John Dirks Jr Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Now and then I have a client request structural and mechanical only. I've never scaled my service down and always did the full general inspection which I'm sure included structural and mechanical. Where are the clients getting this idea? If I decided to do it as they suggest, exactly what is expected in a structural and mechanical only inspection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Framing and HVAC. My AC contractors license says 'mechanical' which means AC, heating and ventilation (range hood, bath exhaust fans, etc) Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 . . . Where are the clients getting this idea? . . . Ask them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim5055 Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Does Maryland define the scope of an inspection? Can it be negotiated or does the state mandate a minimum inspection from a licensed home inspector? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 . . . Where are the clients getting this idea? . . . Ask them. Well, I did ask them about exterior, roof, plumbing, electric. I suggested it was important to inspect those things too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Does Maryland define the scope of an inspection? Can it be negotiated or does the state mandate a minimum inspection from a licensed home inspector? There is language in the MD SOP which allows a partial inspection as long as at least two of the major categories are done. So it would be legal in MD to do structure and HVAC only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric B Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 If I decided to do it as they suggest, exactly what is expected in a structural and mechanical only inspection? You know as well as I do John that different systems can interact with each other. What if poor grading is putting excessive pressure on the foundation and causes a problem down the road. Will the client get upset because you didn't point out the potential. About a year ago a client only wanted a partial inspection. I had him put in writing what he wanted me to cover. After he got the report he thought of other things he wanted to know about and wondered if I happened to look at them as well - which I didn't. He was a bit miffed even though he acknowledged that he tied my hands with his request. He didn't get any sympathy out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 If I decided to do it as they suggest, exactly what is expected in a structural and mechanical only inspection? You know as well as I do John that different systems can interact with each other. What if poor grading is putting excessive pressure on the foundation and causes a problem down the road. Will the client get upset because you didn't point out the potential. About a year ago a client only wanted a partial inspection. I had him put in writing what he wanted me to cover. After he got the report he thought of other things he wanted to know about and wondered if I happened to look at them as well - which I didn't. He was a bit miffed even though he acknowledged that he tied my hands with his request. He didn't get any sympathy out of me. Which is exactly why I'm skeptical about the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie R Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Send them a copy of the Maryland SOP and tell them to cross out and initial the areas they don't want inspected. I did it once and they came back wanting the whole inspection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Ask them which things you notice in other systems that are unsatisfactory they'd like you to not tell them about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 There is language in the MD SOP which allows a partial inspection as long as at least two of the major categories are done. So it would be legal in MD to do structure and HVAC only. Interesting. Didn't see it in the SOP which runs from 9.36.07.00 to 9.36.07.13. I'd like to see it. Do you know where it is? Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 There is language in the MD SOP which allows a partial inspection as long as at least two of the major categories are done. So it would be legal in MD to do structure and HVAC only. Interesting. Didn't see it in the SOP which runs from 9.36.07.00 to 9.36.07.13. I'd like to see it. Do you know where it is? Marc I know it used to be there. I'll have to look. It's possible that it changed. I'll tell you what I find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 . . . Where are the clients getting this idea? . . . Ask them. Well, I did ask them about exterior, roof, plumbing, electric. I suggested it was important to inspect those things too. That's not asking them where they got the idea. Did they read about it on the interweb, hear about it from their agent, friend, or family member, or just think it up on their own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric B Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 This seems to be a new trend - people want half-a**** work for a lower price. This has a scary correlation with people's interest in suing for a perceived poor job done. Jim is right to ask - where's this coming from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 One time I had a customer tell me her realtor told her to ask for a partial, and then to question me about the rest of the stuff. It was a gambit for getting a whole job for half the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Eric, I think you miss spelled the adjective for work. I usually use half-*****, rather than half-***, or in your case half-**** which does not comport with my dictionary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 I have done partials and just issue a letter, billed at an hourly rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 I've never done a partial, because in IL it would not be a "home inspection" as outlined in our regulations. Sometimes when someone is planning on doing major renovations I'll provide a verbal consultation. I'll look and talk about anything they want but they have to take notes and I provide no written document. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 ...of course another partial service happens, and has for me, when client is present and a "show stopper" problem arises. Client calls off the work, bill is hourly, with a letter issued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric B Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Eric, I think you miss spelled the adjective for work. I usually use half-*****, rather than half-***, or in your case half-**** which does not comport with my dictionary. You're right Les - my spelling was half-***. or should it be *****? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Eric, I think you miss spelled the adjective for work. I usually use half-*****, rather than half-***, or in your case half-**** which does not comport with my dictionary. You're right Les - my spelling was half-***. or should it be *****? ...............and I notice that I can't spell mis-spell? At least I am in good company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted January 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 There is language in the MD SOP which allows a partial inspection as long as at least two of the major categories are done. So it would be legal in MD to do structure and HVAC only. Interesting. Didn't see it in the SOP which runs from 9.36.07.00 to 9.36.07.13. I'd like to see it. Do you know where it is? Marc I know it used to be there. I'll have to look. It's possible that it changed. I'll tell you what I find. I couldn't find anything on this. It was something I heard at a meeting a long time ago. Maybe it used to be there but no longer is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 We are supposedly all grown ups. As such we are allowed to enter into contracts for all sorts of services. The big deal with partials is making sure your client understands that the further you stray from SOP the less teeth the inspection has with respect to their real estate transaction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 We are supposedly all grown ups. As such we are allowed to enter into contracts for all sorts of services. The big deal with partials is making sure your client understands that the further you stray from SOP the less teeth the inspection has with respect to their real estate transaction. My E+O provider specifies that I do a complete inspection and produce a full report. I don't know if this rule gets put to the test very often, but it is something to be aware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Who's your e&o provider? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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