC, was
our civil engineer, but was also unfailing in his solid judgment and
unbiased advice. George Ash has been our business’s “adult,” for
which I am extremely grateful. With both Chuck Gilmore and George
Ash gone, I guess will be forced to become the adult.
We will all miss George: his clients who continually call for
advice, the
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