What would you say to this inspector

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electricmanscott

electricmanscott

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Occupation
Massachusetts Master Electrician, one man show.
Hyptohetical situation:

You file a permit for some work, you do the work to code, you get your inspection in which all of the work your were hired to do is fine, but.....

Inspector sees some things that get his attention, maybe a few loose wires or a couple of covers missing...Nothing to do with anything you did just stuff scattered around the basement.

Inspector says "do me a favor and take care of that stuff" you might say " sorry I don't have time today, tools are packed up and I have another job to get to, I can leave the door unlocked for you to take care of it''

Inspector might say "I'll stand here with the unsigned building card while you go out to your truck and get what you need"


At this point what I would probably point out that he inspected my work and all was fine with it and that the other stuff has nothing to do with me, my work, my permit and as such could you please sign off.


I see my smart assed answer might have ticked the guy off but really he has no business putting me on the spot like that in the first place.

Discuss......Unless of course this is just to much for this forum to handle :rolleyes:
 
I would make sure to check out things like this and discuss them with whom ever I did the bid with before I started my work.

If I didn?t do my home work before starting work how could I not expect the code official to say something about them?
 
I have a big problem with wayward authority....we'll usually come to an agreement after a nice p*****g match....
 
This question goes back to that other thread about where the inspection ends. My guess is that his authority to find "other" violations is limited by the laws adopted in that jurisdiction. Does allowing him in the door open up the entire place to re-inspection? I believe that in some locales it does. Sounds like an extra for the EC. :smile:
 
electricmanscott said:
Discuss......Unless of course this is just to much for this forum to handle :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Not at all Scott but, when you're almost daring it to be closed I feel tempted to take you up on it and shut it down. :roll:

Roger
 
mpd said:
here we go, another inspector bashing thread, this should be very educational
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So far I really don't see it that way.;)

The real question is where does the inspectors' authority begin and end.
 
jwelectric said:
I would make sure to check out things like this and discuss them with whom ever I did the bid with before I started my work.

If I didn?t do my home work before starting work how could I not expect the code official to say something about them?
Click to expand...

That is somewhat unrealistic. I do not do a thorough inspection when I go to look at a job. I get in, discuss with customer what they want done, look around for how I will make it happen, and get out.



The reality is every single house I go into contains numerous violations. If I stumble upon something that is actually dangerous I bring it up to the homeowner and in some cases just fix it and let them know I took care of it.


The code official can say whatever they want about it. It is NOT my property, I do NOT own these issues. The code official should bring these things to the PROPERTY OWNERS attention.


But really my point is more towards the inspector putting guys on the spot like this. When you say something like "do me a favor, fix...whatever" it just makes some feel like they have to do this or else and in fact this is smoetomes the case. Disobey the inspector and you are on the s-list. There is really no need for this.
 
mpd said:
here we go, another inspector bashing thread, this should be very educational
Click to expand...

No, it won't turn into that.

Roger
 
mpd said:
here we go, another inspector bashing thread, this should be very educational
Click to expand...


Not at all. Any bashing I do is always justified.

So do you have a take on the situation?
 
electricmanscott said:
Not at all. Any bashing I do is always justified.
Click to expand...

You forgot to insert "IMO" between those sentences.

Roger
 
electricmanscott said:
That is somewhat unrealistic. I do not do a thorough inspection when I go to look at a job. I get in, discuss with customer what they want done, look around for how I will make it happen, and get out.



The reality is every single house I go into contains numerous violations. If I stumble upon something that is actually dangerous I bring it up to the homeowner and in some cases just fix it and let them know I took care of it.


The code official can say whatever they want about it. It is NOT my property, I do NOT own these issues. The code official should bring these things to the PROPERTY OWNERS attention.


But really my point is more towards the inspector putting guys on the spot like this. When you say something like "do me a favor, fix...whatever" it just makes some feel like they have to do this or else and in fact this is smoetomes the case. Disobey the inspector and you are on the s-list. There is really no need for this.
Click to expand...

I can see your point. But the bottom line is the guy should be speaking to the property owner and not the EC. This has happened to me in the past and turned into a money making bonanza when the EI wants all of the existing violations fixed. He probably overstepped his authority to do so but it did put some extra cash in my pocket.

I agree with you that this isn't and shouldn't be the EC's problem.
 
mpd said:
roger

it always does, the only way would be to close this thread now
Click to expand...

We'll give it a short trial run.

Roger
 
electricmanscott

I have no take on the situation, because it depends what is enforced and the situation, and this thread will accomplish NOTHING!
 
mpd said:
electricmanscott

I have no take on the situation, because it depends what is enforced and the situation, and this thread will accomplish NOTHING!
Click to expand...


Really? You've posted in the thread three times. :rolleyes:

Why not give an inspectors point of view. I laid out a situation. You can start with commenting on that.
 
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