Texas lawsuit update

[cevans (Chuck Evans, CMI)]

@jcahill

So you agree then that the SoP do not require the inspector to provide a basis of opinion except in the foundation section and that regarding paragraph 22 Willcox is wrong?

If so thanks for the education.

Without pouring over the SOP to verify, I think the answer is Yes (though I think it’s good practice in many instances).

[jcahill (John Cahill, TREC 855)]

@cevans

Without pouring over the SOP to verify, I think the answer is Yes (though I think it’s good practice in many instances).

Great. My only problem with Willcox 22 is that it could trend to that interpretation. I think its just a typo however.

Onward

[cevans (Chuck Evans, CMI)]

@jcahill

Chuck,

Would you care to add your name to this RFI? I am sending it in soon.

The Standards state in the foundation section:

(3) generally report present and visible indications used to render the opinion of adverse performance, such as:

• Does the SoP wording above serve to provide a basis for the opinion of adverse foundation performance?
• Is the inspector required to provide a basis for their opinion anywhere else in the Standards other than the foundation section?

Until notice by TREC, the inspector is not required to provide a basis for their opinion other than as specified in the foundation section. If it is considered a required reporting item please provide the source used to make the determination.

Sure

[jcahill (John Cahill, TREC 855)]

@cevans

Sure

Done. Their reply will be interesting. Be patient. It can take a while for them to answer.

http://www.soprfi.com/Pending.htm

[dbowers (Dan Bowers, CMI, EDI)]

A General Comment -

As most know, I’m in my 34th year of residential & commercial inspecting.

I seldom clutter up a report with references to support my statements. I seldom get asked to provide written support for my comments. Maybe its how I’ve written it, I don’t know OR really care.

Examples:

1. The 120,000 Btuh gas fired furnace and 50,000 Btuh gas water heater are installed in an enclosed room of about 8’ x 8’. There is no source of combustion air for the mechanical equipment other than the air in the room itself.

In my opinion, the amount of combustion air provided in a room of this size is inadequate. This can be a significant safety hazard. I recommend having a competent and licensed professional HVAC contractor calculate the amount of combustion air needed for the systems; then install the proper amount / type of combustion air sources at correct location(s).

While present I recommend the HVAC contractor service the equipment, and correct any other deficiencies as needed.

OR

2. [size=2]At the time this property was built (in the 1940’s), GFCI’s (ground fault interrupter circuits) were not in use at **“wet areas” **(wet areas are locations like kitchens, baths, exterior, garage, laundry, wet bars, etc). [/size]

[size=2]The electrical outlet(s) at the **“wet areas” **of the home did not have GFCI protection. Current safety standards recommend them at these areas. I recommend that the new owner have a licensed electrician install GFCI’s at all applicable areas as a safety improvement.[/size]

[size=2]OR [/size]

[size=2]3) [size=2]In my opinion, the foundation walls have significant inward movement (over 2" measured with a laser level), large horizontal and diagonal cracks in the concrete walls (some over 1/2" wide) and is not performing as intended. In my opinion repairs are needed. [/size][/size]

[size=2][size=2]Due to the various issues we observed at the foundation walls inside and/or outside, we recommend service and evaluation by a competent and licensed foundation contractor, OR a competent licensed structural engineer. Then have any recommended repairs or modifications performed.

Note: Please be informed that many licensed engineers ARE NOT structural engineers, and although licensed as PE’s (professional engineers) structural and soil issues may not be their strengths. Verify an engineers credentials carefully before hiring.
[/size][/size]

[dbowers (Dan Bowers, CMI, EDI)]

PS -

Forgot to mention … I am code certified in electrical, building, plumbing and mechanical. I teach code classes to home inspectors and train several cities code inspectors for them. As a home inspection trainer ALTHOUGH we DO NOT do code inspections MOST of the State Licensing Exams are heavily geared around code type questions.

So to make a short answer long … We DON’T do code inspections - But we DO code related stuff (we just don’t call it by the “C” word).

[jhime (Jim Hime, TREC 1646)]

Joe Ferry is coming to Dallas and Austin to give his “Law and Disorder” seminar for home inspectors.

He will be in Houston July 22nd per today’s mail.

I previously attended a Joe Ferry “Law and Disorder” seminar and walked away totally amazed with a greater awareness of the litigation process and avenues of how to defend yourself.

I encourage every H.I. (and even attorneys) to attend his seminar. This is a seminar that once you take it you will want to go back again and again.

Law and Disorder: Survival Strategies for the Professional Home Inspector in a Litigation Nation at the Courtyard Austin Airport, 7809 E. Ben White Boulevard, Austin, TX 78741 on July 20, 2010 from 6:00 p. m. until 10:00 p. m.

Details on the Houston seminar should be forthcoming.

[gromicko (Nick Gromicko, CMI)]

Jim writes:

The client paid for my opinion about the conditions within the home, which I provided. He did not pay for me to provide opinions that were approved or condoned by the builder.

If the builder made an error and the AHJ approved it…so what? I am not a code inspector. I have been paid by my client to observe and to report to him my opinions of what I observed. I will stand by my opinions in full disagreement with the builder.

The worst thing for me to do, however, is to abandon my correct position as a home inspector providing a report of his personal observations…and replace it by providing my own interpretation of “the code” and the decision that should have been previously made by the AHJ. That is the position for which I can be sued, for I was neither paid nor am I authorized by law to provide anyone with such an interpretation.

I would agree with Mr. Cahill in the sense that many home inspectors will try to use their knowledge of building standards in such a way as to impress someone with it…which can backfire. All we need to know and to report to our clients is that a certain condition is wrong and recommend to them that they have it corrected. That is what they get for $400.

Excellent post.

[csproull (Curtis Sproull, TREC 3724)]

I am new to InterNACHI and find this conversation very interesting. I have noticed that many of the comments are coming from different parts of the country. I have been a full time inspector in the State of Texas since 1994. I personally use code references in my reports. One of the main reason is I do a large percentage of my inspections in unincorporated areas which in the State of Texas there is no building code enforcement. We did have the TRCC for a short period of time which has been abolished for multiple reasons. I have been told by a more than qualified Master Electrician that in the State of Texas you did not have to be a licensed electrician to wire a home in unincorporated areas until 2004. (If that is not scary what is).

I constantly would have persons of trade, electrical etc coming back after an inspection with I never heard of that! Me and Pa have been doing that way for 30 years! This is the type of answers these people were telling clients along with there are no codes in the county, the inspector doesn’t known what he is talking about. We all do it that way.

One of my favorites was new $350,000.00 townhouse on lake that I was first to inspect one of the units. My first clue to issues was when I tripped the GFCI reset in kitchen and dishwasher turned off. The electrician and plumbing contractor was the same guy. There was only one 12 amp circuit for the entire kitchen. This is a case where code references are required in my opinion. If all I would have said was this was not correct have a licensed electrician correct as required to meet current NEC the same guy that did it was a licensed electrician.

This is one the reason I started adding code references to my comments, I would have person of trade calling all the time asking where did you come up with that. After I started adding reference most of this came to a halt. (I also have a statement in the report and inspection agreement that this is not a code compliant inspection but codes are only referenced to clarify opinions etc)

I now have some builder calling and asking questions as to what is right and wrong which I am happy to give to them. Saves me a lot of trouble when I have to inspection later.

I would agree that in an older home that the code reference may not be appropriate.

Another thing that I did not see addressed was a home built in 1940 etc and a furnace or water heater installed in 2004, in many cases certain items should be up graded and corrected accordingly.

These observations are not to create an argument but to give one side of a very complicated issue. I think every situation and each inspector must make the decision for themselves in each situation.

I do not think one that one method or the other is right of wrong.