I’m amazed at how many home inspectors willfully violate their SOP. I wonder what their insurance companies think about this practice?
If you’re putting yourself in a position where the water hasn’t been turned on in the house, that tells me you didn’t plan ahead of time.
One scenario that happened here a few years ago;
The buyers agent met the inspector at the house. The house was vacant and the sellers had just remodeled and installed new hardwood flooring through out. The water had been turned off and it’s not clear if agent/inspector had permission to turn it on. The inspector turned it owned while the agent was another area of the house.
Someone had left one of the valves for the washing machine (not present) opened. It flooded the laundry and ruined the new flooring to the extent it was thousands of dollars worth of damage. My guess is someone drained the pipes for the winter using the washer spigot for air and never closed it.
That aside, I’m pretty sure that the inspector had to pay for replacing all the damaged flooring because all valves were not checked prior to turning the water on. Just another reason I don’t do it.
No. You and your insurance company can thank me, later.
No! Tell the agent to have the water turned on for the inspection, that you have a company policy to not turn water on if it is not on inside the home due to issues that can arise.
I don’t know why folks tell you to call your insurance company, they don’t have a clue and they are not going to tell you what to do.
Just do not turn the water one!
Because some inspectors refuse to listen to good information, mostly due to prejudices against certain members, (such as myself)!
The idea is that anyone that contacts their insurance, and queries about being covered if they cause damages from operating devices that are in the OFF position, will be told exactly what will happen (or not) if a claim is attempted!!
Insurance/liability is one argument but turning on water isn’t violating any SOPs. “Not required to” is a long ways from “not allowed to.” I used to give an entire presentation on this exact subject to my local HI association. It’s amazing how many HIs have been in business for years and don’t know the difference.
Are you saying your general liability insurance wouldn’t cover you in this situation?
2nd floor bathroom leaked down through the kitchen ceiling.
Thankfully I always request a permission email from the listing agent before turning on any water valves.
I’m not saying that at all, but since you voiced the question, it would not surprise me at all if there are some carriers that would decline a claim, as you created the fault by operating a system that was obviously dectivated and in the ‘OFF’ mode!
Just another reason to contact your insurance prior to an issue, so you are fully aware of what your coverage is. The word ‘General’ in “General Liability” isn’t always so ‘General’ in coverage!
First, I don’t advocate turning water on.
But the SOP doesn’t forbid an HI from doing that, so it isn’t a “violation”.
It’s just bad judgment.
Generally no…the utility company don’t like people messing with their meters and don’t allow it. If it is turned off elsewhere, after the meter then there’s probably a leak somewhere. Whoever turns the water on should have a helper to listen for leaks, and check everything quickly. When people move out sometimes they leave a valve on like the fridge water or the washing machine spigots which can end up spraying everywhere quickly.
That is what I do.
Never point a gun at anyone. Turning on a valve or breaker is pointing the gun at yourself and pulling the trigger.
Never ever, never ever, never ever turn on a valve or breaker that has been turned off by anyone other than your self.
I’m closing in on 30 years and have seen more than one occasion where that rule has saved me. The only time I ever had a problem is when I ignored that rule.
Valves and breakers are off for a reason and I am not smart enough to know what that reason is and I don’t presume to be able to read someone else’s mind.
I went to the house today and it was “flip” and a bad one. Yes they tried to send me all kinds of consents. After looking the work the contractors did…no way no how was I going to turn on that water. Most of the valves were corroded and leaking. They Renovated the bathrooms but left the old shower valves in place. All the toilets were not mounted and they used old johnny bolts. The list went on and on.
Wow Larry great story. That would never happen in my area. (SoCal). A Realtor turned on water before I got to property. When I got there water coming through front door. So to say they tried and spent months going after me but they did not succeed. A door camera at a nearby property across the street showed the agent bending down and turning on water at street then leaving. Evidence was there that I was not involved. So to say, the whole office black balled me (Remember Realtors stick with their own even though right or wrong) forever. We were going to sue but we figured the rest of the town of Realtors would black ball me. So we had a letter put in the CAR (California Association of Realtors) newsletter indicating case study and with Association approval my company name not mentioned but we did put in video of Realtors action. When I am up in Mountain Inspections the Realtors always have me turn water on at cabins but they are with me and are in house when I do it. Remember Realtors eat their young.
A good strong rule is if it is off do not turn it on. If is it on do not turn it off. Of course this doesn’t apply to lights and the like. But to utility mains and specialty systems. Now if the agent wants to put it in writing that all is good, you might be covered, but you also might not.
An agent putting anything in writing for an inspector is totally useless. They will do damned near anything to sell that home and get their paycheck, and if shit hits the fan, they will claim the inspector was holding them ransom by not performing a full inspection with no time to get another inspector, aka. “under duress”!
Do they own the home?
Do they possess POA to have the legal right to make those decisions for the Homeowner/Estate?
Possible, but likely NOT! If they claim they do, get a copy of the POA Order with the letter of Authorization.
Same applies to Buyers Agents… only with less legal authority!
Just Say NO!!
Jeffery in the 8 yrs I did this work before retiring this April it never came up in any of my inspections. My suggestion was just that. Personally i would do what you said and just say no. Safer in the long run.
Maybe safer. But not necessarily the best business decision in all cases.
If you can talk to the owner and get written permission and also find out why it is off (sometimes it is just because the home is unoccupied) you can save everyone involved a lot of hassle by agreeing to turn it on if it is safe to do so. The flexibility to make a decision onsite and not be too hard-headed about it can pay off down the road with satisfied clients!
No never. Unless special circumstances prevail.
