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When are trip hazards really trip hazards?

By
Home Inspector with Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections 10072923

When are trip hazards really trip hazards?

I get questions all the time about why I have written up a trip hazard. Then they follow that up with how do I get rid of the trip hazards.

Each trip hazard is a little different, but one thing I have found is that the plumbers install the standpipes for the closeout's way too high. After  the final inspection the standpipes need to be shortened so that they are not a trip hazard.

Here we have an old unused trip hazard that in right in the drive way.

Unused sewer clean outs in drive way.

Many of these hazards never get any attention till the inspector points them out.

Here we have a hole in the middle of a patio the when kids are playing is definitely a hazard.

Patio trip hazard.

Then this trip hazard is really bad, located at the end of the patio and in the extended patio.

Sewer clean outs on patio.

This will deffinatly become a problem if there are children around the home.

remember "It's better safe than sorry".

Your homeowners insurance may require you have the trip hazards adjusted to remove the liability issue.

Have a great day every one.

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Posted by

 

Clint  McKie

Owner of Desert Sun Home Inspections Carlsbad, New Mexico. Eddy County's only certified home inspection service WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. Serving all of South East New Mexico. We inspect the homes entire structure from the roof to the foundation, and everything in between. Most reports within 4-24 hours from time of inspection completion. We issue a PDF report with pictures Starting at $250.00 for each home inspection. Why settle for less when you can have the best?

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Comments (22)

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Clint - some trip hazards are easier to correct than others. These do need to be pointed out, as you stated.

Sep 20, 2012 10:50 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Dorie,

So true.

I have even had insurance companies call and have me inspect after the fact.

They don't like the trip hazards at all.

Thanks for the comment. Have a good day in Austin, Texas.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 20, 2012 10:52 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Joan,

The weird thing about the hazards in the drive way is that the home did have new sewer service brought to the home. These in the drive way are no longer in use.

UH..."Take them out" how simple a fix is that? LOL

Have a good day selling in Denver.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 20, 2012 10:55 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Tom,

Yes, some can really be a pain to deal with. I have a home with a gas line that comes right over the sidewalk about three inches off it.

How in the world do you deal with that?

Have a great day in California my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 20, 2012 10:57 PM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Clint...really poor decisionmaking on where they put those standpipes.  Why not put the cleanouts in an out-of-the-way location?!

Sep 20, 2012 11:01 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your photographs.  Every home owner should make an effort to eliminate the tripping hazards.  More good reasons for a professional home inspection.

Enjoy the last day of summer and be prepared to have your camera in hand to capture the colors of autumn. 

Sep 21, 2012 12:46 AM
Vince Chinell
VICO Home Inspection - Branson, MO
CPI

Clint,  Seems like when people "add on" to their home with patios or sidewalks, especially with cleanouts, they just start to build and don't seem to worry about what problems they cause.???

Sep 21, 2012 01:01 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Clint... these Trip Hazards have become so common, people believe they are common.

I'm going to save this post as proof. They next time I hear someone say, "Oh, that's nothing." I'm going to show them this!

Thanks a million Clint - you may save someone's life from having a trip accident.

Sep 21, 2012 02:20 AM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Hi Clint.

With careful planing this shouldn't be.

Have a nice and productive weekend.

Sep 21, 2012 04:50 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Clint.  Those are some pretty dumb tradesman putting those standpipes in those locations.

Sep 21, 2012 09:15 AM
Randy Ostrander
Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI
Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

Good evening Clint. Sometimes I find trip hazzards when I least suspect it. lol.

Sep 21, 2012 10:49 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Anita,

These are usually cut down to not stick up like that.

Bad position for them to be left in.

Thanks for the comment and have a good Weekend.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 21, 2012 08:21 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Roy,

There will be some chances to get some very good shots as Mother Nature stops by to begin the Fall march.

Have a great day in Virginia.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 21, 2012 08:23 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi VInce,

All they have to do is cut the darn things down to ground level.

How hard is that to do? It's not at all.

Have a great day in Missouri.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 21, 2012 08:25 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Patricia,

The Realtors don't like for me to even mention this. But sell a home with a trip hazard that had not been mentioned in he report and see how fast someone wants to sue you.

Have a great weekend in Flower Mound Texas.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 21, 2012 08:26 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Joshua,

I'm going to be busy as heck this weekend. 

So far I have three inspections for today. Busy, busy.

Have a good day and thanks for the comment.

Have a good day in New York City.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 21, 2012 08:28 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hello Conrad,

Location not the issue. It's the height they were left at and never cut down to the right height.

Have a good weekend in Webster my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 21, 2012 08:30 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hello Randy,

This is so true. Walk around a corner and there one is. And if it's happens to be dark... Look out.

Injuries occur all the time because of trip hazards.

Have a great weekend in Big Rapids.

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 21, 2012 08:31 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

On a home inspection I was explaining to my clients why the erratically placed stones in the front "sidewalk" were trip hazards.  The listing agent, walking backwards, began by saying they had been there a long time and nobody had ever tripped.  At that moment she tripped really ugly, with her dress going over her head.  I helped her up, of course, but she was quiet from then on.  She left immediately after opening the door...

Sep 21, 2012 08:58 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Clint, know by the photos in your post that you don't lack for comedy in your life! May your 3 inspections this weekend be a bit less humorous! Doubt it, but look forward to some more humor on Sunday or Monday!

Sep 21, 2012 10:49 PM