Texas - Required to move items

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

Sooo.........many items....had a hard time loading these pictures. But it was all pretty well organized........And you couldn't get to that hot water tank back in the corner?

You must be new to this game Brian, garage slab floor could not be observed.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

You must be new to this game Brian, garage slab floor could not be observed.

Much less the wall outlets to ensure GFCI protection was present .

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by mboyett

Much less the wall outlets to ensure GFCI protection was present .

Old hand Michael.

I have a lawsuit story to share as soon as it is finished.

[Nick Gromicko]

Clearing out a garage would make it more "difficult."

I like www.nachi.org/comsop.htm 's definition:

Accessible: Can be approached or entered by the inspector safely, without difficulty, fear or danger.

[Gary Farnsworth]

I'm in Kansas. With our new bill in the senate, I can see hundreds of pictures, and hundreds of pages of documentation in an inspection report, and take days to prepare. The life of this industry, seems to me, is limited.

[gporter]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

Don't forget to check under those skid marked drawers.

Funny

[David A. Andersen]

Don't test the outdoor GFCI's without checking the garage first!!!!
You may HAVE to move all that stuff!

[John McKenna]

I should be through inspecting this house in 3 days, after I move all the stuff...

[Richard W. Washington]

Originally Posted by jcahill

The Texas Standards have been revised by subcommittee. They go before full committee in early April. The first example of profound change is in the definition of accessible.

The proposed standard will require the inspector, by implication, to move items of low value in order to perform the inspection. This may have significant impact on the scope of inspection.

Review the history of this definition. The current Texas (or NACHI) standard does not require items to be moved.

Current TREC definition: Inaccessible - Not having access without the use of special tools, equipment, or instruments, or removing doors, walls, stored items or similar obstructions, or by causing damage to a structure, finish or component, equipment or system, or by virtue of inadequate clearance, walkways, passageways, or hazardous condition.

No national or international inspection standard requires the inspector to move stored items. The subcommittee is proposing a significant change in the way the inspector does business.

The original revision required inspectors to move items of low value. After objections it was re-written in the inverse.

Current proposal: Accessible - In the judgment of the inspector, the part, component or system can be approached, entered or viewed without moving large, heavy, fragile or valuable objects or obstacles, probing, using specialized tools or procedures, damaging property or disassembly, and without physical limitation or danger to the inspector. (current proposed wording)

Current proposal paraphrase

Without Moving Large Heavy Fragile Valuable Objects

Implied requirement

With Moving Small Light Durable Inexpensive Objects

This requires the inspector to move items. This radically changes 30 years of inspection fundamentals used throughout the United States and Canada.

Comments please

What is low value? $50 or less, $25 or less, is that nightstand $50 or $100? Uhmm it's a $100. Guess I need a picture of every supposedly low value item for cya.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

You better bring an antique appraiser with you for you can tell if it is really valuable or a cheap copy!

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Brian -

When I'd only been in this 24 years, I too used to often move peoples crap to get to ........... I was a big boy inspector (dumb ***, big boy).

With all the foreclosures and BIG, high $$$$ houses on the market for 6 months / 1 year people and their used house commissioned sales man have gotten way more NASTY than in years past.

Three times in the past year, after we inspected a house that had been on the market for 10 months to 18 months and found lots of problems - the buyer backed out.

Next thing we know, the seller or the listing Agent is calling telling us the cardboard box on the basement floor that we moved to be able to stand in front of the electrical panel (the box was next to the 5 year olds toy train track set) had GRANDMA's (now deceased) antique china doll (handed down for 5 generations) in it AND theres now a chip in the doll that the seller doesn't remember being there before AND the seller feels its ruined forever and wants $1,500 for their pain and suffering ..............

SOP - Sorry folks, we don't move .... You want it inspected move it for us.

Basic - Home Inspector Survival 101-A

[Gary Farnsworth]

People now days just have more stuff. I have done presentations to reatlors, and have distributed a list of pre-inspection tips to get the home ready for an inspection. It is even on my web site. I promote it heavily. I cannot count the number of times I have chased a cat out of a home.

http://www.metrospeckc.com/Before_The_Inspection.php

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by dbowers

the cardboard box on the basement floor that we moved to be able to stand in front of the electrical panel (the box was next to the 5 year olds toy train track set) had GRANDMA's (now deceased) antique china doll (handed down for 5 generations) in it AND theres now a chip in the doll that the seller doesn't remember being there before AND the seller feels its ruined forever and wants $1,500 for their pain and suffering ..............

SOP - Sorry folks, we don't move .... You want it inspected move it for us.

Basic - Home Inspector Survival 101-A

worth repeating!

[John McKenna]

Have the client sign a "we will not move anything" disclaimer if needed.

[Bruce A. King]

Originally Posted by gromicko

I like www.nachi.org/comsop.htm 's definition:

Accessible: Can be approached or entered by the inspector safely, without difficulty, fear or danger.

"without difficulty"... moving most stuff is not really difficult, it is time consuming, so is moving things included in this sop or not?


"fear of danger".... does this include the "danger" of being accused of scratching something?


I think Texas needs to get more specific too, they should list the items that are required to be moved AND when they need to be moved such as: push mower, light cardboard box, up to 3 bicycles to access an electrical panel.

ie. Move countertop items blocking outlets that appear to the inspector to not be fragile.

ie. Move one basket of clothes to look behind the dryer.

What about an attic stair above a car and the keys are in the car (owner not home)? Do you texas guy's have to move the car to gain access to the attic?


Looks like a non-inspector, non legally educated type has been tweaking the rules in texas!