WHEN A HOME INSPECTOR WRITES "DOESN'T MEET CODE". . . . . Best Business Practices.

WHEN A HOME INSPECTOR WRITES "DOESN'T MEET CODE". . . . .

That is a statement that is guaranteed to make a home buyer become very insecure about the home he has decided to buy. 

Inspired by an article by Charles Buell, Home Inspector extraordinaire, I was taken back to some of the home inspection whereby the mention of the "code" was problematic. 

My question is always, which code?  Rarely is that question answered.  If a feature in a house doesn't meet the code, we need to know WHAT SECTION OF THE CODE.  The buyer or seller may want to follow up with the county to determine the future problems that may ensue.

I LOVE HOME INSPECTORS.  They provide a sense of security for home buyers that they are buying a home that will give carefree living for a reasonable amount of time assuming that good home maintenance is provided.  When a home inspector does a thorough job, we use that report to negotiate seller repairs, often defects of which the seller was unaware.  Knowing that sellers are not required to make any repairs, home inspectors help if they limit their comments to actual defects.  A written report may reference future maintenance recommended to the buyer which buyers appreciate.  Of course, if poor maintenance is evident in any system, that should be written and the buyer with their agent will know how to handle it in the repair notice because poor maintenance does affect future life of many systems.

"DOESN'T MEET THE CODE" can be a deal killer for sure.   Home inspectors will be helpful if they write defects that reflect the PRESENT CONDITION OF THE HOME and not try to show their superior knowledge (which they surely have) by expressing opinions about HOW THE HOUSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT.

Some time ago, we had a home inspector insist that he write in his report that a basement window "doesn't meet the code for egress".   Normally, in a home owner installed an improvement without a permit, this would be helpful information.  However, THE HOUSE WAS 250 YEARS OLD and the windows in the basement were original.  If the home inspector had mentioned a comparison of basement windows today compared to 250 years ago, it would merely have been interesting.  Writing the windows as a defect in an historical property made no sense. 

On new construction, we had a home inspector write that the riser on the bottom basement step was 1/2 inch less than the code, a fact that was known to the code inspector and the builder and under present condition, not going to change. 

Home inspectors are often the only person, other than a builder, who is competent to understand the myriad components and systems of a house and tie them all together to give a home buyer a feeling that they are buying a "good home" and not a money pit. 

It helps if the home inspector examines a home as it is, which is how the homes are purchased "as is" with a home inspection contingency.   How the home inspector believes the house should have been built, especially if the house is 250 years old cannot possibly fit within a home inspection contingency.

BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES REQUIRES THAT AGENTS KNOW JUST WHAT A HOME INSPECTIONON MEANS ON NEW CONSTRUCTION.  Home me buyers can only protect themselves by having (and gladly paying for) a home inspection during the construction of the property.  Waiting for the final pre-settlement walk-through is not going to give a home inspector the opportunity to inspect much other than the systems in a home which are covered by manufacturers warranty.

It's the basic foundation, framing and tying the house together from the ground up that needs an outside and objective inspection.  Don't forget, there is no home inspection contingency for new construction.  Best find defects or omissions while it's possible to make proper changes.  This is why we recommend a 3 step inspection, foundation (before the slab is pured), pre-drywall and final pre-settlement.  If any phase is not included to save inspection money, best to leave the final pre-settlement inspection.  When the builder's representative advises that "you don't need to pay a home inspector, the county does it for you", BEWARE!  That is a sales-person working for the builder talking.  There are many homes with lasting defects that affect value and even safety that were inspected and passed by the county code inspector.  The builder obtains a permit based on architecturals submitted, not on the quality of construction.   

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. 

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