Listing agents can be funny. Some like to show up at the end of a home inspection on their listing "just to answer any questions." Sometimes they also feel the need to give me a little history, just so I know.
I have been doing this long enough to be able to translate all that. What the agent is really saying is, "I know there's going to be a list and I want a head's up now before the report actually comes out." And, "This homeowner lived here a long time and did a lot of work himself. He is very home savvy."
On this particular inspection, the house was in overall good condition. But there was a long list of things that simply needed to be corrected, technically speaking.
Take this dryer outlet for example.
1. It's junction is inside an electrical box and that box is secured to the wall. This is all correct, technically speaking. But it's secured onto a small wood strip glued to a concrete block wall. I assumed (you don't want to assume really) that the box was screwed to that wood strip, but I really don't know. This is all incorrect, technically speaking.
And it's been fine until now.
2. The service cable goes inside the box where a junction has been made. This is all correct, technically speaking. But the box is very small for such a large cable and because of that the cable had to be pulled out of the box in order for everything to fit inside. This is all incorrect, technically speaking.
And it's been fine until now.
3. Further, that cable was improperly stripped, leaving the hot and neutral cables exposed to potential damage. This is not a small amperage line and can really hurt somebody! That gray insulation with the writing on it should go completely inside the box, technically speaking.
And it's been fine until now.
4. The service cables are so large that where they go into the box they are very tight and cannot be easily pulled out. This is all correct, technically speaking. But the National Electric Code stipulates that any electrical cable going into any electrical box should be secured with a connector clamp. This clamp does two things - it holds the cable tightly in place and prevents any sparks from escaping through that hole. Because this box is too small, the hole accommodating the cables is very small and a connector clamp will not fit. Therefore one is not present. This is all incorrect, technically speaking.
And it's been fine until now.
5. The box has a protective metal cover which houses the junction properly and prevents sparks from escaping. This is all correct, technically speaking. But really a cover plate is needed. Do you see the ground lines on the right side of the outlet holes? A cover plate would protect that also. That is another reason why this box should be installed beside a 2x4 stud, securely fastened, and flush to the edge, so a cover plate rests flat and secure. There is no properly-placed cover plate. This is all incorrect, technically speaking.
And it's been fine until now.
Why do I keep saying technically speaking? Because bubbly Miss Listing Agent kept saying that this dryer receptacle had been there a long time and had been fine until now, so "technically speaking" it is OK! With every little point I made about THIS ONE THING, the Little Miss kept debating me with her "technically speaking" come back! She also said, "And it's been fine until now..." more than once.
I WAS JUST ABOUT AS TIRED HEARING ALL THAT AS YOU HAVE BEEN READING IT! Although you knew I was leading to a point, didn't you! After that, when she pressed me for the "rest of the list," I politely refused saying it would be in the report. I WAS DONE!
How about I do my job and you do yours, lady? Go home.
My recommendation: This was just one example of one problem that was OK, technically speaking, and OK to do for yourself, technically speaking, but not OK to sell to someone else because, after all, it was incorrect, technically speaking. And if the house catches fire or my clients are hurt because of something that I let go and did not mention, well, technically speaking, it would make me feel bad and disrupt my life in a big way!
I will admit to seeing things that are very inventive and not correct, technically speaking, but wouldn't bother me if I was to buy the house. If it's alright for me, and after discussing it with my clients it's alright with them, I let it go.
The Golden Rule, after all, is a very good way to live, and that's NOT technically speaking.
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