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What is wrong with my steps. The buyer wants them fixed.

By Clint Mckie

Home Inspector with Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections 10072923

March 03, 2014 07:12 PM

What is wrong with my steps. The buyer wants them fixed.

At Desert Sun Home inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico

I try and be very fair when it comes to inspecting a home for a buyer. I know that there are certain minor things the buyer is going to take care of.

Then there are these things that need to be in the report that will actually save a life or help you as a seller in not getting sued by a family member or friend.

Case in point:

The front steps are not the same height.

The rear steps are not the same height.

The heights of the steps are from 7.25 inches to 8.25 inches.

Off as much as One full inch.

That was not as much a concern for me as the height of the steps platform. These were at 32 inches above grade.

Take a look at the front Patio area. There is no handrails and no railings on the front concrete patio.

No railings or handrails.

You can clearly see the steps are not the same in height.

With the addition of the hand rails and railings. You would be to code for the insurance to cover you if someone did have a fall.

On the rear steps. there is a different story.

Here the owners or buyers need to install a hand rail for the steps. But they are limited where to place the rails.

Rear steps and no hand rails.

On this set of steps. A handrail needs to be installed on the home at both sides of the steps. I asked if Grandma and Grampa ever comes over for a cookout.

The buyers told me yes they do. I told them then we don't want them falling because of no handrails.

These new handrails and railings I recommended will satisfy the insurance requirements. Better safe than sorry later.

This is why you always get a "Full Home Inspection" by a certified inspector. For the peace of mind.

Call Clint at 1-575-706-5586

Have a great day every one.

If you are buying a home and want a very good home inspection. Call Clint McKie at 1-575-706-5586 Desert Sun Home Inspections can and will find the issues if there are any. We service Eddy, Lea and Chaves Counties in Southeast New Mexico. We offer a 90 day warranty. A homeowners manual and Recallcheck with each home inspection booked with us. These added benefits are included for the buyers.

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Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

I would like to see the handrails that are installed on these two areas. Not going to be pretty.

Hope the owners have a good umbrella policy1

Mar 04, 2014 10:52 AM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Jack,

Take a close look at the bottom steps. The steps vary in height as you go upwards.

Have a nice day and thanks for the comment.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 04, 2014 07:21 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Stean,

I think this was a weekend beer party thing. What better way to save on labor costs? They just didn't build the steps and patio correctly.

Have a good day in Your areas today.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 04, 2014 07:23 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Mike exactly,

I think it was a beer party. Looks like the kind of work I have seen in Mexico. Nothing was square or on the level.

Have a great day in Winchester, Va.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 04, 2014 07:26 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Susan,

I hate to write this stuff up. It is so hard to repair to get to code.

I hope the buyer works this out. I don't think a permit was ever issued thus no inspection by the county or state.

Have a good day today on the East Coast.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 04, 2014 07:30 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Margaret,

I hope the railings get installed. The steps are another issue that may or may not be addressed.

Have a nice day in Baltimore my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 04, 2014 07:31 PM

Richie Alan Naggar

people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA

agent & author

This is always a good subject to explore. If one is going to pour new concrete, adding a rail makes good sense. Your point on the insurance makes sense too

Mar 04, 2014 10:37 PM

Rob Ernst

Certified Structure Inspector - Reno, NV

Reno, NV-775-410-4286 Inspector & Energy Auditor

Here is a though. You add more diirt or a planter at least 3' out to raise the grade up a few inches. At that point there would be no need to have a handrail or guard rail. You also can make that bottom step even with grade too. Problem solved. The rounded steps just need a rail on one side. I have never seen a written code or stanadard that states anything other than needing a hand rail on one side of the steps. Good post to get some though going about the dangers of steps. People fall down them all the time.

Mar 04, 2014 10:49 PM

Anonymous

Bob Chansit

I like that idea for the non round steps, haul in fill dirt to grade it to "code," may as well use the language to your advantage since it's hacked up to begin with. A buyer could either leave it as is, shovel the dirt away after if they don't care about a handrail, or they could fix it by busting it up and doing it proper.

Mar 04, 2014 11:26 PM

#55

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Clint, my friends all drink way too much to live in a house like this one!

Mar 05, 2014 12:08 AM

Jeff Jensen

The Federal Savings Bank/Lending in 50 states - Greenwich, CT

I am surpised those steps passed muster the last time the property changed hands.

Mar 05, 2014 03:39 AM

Joe Graham

Graham Real Estate Group - Naperville, IL

Naperville Real Estate Marketing Specialist

Interesting post. I agree, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Chicago2NapervilleRealEstate.com

Mar 05, 2014 04:11 AM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Richie,

Always want to be safe than sorry. As a home inspector, we need to notify the buyers of any safety issues within and around the home. This just happened to be a big one.

Have a nice day in Riverside.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 05, 2014 07:45 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Rob,

Very very good idea. I did mention the fact that grading should be done. But the hand rails are still missing unless a ton of dirt was brought in. Hand rails are cheap when it comes to selling the home.

Have a nice day in Reno my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 05, 2014 07:47 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Bob,

It is a hack job. But I think the sellers will install the railings. Then up to the buyers to refine what they would want to do.

Have a good day and thanks for the comemnt.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 05, 2014 07:48 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hello Patricia,

Too funny but not in the same way. I think when the steps were built there was a lot of Adult beverages flowing. Sad to say but very true.

Have a nice day in your areas today. Thanks for the comment.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 05, 2014 07:51 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Jeff,

I think the steps were added after the home was purchased by the current owners.

No permit leaves a lot of issues for the Sellers.

Have a good day and thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 05, 2014 07:53 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Joe,

Always better to be safe than sorry. I can only report what I find. The rest is up to the sellers and buyers to hash out.

Have a great day in the Chicago areas.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 05, 2014 07:55 PM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I am glad the buyers got a home inspection so you could point it out.

Mar 07, 2014 04:52 AM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Gita,

I am too. They really needed a home inspection on this home.

Have a great day in Bucks County.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 07, 2014 06:13 AM

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What is wrong with my steps. The buyer wants them fixed.

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