Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, WA Home Inspector (King of the House)

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Whatcom County Home Inspection (King of the House) -- Subtle Oops

In the course of a home inspection the inspector looks at hundreds to thousands of items. And, let's face it, it can be hard to remember to look at and process and report all of the information. A checklist helps but it goes way beyond that and there are so many distractions during an inspection that dedication, experience and being unflappable tend to lead to the most thorough home inspections. Regardless, every home inspector misses a few things when doing the job -- that is life. You try not to miss the significant stuff!

I attempt to determine, during the course of an inspection, if all of the various sinks and biffys have shutoff valves. After all, who wants to have to turn off the water to the house to replace a hose on the toilet?

Below is a common scenario. The valve is there but the handle is gone. Oops! No biggie but something the client wants to know.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

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Comments

Hi Steve, I just ran across the same think in a home, except the toilet wouldn't shut off. The valve would have come in real handy :) jay

Posted by Jay Lloyd Allpro Home Inspection (Cape Coral Florida) over 1 year ago

Picky, picky, picky. Just get out the left handed slip joint pliers. OOPS no left handed pliers? Well, it looks as if you will have to shut the water off in front of the house or get a handle...

Posted by Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297 (Complete Home Inspections, Inc.) over 1 year ago

Good Morning Steve, the handles are very important in an emergency!  Nice post.

Posted by Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA over 1 year ago

Very important valve to have when you have a spillover!

Posted by Michele Miller ~ Executive Assistant, REALTORĀ® (Keller Williams ~ Seth Campbell Realty Group, LLC) over 1 year ago

Oh yes.. it does make it harder to shut off if it is needed in a hurry...

Posted by Darren Revell (Keller Williams Realty - East Foothill) over 1 year ago

Handle, schmandle.  That's Nusty's height and he can easily test it with his teeth - there are little notches.

Posted by Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC) over 1 year ago

My first experience with one of those things was when the toilet started running over and I panicked cause handy Hubby was gone.  I found the water handle and turned it off.  I was so proud of my superior thinking in time of an emergency.  What if there'd been no handle???   

Posted by Barbara S. Duncan, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR (RE/MAX Advantage) over 1 year ago

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