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Properties that are damaged by fire, water, storms, smoke, or mold require the services of a professional.  This is a job for Nate Dawson, Restoration Hero and President of Sterling Restoration.  Read on to see how he uses math to restore damaged properties back to mint condition.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

Sterling Restoration specializes in emergency repair to real property whether damaged by fire, water, storm, smoke or mold. Sterling Restoration is trusted for high quality and comprehensive cleanup, mitigation, and restoration services for both residential and commercial projects. We are a locally owned company based in Springfield, Ohio serving the Miami Valley and Central Ohio areas. We take pride in knowing that our team of professionals and extensive network of resources have the expertise to return any property to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible.

When do you use basic math in your job?

Basic math is used in all aspects of our business including our accounting, estimating and production departments. Our accounting department uses it to calculate payroll, receivables, and payables. Our estimators use math more than anyone in our business. During the estimating process for reconstruction, we use square footage formulas (L x W) for calculating materials used, for example:  subfloor framing, roof framing , insulation, drywall, painting, etc.. We use square yard formulas (L x W/9) for calculating vinyl floors and carpet. Basic algebra formulas are used for calculating rafter lengths based on the rise and run of roof slopes.

One of our most interesting uses of basic math, and one I will focus on going forward is with water mitigation (returning a structure to dry standard). Basically, drying a wet building! Once we determine the affected area we then use a cubic footage formula (L x W x H) along with the extent of saturation to know how much dehumidification is needed. Dehumidifiers are rated based upon how many pints of water they are capable of removing from the air within a specific amount of time (AHAM Rating). Therefore, depending on the type of dehumidification used and it’s rating, we are able to determine the number of dehumidifiers we need to dry a structure within the standards of our industry (S-500 ANSI approved standard). We also use the atmospheric readings to determine whether we are creating the desired conditions required to remove water from affected materials and to determine the effectiveness of our equipment. To do this we use the temperature and relative humidity to determine specific humidity (the weight of moisture p/lbs of air) and dew point (the temperature at which water vapor will begin to condense). The formula we use to determine the number of dehumidifiers needed is as follows:

Step 1 – Determine Cubic feet (CF).

Step 2 – CF/Class Factor(a low grain refrigerant dehu has a class factor of 40 in a class two loss) = # of AHAM pints needed.

Step 3  – AHAM points needed/Dehumidifier rating = number of dehumidifiers needed.

I know! It’s starting to sound a little complicated but it is all basic math.

Do you use any technology (like calculators or computers) to help with this math? Why or why not?

Absolutely! Even though we are in the building trade we are not in the dark ages. We use the most advanced estimating system designed specifically for the insurance restoration (property repair) business. After in-putting the dimensions into a sketch type format, this system automatically calculates all the square footages, cubic footages, and linear footages. The next step is to add a specific line item. For example, when you add drywall to your estimate  it uses a current square foot price to calculate how much to charge for hanging, taping and finishing the drywall in your project. It will also calculate how many sheets of drywall, how many fasteners are needed , how much drywall tape, and how much joint compound is needed. Finally, it will calculate the material sales tax and any state sales tax on the service.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

I do not feel it’s a matter of doing my job better. I simply could not perform my job without math! As I stated earlier, we use math in every aspect of our business. I do not feel there are too many moments throughout the day that I am not using some form of math.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

During my high school years I completed algebra and some trigonometry. If I remember correctly, that was all that was offered (yes, I graduated high school 32 years ago). Once leaving high school I furthered my math education in mechanical engineering. In my opinion, the levels of math being taught in high school today are far superior to what was then taught.

Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

I feel like there are individuals that have an aptitude for math and those who do not. Math will obviously come easy for those who have this aptitude. I would also say that if you are good at something, the chances of enjoying it are far greater than if you are not good. Having said that, I do not believe I had this aptitude. Therefore, I had to work a little harder than others, and, at best, I was average at math. Guess where I’m going with this…no I did not like it.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job? Or was it something that you could pick up using the skills you learned in school?

I had to learn how to use the math skills I had already acquired to accomplish the task at hand. For example, if you have the lengths of two sides and the angle of a triangle, you can calculate the length of the third side. It is crazy how much I use this algebraic formula; however, it took some time and experience to learn how many applications this formula has. Having said that, ninety percent of my daily tasks require math learned in high school.

Are you interested in learning more about restoration? Let me know and I will pass your information along to Nate.

Real estate appraisers: whether you love them or hate them, they’re a necessity.  Sometimes we may disagree with their figures, but as Tim Lane shows us, the facts are the facts.  And how does Tim get to those facts? Math of course.  This math has a purpose, backed by meaning, and it’s hands-on.  Tim shows us some of the inside scoop in the field of real estate appraisal.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

The job of a real estate appraiser is to determine what the property is that is being appraised: is the property a single family home, a duplex, an apartment building or something else? As well, what is the home in terms of age, size, construction quality, bedroom/bath count, and other features? Once this has been determined, the appraiser’s job then shifts to the task of analyzing the market area. This includes an analysis of the area on a large scale (city wide) relating to economics and the economic base, then a second analysis of the specific neighborhood within the city to determine what is happening in that neighborhood with real estate price trends, supply and demand, and what features or amenities are most important at this time. Finally, all the data comes together into a 30-40 page report in which all the data is given to the client. Contrary to what most people think, appraisers do not set the value of a property, we simply report what is going on in the area, and what a property is likely to sell for based on other recent sales in the area that are as similar as possible to property being appraised.

When do you use basic math in your job?

From start to finish. Initially, we have to use math to determine simple things such as how much time it takes to get from one property to another, what is the distance between them, and how many hours of daylight we have to work with to get everywhere we want or need to be in a day’s time. Math continues when looking at economic statistics to determine market trends ranging from basic issues such as determining if the area has an oversupply of available real state as compared to what the market has demonstrated can be sold in a given time frame, determining how much of a decline a market may see based on different rates of oversupply, using statistics such as regression analysis to determine a market’s reaction in terms of real dollars to different features or lack of a feature in a home. Math is used to determine the living space of a home, the size of the lot, to determine fractional increments of return on the dollar for investments made in a property.  If the property is income producing, we use math to determine an investment rate of return for dollars investments, sinking fund factors, future value of a dollar, and to help determine what type of funds need to be set aside each month for repairs of items such as roofs, HVAC systems, water heaters and other components of a home. Finally, appraisers use math to determine the cost to build a home.

Do you use any technology to help with this math?

We do use calculators and computers heavily. Calculators such as an HP-12C has been the industry standard for the real estate and finance industry for 25+ years. Software providers in the industry do all they can to calculate as many equations as possible so that we can cut down the time it takes to produce a report. Software such as Excel make complex equations much easier. However, if anyone wants to be an appraiser they are still required to be able to do all the math–much of which is very complex–with a simple pencil and paper, in order to be certified by a state and the federal government.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

Math certainly helps appraisers do our jobs better. Most appraisers are very adept at being able to simply see a property, and know what it is likely to sell for. However our clients such as banks, accountants, lawyers, and tax courts simply will not accept a quick email with a value. Everything the appraiser says has to be backed up with provable facts; this is always rooted in math. Whether it is the size of a room, the size of a home, the size of a lot, the value of an additional bath, or the value of an additional quarter acre of land, it all has to be proven to our clients beyond any shadow of a doubt. Math is the only way to accomplish this level of proof.

How comfortable with math do you feel?

Initially, as I began to get into appraising, I wasn’t comfortable at all. Algebra and geometry play heavily into real estate appraisal, and I was never a standout in math class. Just sitting around doing math problems over and over, with no real purpose to the questions was extremely monotonous. However, once I began to actually see a purpose and a reason to do math, and had a real reason to apply the knowledge to something concrete, it became much easier. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever believed I would use any math beyond basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but I do every day now.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

I avoided math like the plague. I was forced to take Introduction to Algebra, which was the worst year of my life at the time. I later took Algebra I, which turned out to be even worse! Then geometry, which I loved! But still, math was math and that was all I was required to take, so that is all I took.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job?

Yes, I did have to learn some new skills to do my job; and in some cases I had to simply relearn what I had assumed I would have no reason to remember. Real estate appraisal obviously has roots in real estate, and just as much in finance, investments and banking as well. No basic public schooling teaches this type of math. Some math skills transfer well such as word problems, or some geometry, but much of what is needed is more complex financial based math that relates to business math, statistics, projections, finance, and investments.

Questions for Tim?  Let me know, and I’ll see if he can squeeze in an answer between calculations.

When we moved to Baltimore almost seven years ago, my family and I found amazing friends in our next-door neighbor Stephen Sattler and his partner Neil. So, it is really no surprise that Stephen has now found his calling as a Realtor, working primarily with relocation. Here’s how Stephen uses math in his work.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

Basically, I help my clients find shelter–which includes the buying, renting, selling, and ferreting out of places to live, after listening and then understanding what they’re trying to tell me.

When do you use basic math in your job?

The whole idea of proration is key to the real estate industry.  At the settlement table, the property’s monthly taxes, utilities, interest, and other financial considerations must be equitably split between both buyer and seller, as of that date.  The same thing holds true if you’re renting a house, especially if you’re beginning your term in the middle of a month.  Leases typically call for a yearly total of rent due, which means you just multiply the monthly rent by twelve. But calculating the first month’s rent can be tricky if you don’t know how to calculate the daily rate.  It sounds complicated, but all you have to do is divide the yearly rent by 365. Then you can multiply that by the days left in the month.

Stephen Sattler

Do you use any technology to help with this math?

I do have a fancy real estate calculator that helps with the more complex things like finding a monthly amortization amount at a given interest rate over a set period of time, but for the most part I hand-calculate the math I tend to use from day to day.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

I wouldn’t really have a job unless I could apply math at its most basic levels:  settlement costs are a typically a set percentage of the sales price, prorated bills are due as of the date the property is transferred, and my income is always a percentage of the total sales price–which can change at each and every transaction.  I feel like I’m always taking quick, armchair calculations to figure out where things generally stand at the end of any given week.

How comfortable with math do you feel?  

I was one of those students in school who tended to excel more in the creative arts–writing, languages, history, and the like.   I have horrible memories of feeling I was the last person in math or science class to even generally grasp the problem being discussed, from algebra to geometry to even basic chemistry.  I don’t think I ever quite figured out how to balance a chemistry equation!

I turned 50 this year, which meant I could finally let go of what hasn’t worked for me in the past.  With GMATs and all the other truly stressful mathematical events I’ve had in my life, I was convinced that my brain just wasn’t wired the right way, or that I even had some sort of math disability.  Put me in a job I absolutely love, however, and help me see how math can help my clients find and then settle into the home of their dreams, and I’m astonished at how mathematically competent I now feel!

What kind of math did you take in high school?  Did you like it/feel like you were good at it?

I took everything mathematical a good properly-educated, college-bound boy was supposed to take, but my God was it absolute torture.  There were so many rules to understand and follow, and you couldn’t really reason or write your way out of a problem–like you could in an essay question in, say, English class–unless you knew how to manipulate the underlying mathematical formulae (which of course my feeble brain could barely even understand let alone memorize and apply).  It also didn’t help that all the math teachers at my school seemed to double as coaches for various sports teams in their after-school lives, and using the same motivational threats they used on the field (Yo–  what the &*^%$ were you #@!) thinking!) didn’t quite have the same result in the classroom with those of us who were not quite as macho about math.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do the math you use in your job?

Actually, successfully using math as much as I do now in my everyday job has finally helped me feel I’m not the complete and utter dolt I always thought I was when it came to dealing with figures.

Do you have questions for Stephen about the math of real estate? Please ask them in the comments section. He can responded there or I’ll write another post addressing more complex issues.

Photo courtesy of roland

Let’s face it.  We take our heat for granted.  Unless you’ve been without heat for long enough that the charm of it all wears off, you just plain don’t notice that your house is toasty warm.  And if you have radiators, you can thank “the radiator guy” for that.  

I’ve always lived in old house.  (Well, except for those years right after college when I rented circa-1970s townhouses.)  And that means I’ve depended on radiators to keep me warm in winter months.  I love radiators.  Giving up some wall space is worth the even, constant heat.  But until I started renovating my current house, I didn’t understand the calculations required to plan for the right size and number of radiators in a room.

Along came Frank “Steamhead” Wilsey — who has been our “radiator guy” since we moved to Baltimore.  He may not like math, but he does use it in his job.

Can you explain what you do for a living?

I install, service, modify and repair steam, vapor and hot-water heating systems.

When do you use basic math in your job?

I use math for many things–accounting, invoicing, heat-loss calculations, radiator sizes and total amounts, flow rates, pressure drops, pipe and pump sizes and capacities. They’re almost all basic arithmetic- addition, subtraction, multiplication, division.

Do you use any technology to help with this math?

Yes, we use calculators and computers for a good part of it. Accounting and heat-loss calculationprograms save a lot of time, since they store a lot of things we commonly use so we don’t have to memorize them or look them up every time- such as heat transmission factors for various building materials and combinations thereof. Other things, like pump performance curves and oil burner nozzle capacities at different pressures are shown in charts that we keep with us.

These technologies help us work faster and more accurately. For example, most times our accountant doesn’t even have to come to our office- we just e-mail her the proper file. But we try to do the basic stuff in our heads, so we don’t lost the ability.

How do you think math helps you do your job better?

It helps us avoid guessing. It’s way too easy to guess wrong!

How comfortable with math do you feel?

I’ve never really been comfortable with math, but it’s part of my toolkit.

What kind of math did you take in high school?

I took some algebra, consumer math and I think some business types of math. Again, it wasn’t my best subject.

Did you have to learn new skills in order to do this math?

Mostly, I had to re-discover things that I forgot I’d learned in school.

So there you go.  The simple quest of warmth requires some kind of math.  Have questions for Frank?  Ask them in the comments section.  And stay tuned to Math for Grownups for more about the math involved in winter heating.