Expert Portal - Zintro.com

There is a new web page designed to meet the needs of both experts and those who need experts, it is called www.zintro.com. The site is in the beta testing stage, but fills a much needed void. Searching for an expert through normal search engines is very time consuming, searching though zintro is relatively easy. As for the experts this is a great way to increase your client relationship list. Check it out. If you want to go directly to my part of this site go here: http://www.zintro.com/expert/Nick_Patz. And if you would prefer to read what the media has to say about zintro.com in a more complete kind of way follow this link: http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/09/29/zintros-pay-by-the-call-service-connects-investors-others-with-industry-experts/

Cost of Phase I ESAs

OMG!! I was online this morning doing some Google searching and found an ad for a nationwide firm that sells Phase I ESAs for $1500 anywhere in the US. I have to tell you that it is very dangerous to get such a product. I have been involved in the Phase I industry since 1984 when the Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act passed congress and spawned the industry. I was a member of the original ASTM committee that wrote the 1993 guidance document. You cannot produce a good Phase I report for $1500. If we use a strip mall as an average property, it will take a good, experienced consultant about 20-24 hours to produce the report. There will be one hour of senior review, and then the production and outside services come to about $250 for each report. If you pay $1500 you are either getting a consultant to conduct the Phase I who is extremely desperate or not qualified. A good Phase I takes a perceptive, experienced individual who can find environmental problems at a site, if they exist. It is designed to give the purchaser protection under the CERCLA innocent landowner defense, and that is a weighty obligation to surrender to a substandard provider. Beware of what you order and your purpose for ordering. EDR came out with a recent survey that reported the average price of Phase Is in the US is now $2530, which is probably adequate. This price has come down over the last year due to economic conditions. Paying too much less than this may cause you problems that you had not considered. A Phase I is much more than something you use to check a box for a loan document.