To probe or not to probe wood

A SOP minimum inspection is a pretty crap ass poor inspection. It’s almost a different product entirely frankly, and perhaps the industry would benefit from having two distinct products explicitly so labeled.

Beyond that there are regional differences. I certainly cringe at the Nachi training material, which clearly shows no respect for seismic forces. I can’t responsibly do a SOP minimum inspection in my area for that reason alone.

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You are correct and that is why I put a clause in my contract stating that if I go beyond the SOP’s in any area I am not required to go beyond the SOP’s in any other area.
Sometimes my clients request to see the SOP’s which I hate to do but always assure them I go way beyond to assure them a thorough inspection.

Tony

Yup, that is what I do when no one is around or looking. I can’t stand not know for my clients.

Tony

Does anyone else not include the SOP in their report or inspection agreement? (I always have so we can agree on the scope of work)

Agreed.

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I always send a copy of the SOP with the inspection agreement email. I tell my clients specifically to read through the SOP and understand it and contact me if they have any questions. They are instructed not to sign the inspection agreement unless the SOP is completely read and understood. A copy of this email is saved along with all photos and videos from the inspection.

I enjoy it when my clients tell me they’re going to read through the SOP and sign the agreement tomorrow.

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Me too, it manages expectations very well. Has anyone considered adding this?

“Inspector may exceed the SOP at the inspectors discretion”

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This is what I send.

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Same here Martin. Almost the same verbiage I use in my emails. I do it on all inspections and have all emails between clients archived. The ones that get me are those signed agreement notifications you get within 5 minutes of sending the agreement. Yep! They read it…

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Nice job Thomas. Being upfront and transparent will help ensure our clients trust what we report on. Not sending the SOP to a client prior to performing a home inspection is a little sneaky.

Best to let your clients understand what your responsibilities are and what your responsibilities are not. Now they will get the report and there will be no surprises.

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After the fee, scheduling date, blah, blah this is my next paragraph;

"I will send the Home Inspection Agreement soon after this email which will need to be signed prior to performing the inspection. That email will direct you how to retrieve and sign the the agreement online. I will be automatically notified once it has been signed. Please let me know if you do not receive that email or have any issues with the signing process. ****PLEASE READ THE AGREEMENT PRIOR TO SIGNING ****

This link is to the Standards Of Practice for Home Inspectors certified by InterNACHI.

The SOP is also noted in the Home Inspection Agreement and sets forth an underlying of what we do and what we inspect during the process. Please keep in mind that a home inspection is not a warranty or guarantee. It is a report based on observations and opinions at the time of inspection.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the home inspection or it’s process.

Thank you and I look forward to working with you!"

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Thomas that is very similar to my email very nice. Just an FYI there is a 2018 version of the SOP. I have taken the agreement and added my company logo to it to sharpen it up. I turned it into a PDF file and attach it to my email.

Page 1

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Good idea Martin, Thanks! :+1:

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I think I used iMac pages to create a document. It turned out neat and clean once it saved as a PDF file.

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Despite the initial responses from the regular detractors, California code does define the role of a Home Inspector. In response to your original post, would this code apply?

It is the duty of a home inspector who is not licensed as a general contractor, structural pest control operator, or architect, or registered as a professional engineer to conduct a home inspection with the degree of care that a reasonably prudent home inspector would exercise.

Would you agree that a reasonably prudent home inspector would probe for wood rot?

No.
I discover ‘wood rot’ all the time.
Rarely do I need to go ‘digging around’ to find it.
“Probing” is more for determining the ‘severity’ of the rot, not the presence of it.
Rot is rot. It either has it, or it doesn’t.
If it has it, REPORT IT.
If it doesn’t, ‘move along little doggy’!!

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Simply replying to OP. I was just making the point that California does govern Home Inspectors and that his attorney didn’t give him good advice based on what is allowed under California law because it appears that he has the same discretion as a pest inspector.

And I was making the point that you are making an assumption that is not actually stated by the CA Code (as you posted). In fact, I read that statement completely opposite of what you claim!

I agree with Jeffrey on this one; although it’s always fun to poke a screwdriver into a column and find to what degree a post (or what have you) is moisture damaged, determining the presence of moisture damage does not require the pick test. It’s pretty easy with the tip of a finger and light pressure. At this point, it’s the responsibility of the appropriate specialist to evaluate further and determine repair options.

Can a window sill be repaired with wood hardener and filler? Sure, can it be replaced? Sure. But my job is to say what the clients should do (although I know what I would do).

Mind you; I still stick my screwdriver in things.

Agreed. For me, this is usually the only time a pick test may be necessary.

Deck support post in contact with soil. I observe moisture wicking but deterioration may or may not be present.

“Support posts were in contact with soil with visible moisture wicking.”

“Support posts were in contact with soil with wood deterioration and visible moisture wicking.”

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And a simple push of the wood, you can pretty accurately tell the condition without damaging it. But that said, a pick test isn’t going to do much if any damage if the wood weren’t already damaged. But try explaining that to the homeowner whose sale you just botched.

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