Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

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Jhr

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I went out to look at a job this morning I am supposed to bid on. The customer had faxed me a copy of the "HOME INSPECTION REPORT". One line on this report says
Observed multiple ungrounded 3-prong outlets should be improved. This can be as simple as filling the ground slot with epoxy
What will they think of next :eek: .

[ February 13, 2006, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Jhr ]
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

You have to admit that it would be more effective (in the context of preventing a homeowner from being deceived into believing the safety ground is working properly) than placing a sign that says "no equipment ground." :D
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

The home inspectors here in Florida seem to be getting better at their jobs since they started requiring them to be licensed (ASHI Certification). Before that, just about anyone could call themselves a home inspector and contract work.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Bryan they can still go and get an occupational license that lists them as a home inspector.That can be decieving to the average home owner.When questioned are you licensed they can factually say yes.No insurance needed,no experience,just sign a paper and go in bussiness.
Just go to ebay and there are all the forms ,programs that can make a non knowing person look like a profesional.They inspect take some pics and go home and write a report complete with arrows ,foot notes that look like they know what they are doing.
Until there is an actual licensing agency that regulates these licenses this will go on.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Originally posted by allenwayne:
they can still go and get an occupational license that lists them as a home inspector.That can be decieving to the average home owner.
Isn't Florida a state where anyone can also call themselves an electrician?
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Bob,anyone from any state can say they are an electrician.A few states even let journeymen pull permits and make contracts. ;)
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Originally posted by jimwalker:
Bob,anyone from any state can say they are an electrician.
No, actually many states require you to have a certain level of training and pass a test before you can call yourself an electrician. :p

Here to be a Journeyman requires 8000 hrs in 4yrs for light heat and power purposes and 600 hrs Board approved education.

After that you are eligible to take the two day Journeyman's test.

What are your requirements?

And yes I am a Journeyman in my state and yes I can pull a permit. :cool:
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

In Florida, you can't just go get an occupational license as a home inspector anymore. You have to apply for ASHI certification first and upon successful completetion, you can obtain a buisness license to opertate.

This is a positive requirement which I wish they would do for the journeyman license.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

When I moved to Florida (Leon Co.) My Indiana Electrical License was non reciprocal. I had to show notarized documentation from previous employers, they ran a background check and had to provide a credit report? Now in Indiana most counties will allow You to wire/ pull permits without any documentation, license, etc. On the other hand to be "Home Inspector" they now must be licensed.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

I'm not going to recommend that my clients stick anything other than the correct plug into a receptacle, but as noted above there is a logical reason for this modification, at least superficially it appears functionally equivalent to one correct repair (an ungrounded receptacle) and I understand where the inspector got the idea: I?ve seen this fix recommend to homeowners on web sites, for example the first GOOGLE hit is:

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/qa/qagfci.shtm

And I?m wondering: is this modifications in fact prohibited in the NEC, either specifically or under the rubric of some general prohibition against unapproved modifications?

Inquiring minds want to know...
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Originally posted by bphgravity:
In Florida, you can't just go get an occupational license as a home inspector anymore. You have to apply for ASHI certification first and upon successful completetion, you can obtain a buisness license to opertate.
Nope, no requirement for home inspectors in Florida - I've been working for licensing for home inspectors since 1990-91. We've gotten licensing on the governor's desk twice - only to be vetoed twice.

This is a positive requirement which I wish they would do for the journeyman license.
Don't hang your hat on ASHI requirements, they are just like the others, ABSOLUTE MINIMUM requirements. That's like saying 'knowing how to pick up and use a screw driver make you an electrician'.

While I cannot believe a home inspector (of which I R 1 :D ) would say that, I also cannot believe some of the things electricians say and do.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

:)
No, actually many states require you to have a certain level of training and pass a test before you can call yourself an electrician
:)
I have to differ with you on above quote. Many States have requirements to be met before they will recognize an individual as an electrician. This does not stop everyone from calling themselves an electrician.

I have been on many jobs because HO couldn't get the "electrician" they hired back out to take care of the problems they were having.

If they had used a licensed electrician, they wouldn't have had the problems in 1st place. ;)
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Originally posted by dlhoule:
No, actually many states require you to have a certain level of training and pass a test before you can call yourself an electrician
:)
I have to differ with you on above quote. Many States have requirements to be met before they will recognize an individual as an electrician. This does not stop everyone from calling themselves an electrician.
IMO that would be fraud and could land them in legal trouble.

This state takes licensing very seriously.

In this state if you have a sign that says you are an 'electrician' or you perform electrical work it must also carry your license number.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

IMO that would be fraud and could land them in legal trouble.

This state takes licensing very seriously
So does this State.

In this state if you have a sign that says you are an 'electrician' or you perform electrical work it must also carry your license number
Our law is really very simple. It basically says that if you are going to do electrical work you must be licensed unless the work is being done in you own home.

Many people still do not follow all of the laws of our great community, twp., county, state, country. :) :) I wish they did.

But then I don't necessarily agree with all of the laws and regulations, so I can understand in some cases.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

i know two home inspectors that work in florida. one is an ex-fire sprinkler fitter and the other was a carpanter. they now their own trade and very little of the others since both are around thirty years and have only worked in their own trade about twelve years! they both attended a licensing school to earn a home inspector's certificate -- this was not certified by the state but a home inspector's association! at the time they attended these classes -- that was the only certification available. now this same school provided them with classes concerning the duties of the home inspector. and yes, i asked them what the look at concerning the electrical end of their inspection. there was the same answer --- gfic protection --- disconnect switches --- circuit identification in panels -- damaged outside wiring. the problem with this inspection is that the realtor and new home owner weigh heavily on this report --- there is a single woman down the street that just found out her house needs a new roof --- a $26,000. roof. she bought this house less than two years ago --- and the first thing she said was "how come this roof issue wasn't mentioned in the report provided by the home inspector when i purchsed my house?". i told her the inspector was not a ex-roofer or he may have warned you about the age of the roof!!!! and i have been called to fix home inspector listed items and have come across items that were not code violations and when i pointed these things out -- guess who the new owners believed----------------the home inspector!!!
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

What really gets me is there is no critera when certification is given.Just pay and attend the course and a certificate is issued.Anyone can still go and get an occupational license and call themselves a home inspector even without certification.All the certification does is add to the myth that they know what they are doing.
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Allen why does this bother you so?


There are many people that claim to be electricians and do not have a clue what they are doing.

A bad electrician can burn down a house, a bad home inspector will cause what?
 
Re: Home Inspector "O MY GOD"

Originally posted by iwire:A bad electrician can burn down a house, a bad home inspector will cause what?
A bad home inspector will cause a home that is about to burn down, and that will burn down if the pre-existing, imminent hazard (i.e., bad wiring) is not detected and repaired in time, to burn down, because the hazard was not detected. They can also cause plumbing disasters and structural disasters to occur by virtue of their not having detected the pre-existing, imminent hazards. I have friends that spent $400 on a home inspection, and shortly thereafter spent $5,000 repairing the damage caused by a pipe burst whose imminent occurrence had not been noticed by the home inspector.
 
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