The Tragedy of the Traverse

First lets start off with some definitions-

Traverse (verb)- To travel across or through.

Tragedy (noun)- An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.

Okay that is simple enough. Next is a question. Is your home inspector doing a home inspection or looking for and excuse to not inspect something or some area? Is that who you want to hire?

I am hearing all too often about inspectors who are not entering and traversing crawlspaces or attics when they can. Even for me, at times,  I have not been able to fully enter or traverse a crawlspace or attic. But I will have a good reason and I will state in my report the reason why I could not “TRAVERSE or fully TRAVERSE” the crawlspace or attic. I will advise that these areas should be made accessible or may have hidden issues.

Here is example one, a live wire in the attic next to the duct. This was just a foot or so from attic access. This home was inspected a few weeks prior to my home inspection.

Does anyone else see another issue here in the picture?

Per the Home Inspector’s standards of practice of Washington State-

(1) The inspector will:

Describe the type of building materials comprising the major structural components.

Enter and traverse attics and subfloor crawlspaces.

But here is the caveat in the SOP that so many seem to invoke. This is a judgement call, and I underlined the escape clause.

The inspector is not required to:

Enter

(a) Subfloor crawlspaces that require excavation or have an access opening less than eighteen inches by twenty-four inches or headroom less than eighteen inches beneath floor joists and twelve inches beneath girders (beams).

(b) Any areas that are not readily accessible due to obstructions, inadequate clearances or have conditions which, in the inspector's opinion, are hazardous to the health and safety of the inspector or will cause damage to components of the home.

Move stored items or debris or perform excavation to gain access.

This leads me to the next question, if you as a home inspector are unwilling to enter and traverse these spaces why are you a home inspector? What is your real purpose?

Example two, A Drum Trap that has been leaking for who knows how long. Again this home had a pre-listing home inspection done.

Who did this serve? Not the person hiring the home inspector.

For all others in Real Estate industry if you see a home inspector not doing this why are you not informing your clients that this is not being performed and the obvious issue with this?

This is such a huge disservice to everyone and is not right. This is a critical part of the inspection process and cannot be overlooked.  How would everyone feel about an electrician or plumber who said,  “thats really too bad, your plumbing and electrical is in a crawlspace or  attic, I will not look at it and/or repair it”?  It’s their job and they need to go fix it. Then why would you allow a home inspector to not do their job?

As a homebuyer you need to report any inspector who is not performing a proper inspection.

Here is the link to file a complaint-

http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/homeinspectors/hicomplaint.html

It really is up to all of us to correct this situation. The tolerance of these actions is hurting everyone, the Home Inspection Profession, the reputation of Realtors referring these inspectors and lastly and most importantly the Homeowner or Buyers that hired the home inspector to help be protect them and inform them. This is the tragedy.

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                                   509-670-9572