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"Insulation To Be Evaluated And Improved By A Licensed Contractor"

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

The addendum list of requested repairs said, "Insulation to be evaluated and improved by a licensed contractor."

In the previous years this homeowner had done many home improvements with less-than-stellar results.  At the inspection I said it was my opinion that the homeowners really thought they had been left with work that was well done.  During our home inspection one of the problems was the insulation, which was missing in some areas and insufficient in many others.

For example, this was the area seen over the remodeled bathroom.  It was devoid of insulation.

Some insulation previously there was piled to the side.

And the rest was simply swept away, removed in favor of doing work in the ceiling.

Nothing had been replaced.

For a contractor to leave an area like this is unconscionable, but I see it all the time.

My client wanted proper insulation over the area, of course, and it was requested here and in other areas of the attic.

This is what the "professional" and "licensed contractor" did as a repair.     --------------------------->

One batt of insulation was put back into place in a sloppy way as seen on the right.

Toward the rear, unbelievably, other older batt insulation had been TORN IN HALF and haphazardly laid around the vent fan.  The phrase half-assed at best comes to mind.  This is what I felt inside my head -- !!!!

And on the lower edge of the photo loose fill from elsewhere was robbed and somewhat, with emphasis on the word somewhat,  sprinkled over the area there.  That leaves two areas with poor insulation.

The unprofessional, hand-written invoice said, "New installation put to be good."  That must be the new way to spell insulation.  My fourth grade teacher, Miss Summers, would crack his knuckles with a ruler for such grammar.

Would it be unfair to say, really?  Are you sure?

My recommendation:   seldom, but now and then, my clients have me back to review repairs made to houses subsequent to a home inspection.  This client did!  And I'm glad!  Some things on this addendum list were repaired alright, but other things were done very poorly, and a couple not at all, even with an invoice stating that the problem had been corrected.  Are we at the point where clients will need for the home inspector to do a follow-up inspection on "professional repairs?"  Is this your experience lately?

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(9)

Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

There are times when it is best to remove old insulation and install new insulation.

Feb 21, 2017 04:25 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

If it's possible that will always work, Harry.  But insulation is cumulative and can always be added to.  Done properly the R-value is indeed improved.

Feb 21, 2017 04:45 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

It is no better than it was the first time... lol

I offer re-inspections for items repaired that I find, I do it quite frequently. I think it's important to get things done correctly, a re-inspection assures our clients that it is.

Feb 21, 2017 08:06 AM
Stephen Weakley
Nationwide Mortgage Services - Rockville, MD

This contractor is just asking for trouble.  If this happened to me, I would now suspect all repairs done and inspect them with a fine tooth comb.  That contractor would be wishing he/she had done it right the first time!

Feb 21, 2017 10:57 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It was a pathetic mess, Fred.  And all over the place.  The listing agent was there and not happy with me.  She said, "I bet the listing agents you deal with aren't happy with you because you're so thorough..."  That says it all.  I said, "It's always best to hire competent and licensed contractors the first time.  And especially if something is to be repaired."  You should have seen her face!

Stephen - I assure you the various contractors who screwed up so many "repairs" here will not be happy with me (the listing agent who showed up was NOT) and, by contrast, my client was very, very happy.

Feb 21, 2017 01:06 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Sounds like this contractor has a lot to learn ...beginning with spelling....

Feb 22, 2017 01:57 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

There were many invoices, S&D, and only one was professional (which was submitted by the company that did the best work).  All the others had weird wording, wrong words, and misspells.  Embarrassing.

Feb 22, 2017 02:58 AM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

This is interesting Jay, I just had that discussion with a buyer not too long ago. The inspection resulted in a long list of repairs and the buyer was (understandably) very nervous. I suggested that he could always ask the inspector to meet us at the final walk-thru to verify that all areas of concerns had been addressed to our satisfaction. Luckily, the sellers wanted the buyer to love the home and hired reputable contractors, the warranties put the buyer at ease and all was just fine. 

Feb 22, 2017 12:50 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Andrea - a professional invoice with warranties, by reputable contractors, mean a lot.  The crews at this house were none of that.

Feb 22, 2017 01:35 PM