"Just the facts" that is what Joe Friday used to say in Dragnet, if you are old like me and remember the show. Providing facts to the client is what a home inspector attempts to do. Sometimes interpretations are made of those facts, for example, explaining why something is a problem and not an annoyance. Other times, merely giving the facts is all that is required: "The sidewalk is concrete aggregate."
A year back I was dealing with a real estate professional who was very irritated that, on an older home, I stated that the drain pipes were old cast iron and galvanized pipes and that they were leaking, rusted and pipes of that vintage would have to be replaced in the near future. The fellow was angry because he said anyone buying a home of that age should expect knob and tube wiring and rusted pipes so I should just leave any old system like that totally silent on the report -- taking it for granted that the buyer had done his homework. Sorry. I cannot do that to a client. I do not make mountains out of mole hills but I, also, will not leave my client in such a position that upon occupancy, or right after, he or she discovers that the pipes need to be replaced. The photo below is from such an inspection. My staying quiet on this condition would be gross negligence on my part, regardless of what a seller and his agent might be pushing for. If the lawsuit was to come, I would be the one taking the heat as the inspector who did not perform his job in a competent manner. That is a detour in the road that I wish to avoid, even if it does make some parties mad.
Thanks for dropping by.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA home inspector
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God bless you for doing this in the cold!
Jess Rankin
Phoenix, AZ
Sometimes, in real cold weather, going in the crawl space is pretty pleasant compared to being outdoors.
Steve
Steve
Lay it on the line; I am with you. In the end we can sleep.
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Hi all,
I think that an inspector staying quiet on this would be doing a grave dis-service to clients.