Mike don’t over think it, if something like a deck is like you said in your last post then just state that its dangerous and is in need of immediate repair by a (depending on your area) licensed or qualified contractor and be sure to tell the listing agent and everyone involved ASAP and yes keep everyone off. I video that very conversation because I have had clients go up the steps to see what I was talking about when my back is turned. Jeez people are well…
I say licensed and or qualified because the listing agent may have her husband fix the problem (because he’s handy) and I have seen this happen. :roll:
Also like Bob said its a non invasive inspection so if you find one small thing you might not need to recommend further evaluation but on the other hand if your in a main panel and find 6 things wrong with out hardly looking then well you get it.
Doesn’t really matter at the end of the day what someone thinks about licensing or not you don’t need to recommend who just that they be and that is what the courts will see.
Gotcha. I’m trying to distance myself from potential repercussions from being too INVOLVED in the solution. So, our job is to find and document issues and recommend review/repair by a qualified specialist. The specialist worries about how the repairs are done, which materials are used, etc.
So, lets’ say I find polybutylene plumbing throughout the house - I would recommend repair/replacement by a licensed plumber. Done. If that plumber uses PEX piping and as a result cannot obtain insurance, will that blow back on the HI? Or is that squarely the responsibility of the plumber? Thanks.
Nothing wrong with PEX. This is why you recommend a licensed professional. Its the client or seller responsibility to hire someone with the proper insurance etc.etc. you observed, recommended and reported.
I know, but the Courts here totally disagree, as does my various insurance carriers (E&O, AD&D, GL, Life). Life put it in writing on their letterhead, signed and dated by their representative, that the additional premium to cover me on someone else’s property “would be lower if California licensed its home inspectors.” Licensing solves many problems, which is just one of the reasons jurisdictions have it. The other, of course, is that it makes money for the jurisdiction!
Imagine if we didn’t have minimum standards, though. I mean, minimum wage, for example, is simply an employer telling its employee that it would pay the employee even less than minimum wage but it’s against the law, so minimum wage it is.
From the 1st page of my report: PLEASE NOTE: All Tropic is only an inspection reporting company.
Advice for performance of repairs should be sought from your agent and or licensed contractor.
Not perfect I’m sure, but it does get the message across.
Always try to be on the real world side rooks.
If issues have potential to be part of a major system problem $$$ you point out what defects were observed and recommend further evaluation.
If it is obvious what you saw is the only issue such as a cracked window recommend repair.
The rest here is just chatter.
You’ll grow some nads and recommend replacement if it needs it as you gain experience.
Doing otherwise would make it a soft report as many here are known to produce to keep their agents happy.
Also understand the difference between recommending “further evaluation” & “corrected by a qualified Contractor”. The client is hiring you to make the call, otherwise they would have hired an electrician, Plumber, HVAC etc to inspect each system individually.
The only time I use “further evaluation” in my reports is when I recommend a Structural Engineer. Otherwise everything else needs “corrected by a qualified Contractor”.
Mike,
iNACHI has a report writing course that is pretty good. That should help.
My state requires home inspectors to tell the client;
What is the problem.
Why is it a problem, if not obvious.
What should they do about it. (repair, monitor, or something else) I don’t usually get into the exactly what the client should do. Just a general, “I recommend repair.”
