Private Electrical Inspectors

[infinity]

Anyone do private electrical inspections? I was thinking about the ongoing home inspector thread where electricians are often hired to repair or contradict with explanation the problems found in a home inspection report. What about electrical inspectors, anyone doing this as a business? I would think that with either the licensed electrician or licensed electrical inspector there would be some liability involved if your work gets you dragged into a lawsuit.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

Probably not the answer you are looking for.
I will do this with a core group of contractors (plumbers carpenters, tin knockers) that I work with for our own customers instead of a HI when asked.

 

[romex jockey]

I went for my IAEI cert decades ago, thinking i could semi-retire an ahj, or similar entity

Until i realized the liability involved......

If one works for the 'state' and/or municipality a level of sovereign immunity exists that would be harder to achieve in the private sector

~RJ~

 

[Craigv]

Talk with your insurance agent about liability coverage. My business has 1M/2M coverage, well above state requirements and sufficient for the work I do, but if you were to work in primarily commercial/industrial inspections, the levels would need to greatly increase.

A chat with a lawyer would be well worth an hour or two of his/her time to determine your realistic exposure.

 

[infinity]

I'm not really considering doing this but I know around here electrical contractors are usually the ones who take an inspection report and make comments when there are incorrect statements like "undersized #12 wire on 30 amp breaker feeding AC unit" (even though the MCA is 19 amps). If for some reasons their actions kill a real estate deal there could be the potential for a lawsuit even if they were correct. I'm not sure if standard EI liability insurance would even cover them if they got dragged into a legal battle.

 

[jumper]

I do not know about private electrical home inspections, but many areas use third party inspection agencies for regular inspections.

MDIA is common in the Mid-Atlantic states, but it is possible to get on the list of approved companies.

My first electrical inspector did. He was a master electrician working for an EC.

He found out what the requirements were; got the appropriate paperwork, insurance, and whatever taken care of and started a company.

He is still in business and started in 1990 or so.

 

[Craigv]

I'm not really considering doing this but I know around here electrical contractors are usually the ones who take an inspection report and make comments when there are incorrect statements like "undersized #12 wire on 30 amp breaker feeding AC unit" (even though the MCA is 19 amps). If for some reasons their actions kill a real estate deal there could be the potential for a lawsuit even if they were correct. I'm not sure if standard EI liability insurance would even cover them if they got dragged into a legal battle.

Anyone can be sued at any time for any ( or no ) reason. You, for example could be named a defendant in a civil suit for any work you've ever done, or that someone thought you did.

Liability insurance is a double-edged sword in that having a lot makes you a "deep pocket", but not enough exposes you to personal loss. The other key I forgot to mention is that your business should be incorporated or an LLC, so that any company related legal actions are only against the corporate entity, not you personally. Then your insurance coverage and company assets are the "only"' things exposed to loss... not your home, personal assets, etc.