You consider this a client wanting help?? :eek:
A face-to-face meeting for me often involves an hours drive, one way. If I’m SURE I’m not at fault, I’m not driving an hour for nothing.
I once had a guy that had an issue because his foot went throught the sub-floor 1.5 years after I did an inspection for him. I re-read the report, and called him back, and asked him if he addressed the issues with floor rot and insulation installed upside down that I addressed in the report. His answer was “no”. Why should I drive back there and slide back up under the house, when I could be out earning money doing an inspection? I politely explained my views on his issue and he understood.
You documented in the report of the imposing failure. End of issue. The purchaser is a heel for not heeding your advice, there are no warranties on stupidness. You did your job, move on. Do not pay!
Absolutely. He’s not finding it and he’s crying out as loud as possible and the only way he knows how (hostility) for someone to HELP him. I’m that person. I would hope that other home inspectors are as well, although, of course, I’m no longer a home inspector. I’m a property consultant.
HELPing my Clients is never “for nothing.” Never, never, never. Wrong type of attitude in my humble opinion. If it’s a long drive, and I cover all of San Diego County, about 1200 square miles and several hours drive to the boondocks, I simply take lots of Beatles CDs with me and enjoy the beauty that is San Diego County, sometimes also stopping at the casinos to eat at their excellent buffets, spend $20 on the slots and $10 on a margarita, and simply have fun while knowing that I’m HELPing someone. I guess it’s a Texas-bred thang.
Yours apparently didn’t have any hostility involved. Different story.
Definitely agree with my Canadian friend about not paying. But it’s not the “end of issue” if it isn’t resolve satisfactorily to everyone. Dissatisfaction often results in lawsuits. I would not pay, but I’d certainly HELP him take his insurance company to task.
Very good thoughts in this thread.
I always request, in writing, the clients complaint and concerns before I will return to a job site. I will fax him a form so he can fill it out and fax it back to me. That way we are both on the same page when I go to his house.
As for the water heater, was their any rust on the unit. If I have a unit that is over ten years old and shows any rust on the tank, I recommend that they condsider replacing the unit now before it leaks and causes damage, as we cannot guarantee or warantee how long the unit will function.
Bill, I like your idea of requesting the complaint be put in wirting. Any chance you could post your “complaint form” for plagarization by others??? Thanks in advance.
I would hope it would never be needed! 
I think your only exposure is the claim that “it was hooked up wrong and the inspector should have caught it”. I think you need to chase that issue down and find out what they are talking about. Prove that wrong and you not only help yourself but you can help the client get the claim approved. Everyone’s happy (except the insurance company and we know they don’t have feelings anyway) and you can turn lemons into lemonade.
Exactly - that’s why I suggested meeting the plumber there to see just exactly they allege was missed. You would have a face-to-face chance to defend your inspection, or if something was missed, you would have a face-to-face chance to 1. Learn, and 2. take care of it. I can’t see paying for a new heater either, but you may be better able to do as RR suggests and help fight the warranty battle.
First my contract says they must inform me and allow us the option to reinspect. other than that it your problem.
I would never have spoken to the girlfriend to begin with. She know doubt is not telling the whole story back to you or the client. You did everything right.
Several options send the a certifed check for the cost of H.I, after you get a hold harmless signed.Offer to pay for 1/2 using your contctor not theres or explain to the client ONLY your points and explain there is not now or ever was a warranty. It made hot water and was operating normaly at the time of inspection so sorry.
You said that the client reported that his insurance company would not cover the water heater because “it was hooked up wrong”.
I do not know what this means, but if the leaking water heater was a result of improper installation…and you did not call it out in your report, but simply remarked as to the age…I think you owe the guy a new water heater.
Telling him it was old and about to break is “apples”. Having it break due to improper installation is “oranges”.
Agreed 100%. Two different issues. Old does not equate to hooked up wrong.
This board is getting desperate for activity when we have to drag 2 year old threads up for re-discussion.:roll::roll:
Someone please turn off the lights as you leave.
Somewhere…there is a fat lady getting ready to sing.
Seriously, in its day…nothing compared to the NACHI message board.
That day has sadly passed.
I think I hear the fat lady warming up.
Perhaps someone can go through the archives and bump some of the more interesting and/or educational threads. :shock:
The fat lady has been singing for months.
It appears the ship is getting ready to sail…
Well…the moderators can all rest easier, now. Now that the message board is sedated and has fewer posters, they have less to censor.