Personally, I am not comfortable with using the term “upgraded” in either a 4-point or home inspection and have chosen to use either “updated or replaced” instead. In fact, I don’t preport to be an expert in the design and manufacture of any of the systems found in a home. I don’t believe that replacing a system should always be automatically considered an “upgrade” and, rarely if ever, is the old system still present so it can be compared with the new system to determine if it is an actually upgrade or simply a replacement. I don’t feel the report loses any validity by using the terms replacement or updateand. I believe that for me and in my opinion using the term upgarded could be misleading in many situations, enen if unintended.
As far as building permits go, if the homeowner has a paid itemized reciept from a contractor, I will make a copy and provide it as documentation and then the agent or underwriter can uase the information as they please. Most of the time, water heaters and AC systems will have the manufacture date either directly stamped or coded on the system. I will usually go with the system manufacture date found on the unit even if the building permit or reciept indicates a later date. I have run into situations where the homeowner had the existing system replaced with a used system of a more recent vintage.
Richard Thurman
