Alvin Ubell is an architectural designer, building inspector, business owner, author, and TV and radio personality based in Brooklyn, NY. He is an advocate for do-it-yourself home improvements and repairs that enhance safety, comfort and energy savings. He currently serves as vice president, senior inspector (partner) and founder of Accurate Building Inspectors.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1933 to Russian-Polish immigrants, Alvin Ubell was raised speaking Yiddish. He is the third son of four brothers: Earl Ubell (1926), Seymour Ubell (1931), and Robert Ubell (1938).
Ubell graduated from Tilden High School in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Purdue University as an undergraduate and studied architecture at the Pratt Institute. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1953 during the Korean War as a 3rd Class Petty Officer serving two years as a radiological warfare technologist and damage controlman on the troop training vessel, the USS Randall APA 224.
During his early career, Alvin Ubell worked as a construction manager and architectural designer. He also worked as a cabinetmaker, carpenter, stair builder and draftsman.
In 1961, Ubell co-founded, with his wife Estelle Rita, Accurate Building Inspectors (ABI), a home and building inspection firm in Brooklyn NY. In 1983, UbellâÂÂs son, Lawrence joined the company. In addition to providing inspection services within the Greater New York area, Ubell has provided expert testimony before the courts on matters involving construction standards and regulatory codes. He has also been interviewed by news organizations in matters of construction hazards and public safety.
From 1975 through 1981, the ABC Television Network hired Ubell to be featured as âÂÂAl Ubellâ the âÂÂHousehold Hints & Safety Reporterâ on the TV series Good Morning America (GMA). During the weekly morning segment, Ubell was allotted two minutes and thirty seconds to demonstrate various home improvements and do-it-yourself home repairs such as replacing a home door lock. During the approximate 250 episodes in which he appeared, Ubell was often joined by a Good Morning America host or reporter such as Steve Bell, David Hartman, Sandy Hill, Joan Lunden and others. At the end of each TV segment, Ubell signed off by saying either, âÂÂAmerica, go forth and save energyâ or âÂÂAmerica, go forth and fix.âÂÂ
From 1982-1983, Ubell worked on ABC TVâÂÂs âÂÂKids are People TooâÂÂ. Thereafter, Ubell appeared on the WABC-TV âÂÂRegis Philbin Showâ from 1982âÂÂ84 and then on the WCBS-TV âÂÂNew Yorkâ show from 1983-1990. Subsequent TV appearances include the ABC-TV Home Show from 1991-1992, CNN and a recorded video for ABC Video Entertainment titled, âÂÂAmerica Go Forth & Save EnergyâÂÂ.
In 1981, Alvin Ubell made his first radio appearance on WNYC FM when Marty Wayne invited him as a guest on the âÂÂSenior Editionâ program. When Leonard Lopate assumed the role of new host for the program in 1985, Ubell was invited again as a regular monthly guest. In 1997, Ubell was joined on-air by his second son, Lawrence Ubell. Writing in 2006 about the Ubells on WNYC radio, New York Times journalist Jennifer Bleyer explained, <blockquote>The Ubells are father and son, a pair of short, sturdy men with piano-key smiles. As independent building inspectors who describe themselves as the âÂÂGurus of How-To,â they appear once a month on Mr. LopateâÂÂs afternoon program, doling out home-repair tips along with friendly banter in robust Brooklynese.</blockquote>During the live radio broadcast of The Leonard Lopate Show, Ubell and his son advised WNYC callers on home improvements, building regulations, and preventive home repairs. The Ubells also challenged Lopate listeners with a word quiz derived from the building industry nomenclature. UbellâÂÂs final guest appearance on WNYC FM was September 14, 2018.
Ubell also appeared on the ABCâÂÂs TalkRadio Network from 1984-1988.
In December 2018, Ubell and his son Lawrence joined the Leonard Lopate At Large show at WBAI New York 99.5 FM.
Ubell was a product spokesperson for several national companies including Black & Decker, Brooklyn Union Gas, Carrier Corp., Rust-Oleum Corporation, and Slant/Fin. He has appeared in ad campaigns such as the Oldsmobile AAA âÂÂWinter Driving Safety Tipsâ TV commercials. In 1982-83, Ubell was hired by General Electric to âÂÂpromote the company's new "Quick Fix" program aimed at guiding appliance-buyers in making their own repairs on GE and Hotpoint washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerator-freezers and ranges.âÂÂ
As a spokesperson, Ubell also wrote articles for Rust-Oleum and True Value.
Ubell has written and co-authored several books on home improvement and repair which have been translated from English into Polish and French.
From 1980-2005, Ubell was âÂÂHousehold Hints & Safety EditorâÂÂ, and contributing author for Family Circle magazine writing articles on safe housekeeping and home repairs.
Ubell was a member of American Institute of Architects (AIA) and was a 1976 charter member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and chair person of the Ethics Committee at a time when home inspectors were not required to have licenses or permits, only insurance.
Alvin Ubell has three children from his marriage with Estelle Rita Ubell: Charles Ubell, Lawrence Ubell, and Anna Ubell Garcia.