If a seller were to ask me/you as an inspector to go easy on the roof I believe that the best course of action would be to explain the responsibilitys of a inspector towards ethics and safety of all parties concerned. Explain to the seller that an honest reputation is valued by both seller and buyer in this industry. Tell the seller you will be as fair and honest as possible and that even though he/she is a seller now that at some point he/she was a buyer.
If the seller insists on favoritism maybe it would be best to decline the inspection by restating as an inspector you are bound to a high standard of ethics which you believe in and are unwilling to alter your professional standards.
When an inspector comes across and ethical situation in where a realtor and or client asks for special treatment one should simply inform them about the code of ethics that an inspector must and will abide by in a professional manner.
Lawsuits towards an inspector can be a huge issue and has been for some inspectors in the trade. The best way to avoid such lawsuits from potentially being filed and or overcoming a lawsuit is to abide the the code of ethics and standards of practice as well as be certified through not only the main inspector certification but through multiple areas of the practice itself.
I am imagining a situation where a realtor wants to argue about the actual defectiveness of polybutylene piping. My report will state it as a defect, however, the realtor will say it is an acceptable form of plumbing that has worked for many years. They may also say they have sold many homes with this type of plumbing without any issues.
It will be at this point that I will explain the history of polybutylene to the client, and advise them to do an internet search on the subject. I may even do a quick search on my phone at that moment in time, so they can get a brief overview. There is a lot of information on the internet about the failures of the piping and how to identify it. They will be able to use my pictures taken during the inspection to verify what is actually installed in the house. I will also advise them to call a professional plumber to get their opinion and/or possible repair quote.
In the residential inspection profession you should understand that at some point you will most likely be involved in a law suit if you are looking at this as a long term career choice. Understanding this and investing some effort and time towards mitigation will pay off in the long run.
There are several key points that are important to understand before your in a lawsuit. First off becoming a member of a large organization like InterNACHI is a must because the education and certifications are invaluable proof of industry professionalism. The umbrella of an LLC will protect your personal assets and limit your liabilities but its important you understand your limitations as an inspector. Having good agreement forms, proper safety practices and solid documentation is the cornerstone of protection you and your company against law suits.
Gotta love how easy it is to forget the dangers of a house fire. Heed the advice of this article, and you may live to see another day.
Plan and practice your escape from fire: I tell my kids that if they are trapped by fire they should get near a window so I can rescue them from the outside. I may not be able to run through fire to rescue them from the inside.
Plan your escape around your abilities: It is very good practice to know where all the windows and doors are, and how you will exit them.
Smoke alarms save lives: I rarely see houses with adequate smoke alarms. Our eight year old house did not have one located in the mechanical room. Also, it has one located 2 feet down from the peak on our vaulted ceiling. That is not the ideal location.
Give space heaters space: Pretty self-explanatory; it’s a space heater, not an open-air clothes dryer.
If you smoke, smoke outside: This reminds me of my neighbor who was a smoker for so long he needed to use oxygen to help him breathe. He still smoked inside his house. I always feared the worst with him smoking around an oxygen bottle.
Be kitchen-wise: It is very cheap insurance to baking soda sitting next to the oven. Mine is labeled “NOT FOR COOKING.” As a bonus, it can be a conversation starter.
Upon arrival for inspection client asked me do him a favor and go easy about roof condition.I politely stated that as NACHI certified home inspector I can not do such things.It is my code of ethics to get complete house visual inspection results in my report. And by doing this i will loose my license and job likely.
The home inspector finishes the inspection and prepares to leave the property. The house seller stops the inspector and asks them if they know how to do any of the repairs on the home that was written down in the inspection. The house seller asks the Inspector if they do know how to complete these repairs, will they fix them for an extra fee. The inspector should refuse this extra job regardless of how much money is being offered. The inspector should tell the house seller to have a professional in those specific fields come and take a look at the repairs.
The article i researched was how to do a proper garage inspection. The first step i learned about were obvious improper alterations. Trusses cannot be altered in any way without a structure engineer. The trusses attached to the wall had an improper connector and improper fasteners. Improper connections can lead to structural damage down the road. The home inspector is required to note these problems in the report.
I have learned a vast wealth of information pertaining to the structural integrity of a home and general cues as to any issues currently existing within the structure of the home that give away clues as to the status of the structure and foundation.
I have learned a vast wealth of information pertaining to the structural integrity of a home and general cues as to any issues currently existing within the structure of the home that give away clues as to the status of the structure and foundation.
The inspector should smile and interact with the seller of the house so as to not cause any unnessary hostility with the seller. Then the inspector should make the seller aware of the fact that we are bound by a code of ethics and have a duty to represent our client with an honest assessment of the roof in writing.
I read the article education will help you prevail in court. CE classes seem vital when it comes to meeting the standards due to the market products and systems which are continuously evolving in our industry and knowing how those systems function. Having the education and being able to explain these systems along with the updates and any risks they pose allows credibility as inspectors and helps us to be prepared for the not so common, but existing concerns from both building processes in past and new processes used in modern building.
I have learned a vast wealth of information pertaining to the structural integrity of a home and general cues as to any issues currently existing within the structure of the home that give away clues as to the status of the structure and foundation.
I read easy steps to help inspectors avoid lawsuits. The article was very informative from the prespective of avoding calling yourself an expert, but i was more impressed with internachi and the fact that they have so many forms that can be downloaded to help you protect yourself from lawsuits. Information from the helpers that you use to caution signs while you work. It was a very informative article that I can take deep into the future as I begin this journey to become a certified home inspector.
In legal and risk management i read article about obtaining and use NACHI’s "caution "stop sign.I think it is very good practice to use it when danger to the client can be present,if you are on the ladder,or working in crawl space or other times when you want keep client at the safe distance,it shows that you care about client safety and you are not reckless ,better be safe that sorry,protect yourself from possible claims.
A homeowner applying for a two-flat remodel loan requests that the inspection “overlook” that the plumbing in the units was repaired by himself and adequate. After inspection the plumbing is found to be in violation of village building code and dangerously unsafe. I would be required to report the unsafe conditions and adhere to Duty to the Public section 7 and report findings to the Villages Building code enforcement department to expose potential safety concerns for current or future tenants.
I learned from this article and section to never refer to myself as an expert as it can easily open up a legal pitfall for myself. by assigning myself to the inspection as an expert, I may leave myself open to a lawsuit by a lawyer who challenges the inspection “expertise”.