There.
I have heard of several lawsuits in which an inspector was dragged in along with the seller, agents, etc, and accused of having recommended a specialist evaluation but having failed to stressed the severity of the problem. I examined a forty-two year old furnace yesterday that was “funtioning,” but needed some service. I did defer, described the furnace in detail, listed the problems, but added that I questioned the value of spending money on the unit and recommended that it be replaced. As Gerry said, I regard myself as a “specialist,” because that’s precisely how my clients, attorneys, and the courts regard me. To understand your liability: http://www.keithswift.com/inspect.html
That’s why, regardless of what you do, it is extremely important to both manage your Clients’ expectations and to educate your Clients.
And I can highly recommend both of Keith’s books. Excellent reading.
Exactly…no if and or buts…have it replaced.
I can think of at least one “if and or but”: What if I’m going to tear the structure down and build a four-unit condo building? Would you still recommend having the roof replaced?
What if it burnt down before you got to the inspection, would you still inspect it?
Same crazy scenario…
He didn’t ask what we thought if the guy was going to tear the joint down, he asked if the roof needed to be replaced.
Not really.
One is prior to the inspection, one is after the inspection. Duh.
And I don’t know, for two reasons: First, I’m not a licensed roofing contractor, so I don’t know. Practicing as a roofing contractor without a license can be subject to severe civil and criminal penalties. Second, I don’t know what my Client intends to do with the property, so I’ll let him decide in consultation with the licensed roofing contractor.
You argue with yourself?
“yes I did” “no I didn’t” “yes I did” “no I didn’t”
I think you might.
The F-ing roof needs to be replaced, I don’t care where you live or whether there are licensed contractors where you live.
Your not acting as a licensed contractor by telling someone it needs to be replaced…Duh
My attorneys and insurance providers would disagree with you, as do I, as would many licensed roofing contractors here in my area. Lowly, unlicensed home inspectors, or people acting in the capacity as lowly, unlicensed home inspectors, are not qualified to state whether a roof needs to be replaced. Sorry you’re so upset this morning. 
Get out there and do some more marketing/advertising so you can be busy and hire more inspectors, etc.
So everything on or in a home in which you think might need to be repaired or replaced needs a second opinion?
I’d be pissed off if I paid someone to tell me that.
No, definitely not. Never said it did. Your reading comprehension is better than that, Dale.
As I tell my Clients, “I’m a generalist, not a specialist, not an expert. What that means to you is that I know something about everything but everything about nothing. I’m like your family doctor. The human body is very complicated, so if you have aches or pains, you go to your family doctor. Unfortunately he determines that you might have lung cancer, a brain tumor, psoriasis, sunburn, acid reflux, astigmatism, ingrown toenail, and an unknown growth on your pancreas. He can help you immediately with the psoriasis, sunburn, acid reflux, and the ingrown toenail. However, he’ll refer you for further evaluation to a lung specialist for the possible lung cancer, to a brain surgeon for the brain tumor, and to an internal organs specialist for the growth on your pancreas. I’m the same way. I can help you with many things, but when it comes to licensed professionals in other industries, like roofing contractors, plumbers, electricians, and engineers, I have to refer you to them for further evaluation of any problems that I have found.”
As I have said a gazillionbazillion times on this Message Board, one has to manage the expectations of one’s Clients; give them choices, choices, choices; educate them; recommend further evaluation where necessary; and disclaim when necessary.
It’s quite easy. I don’t know why you fail to understand that. You’ve always seemed more intelligent than JB, FM, et al.
Russel…I manage my clients expectations just fine.
We are talking about a roof here that needs to be replaced, nothing more nothing less…your the one claiming everything from what if he’s tearing it down, to your not a doctor.
When something needs to be replaced, I say it needs to be replaced, that is what they hired “me” to do.
Personally I don’t care what you do, I was simply stating a few posts ago what I would do.
Until you come up with the smart-as$ statement regarding if the guy is tearing the place down.
Personally I don’t like sarcasm.
Good, although it doesn’t sound like it in your previous posts.
That’s your opinion. I’m also entitled to my opinion. :roll:
That’s okay. I have no problem with that. My Clients do not hire me to tell them that something needs to be replaced. They hire me to document the condition of the property at a specific point in time and to educate them about that condition and to provide recommendations. It’s a process, not an end.
As was I.
You’re the one who so “no ifs ands or buts.” Well that’s just plain wrong. There are ifs, ands, and buts, and when one fails to realize that, one can get oneself in trouble. Read all of Barry Stone’s columns to see just exactly what ifs, ands, and buts the public can come up with. Some are amazing. Educate yourself.
Personally, I don’t like summary statements (like “no ifs ands or buts”) that seem to indicate there is only one way to do thing. There are many, many ways to do things, some resulting because of third party interference (insurance companies, legal statutes, etc.) in what we as home inspectors would like to do.
We are talking about the picture of this roof here on this thread, your the one spinning it.
It is quite easy, the roof needs to be replaced. If they were planning on tearing it down to build something else, they wouldn’t be getting it inspected in the first place, unless it was in San Diego of course, which I’m sure will be your next response.
Exactly. And I’ll let the licensed roofing contract make the determination as to what needs to be done with it. I think I already said that. Duh.
Not quite that easy in some areas of the country, which I already stated. Duh yet again.
I thought you didn’t like sarcasm. 
“Duh”…yeah…you got that one right…!!!
Now say it to yourself in the mirror ten times.
I knew that, ultimately, you would agree with me. Glad to see you came around.