Episode 57 - Performing Your Best Inspection

[Chris Morrell]

Hey everyone,

NACHI.TV just released a new episode:

Episode 57 - Performing Your Best Inspection
James Krumm of Colorado's Best Home Inspections is one of the most successful home inspectors in the country. We invited James to perform his best home inspection for NACHI.TV. For years James and his multi-inspector firm have been busy, prosperous, even in these challenging times. We asked him to reveal some of his secrets and business practices that make his company so successful.

Watch this episode now. Reply here to discuss.

[David C. Macy]

My questions and thoughts after watching the video are.

How many inspectors adjust the safety reverse by force on a garage door opener?
How many inspectors check every window in a home?
What if any is the height requirement at a window well to require a cover.

Thanks James thought is was a video well worth watching.

I gained some information and reminders when performing inspections.

Items I was refreshed on or did not know.

Clamp for disposal wiring.
Flex lines for water heater. (Still not to clear on this especially here in Ohio)
220 Plug changed from 3 to 4 prong and year it was done.


I like the idea of the chair and rubbing alcohol.

Thanks

[john bubber]

One day....maybe....Nachi will take the world to a home that has a leaky basement. Then the public could see how they handle those problems,what they say and recommend to homeowners. Sheesh, hope it won`t be the usual knothead recommendations of raising and sloping the grade,filling in low spots,adding 500 mile long downspout extensions. And maybe they`ll show them recommending the inside system co`s to the homeowner, Johnny Bubb can`t wait for that. Is it too risky fer ya`s to show us a thorough inspection of a leaky basement? Just remember, Johnny Bub is lurking.....ready to fire away!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EVTV...eature=related

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by john bubber

One day....maybe....Nachi will take the world to a home that has a leaky basement. Then the public could see how they handle those problems,what they say and recommend to homeowners. Sheesh, hope it won`t be the usual knothead recommendations of raising and sloping the grade,filling in low spots,adding 500 mile long downspout extensions. And maybe they`ll show them recommending the inside system co`s to the homeowner, Johnny Bubb can`t wait for that. Is it too risky fer ya`s to show us a thorough inspection of a leaky basement? Just remember, Johnny Bub is lurking.....ready to fire away!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EVTV...eature=related

Home inspectors do not make recommendations to homeowners as to how to correct a defect in our reports. Not those of us who plan to stay in business for any length of time, anyway.

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by inxil

Hey everyone,

NACHI.TV just released a new episode:

Episode 57 - Performing Your Best Inspection
James Krumm of Colorado's Best Home Inspections is one of the most successful home inspectors in the country. We invited James to perform his best home inspection for NACHI.TV. For years James and his multi-inspector firm have been busy, prosperous, even in these challenging times. We asked him to reveal some of his secrets and business practices that make his company so successful.

Watch this episode now. Reply here to discuss.

Since you went to the trouble to put the slider bar on the bottom, I wish that it actually worked so you we could adjust it more freely and not only a few seconds at a time. This problem is with all of the videos that I've watched.

[john bubber]

Hear ya Mr Bushart, the smart ones won`t. But quite a few do and apparently so do some HI ORG`s and others like Mr Ken on Nachi Tv, episode 54 around the 13:15 mark. Paint/apply whatever on inside block wall(s). http://www.nachi.tv/episode54 Then distributed some EDUCATIONAL fliers? And now a hero. LolOloolllL

Hey Ken, you want some real educational material on basement waterproofing,the Bubberman suggests you go to Nachi`s own structural board and click 'something else to chew on'....click those pictures and links written by Army Corps Engs,Yoder,Faifax County VA etc. That is, if you really wanna help inform people on this subject sir. Got Milk?

How about the Nachi apparently recommending their inspectors/chapters have the inside goofs come speak and fill em full of insider-chit-chat crap.
http://www.nachi.org/forum/f13/basem...meeting-22344/ What would Basement Systems want to speak about? Door knobs? Light bulbs? What kind of fingernail polish the old lady uses? How knowledgeable and honest Bubberman,Capizzo,EOF.Stremmy,Downriver Water`g is? I don`t think so.

Whats this homeowner say?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28992838@N07/2708000265/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2899283...n/photostream/
Still leaks, got mold?

How about another ORG...NAHI.
1st paragraph it sure appears they want the world to visit Basement Systems website. http://www.nahi.org/public/department76.cfm
Why sooo much azz kissin applied from HI ORG`s to their butts?
Whats going on? Incompetence? Friends,money changing hands?
Something smells just like the lady in that video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq66EA8aKy0

[Nick Gromicko]

Diploma mill ASHI member Jim Bushart writes:

Home inspectors do not make recommendations to homeowners as to how to correct a defect in our reports. Not those of us who plan to stay in business for any length of time, anyway.

Jim, didn't you read your own diploma mill association's own Standards of Practice 2.2.C.2 ?

Good luck in court with that goofy SOP!

This from ASHI's SOP (note 2.2.C.2)

2.2 Inspectors shall:
A. adhere to the Code of Ethics of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
B. inspect readily accesible, visually observable, installed systems and components listed in these Standards of Practice
C. report:
1. those systems and components inspected that, in the professional judgment of the inspector, are not functioning properly, significantly deficient, unsafe, or are near the end of their service lives.
2. recommendations to correct, or monitor for future correction, the deficiencies reported in 2.2C.1, or items needing further evaluation.

Anyway, the legal question isn't whether or not you (as an inspector) make recommendations to correct or not. I probably would verbally, in certain instances, if I felt I was knowlegeable enough about a particular issue to offer a recommendation. I certainly wouldn't within my report like the goofy SOP above requires. The legal question is are you stupid enough to be a defendant in a courtroom and having to explain why you didn't, even though you agreed to abide by your goofy association's goofy SOP that says you "shall."

In other words, you never want to belong to an association that requires you to do it, because you are then in breach if you don't.

And you definately do NOT want to ever belong to any association that requires you to include in your report your determination of whether or not each and every single defect uncovered should be corrected or simply monitored for future correction or is in need of further evaluation.

If you belong to two or more associations, the plaintiff can hold you to the SOP of the association that most helps his/her lawsuit. Being a member of InterNACHI (only)protects you as InterNACHI makes it clear to your client that you are not responsible for providing such a determination for each and every single defect uncovered: www.nachi.org/sop.htm (3.2.V) and www.nachi.org/comsop.htm (7.12 and 8.2V).

ASHI's SOP is so horrible that it is safer to be a member of nothing, than a member of diploma mill ASHI.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Diploma mill ASHI member Jim Bushart writes:

Jim, didn't you read your own diploma mill association's own Standards of Practice 2.2.C.2 ?

Good luck in court with that goofy SOP!


Anyway, the legal question isn't whether or not you (as an inspector) make recommendations to correct or not. I probably would verbally, in certain instances, if I felt I was knowlegeable enough about a particular issue to offer a recommendation. I certainly wouldn't within my report like the goofy SOP above requires. The legal question is are you stupid enough to be a defendant in a courtroom and having to explain why you didn't, even though you agreed to abide by your goofy association's goofy SOP.

In other words, you never want to belong to an association that requires you to do it, because you are then in breach if you don't.

And you definately do NOT want to every belong to any association that requires you to include in your report a determination of whether or not every defect should be corrected or monitored for future correction.

Nick...I know you are a better reader than this.

A "recommendation to correct" is NOT the same as a "recommendation as to how to correct".

Home inspectors do not recommend to clients what action to take regarding a defect so as not to be linked to the outcome of such recommendation should it not succeed in remedying the defect.

As those who regularly view NACHI Tv's errant videos advising consumers with improper remedies....such as to throw away four year old water heaters....much harm as well as unnecessary increases in liability can come from such recommendations.

As you pointed out, we "recommend to correct" the defect. As the contractor is in the process of correcting the defect, he will often change his mind as to the proper remedy once he removes drywall or other visible obstructions....and gets a better view of the conditions than what the inspector had in his non-invasive inspection.

There is no need to turn this into a NACHI vs ASHI thing.

No prudent home inspector will recommend in his report the action a client should take in order to correct a defect.

[Nick Gromicko]

A plaintiff is permitted to interpret an ambiguously authored SOP to their benefit.

Nevertheless, read ASHI's 2.2.C.2 again slower. There is nothing ambiguous here. ASHI members are burdened with an impossible requirement. That being to make a determination for each and every defect discovered... that the defect should be corrected or need only be monitored or need further evaluation.

Sounds like a REALTOR wrote ASHI's SOP 2.2.C.2.

2.2 Inspectors shall:
A. adhere to the Code of Ethics of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
B. inspect readily accesible, visually observable, installed systems and components listed in these Standards of Practice
C. report:
1. those systems and components inspected that, in the professional judgment of the inspector, are not functioning properly, significantly deficient, unsafe, or are near the end of their service lives.
2. recommendations to correct, or monitor for future correction, the deficiencies reported in 2.2C.1, or items needing further evaluation.

[Christopher Currins]

I thought the video was done fairly well, informative, went pretty smoothly. I respect the point Jim Krumm made about presentation and communicating with your client. Even though at the present time your working for them, it's their future references to family and friends that will keep you in business.

[Nick Gromicko]

Jim, be honest....

Do you actually make and report this determination for each and every defect you uncover in each and every report?

Or do you lie when you tell your clients that you abide by the SOP that you tell your clients you abide by?

[Nick Gromicko]

Doing something for your clients that you haven't agreed to do is good business. If you are competent to make such a determination or recommendation, by all means, do it.

Telling your clients that you do this for each and every defect uncovered is nuts (from a legal standpoint). And nuts is what you have to be to say you abide by ASHI's SOP.

[Nick Gromicko]

Jim writes:

There is no need to turn this into an InterNACHI vs ASHI thing.

Uh, but that is exactly what it is.

One association (InterNACHI) tells the consumer that its members don't provide such determinations.

One association (ASHI) tells the consumer that its members SHALL provide such determinations for each and every defect.

What this isn't.... is it isn't about what some comment made by some manufacturer's representative while being live interviewed (without script) on a NACHI.TV show. Disagree with something he said? Write him. Our camera men don't mind. Your continual pointing to but one comment made by one guest on one long, unscripted interview on NACHI.TV speaks much about the quality of its guests... but nothing about InterNACHI's SOP and ASHI's SOP being 180 degrees opposite on the matter at hand.

[Rick K. Kie]

I thought the Video was good almost to a tee what i do with a few exceptions.

1.The second latter on the roof was too dangerous to show on a video.
2.There was no drip leg on the gas line for the water heater.
3.I fill the sinks 1/2 way to check the traps. Just running a little water will not show leaks at the trap or trip lever assembly.
4.Why wasn't the missing crawl space insulation on the floor joists called out?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Jim writes:

Uh, but that is exactly what it is.

One association (InterNACHI) tells the consumer that its members don't provide such determinations.

One association (ASHI) tells the consumer that its members SHALL provide such determinations for each and every defect.

What this isn't.... is it isn't about what some comment made by some manufacturer's representative while being live interviewed (without script) on a NACHI.TV show. Disagree with something he said? Write him. Our camera men don't mind. Your continual pointing to but one comment made by one guest on one long, unscripted interview on NACHI.TV speaks much about the quality of its guests... but nothing about InterNACHI's SOP and ASHI's SOP being 180 degrees opposite on the matter at hand.

No association tells its members to recommend fixes for defects...aside from a few of the NACHI Tv episodes you produce. It is an ill-advised act that will increase the inspector's liability with no financial return.

Even when getting the contract, good contractors will tell a client in certain instances of the possibility that more problems can be discovered once the work has started and more of the defect is revealed...thus, increasing the cost.

With the exception of the people in your videos, most home inspectors in all home inspection associations...and, additionally, most home inspectors in NACHI...refrain from recommending the remedy to the defect in their reports.

Your continuous false publications that ASHI's SOP support the actions reported in your infomercials does not make it true. ASHI does not require its inspectors to recommend a fix to a defect in the report.