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Advanced Home Inspection Methodology
Advanced Home Inspection Methodology
Contents
Discussing the detection of so-called “hidden” defects strikes fear into the heart of
home inspectors.
It incites rage in the hearts and lungs of realtor - perfectly decent folks whose legal
and contractual obligations to building sellers put them naturally in a position of
conflicting interests with those of a property buyer.
Reading this paper or attending this lecture makes a tougher approach towards
finding hidden defects part of our professional literature and thus raises the
standard of due diligence for all of us. If you don't want to practice at this level you
should stop reading this material or if you're seeing this in a classroom, leave the
room now.
For home inspectors, the fear is that if clues, even subtle ones, exist for a defect,
we may be expected to find it. That’s why it’s difficult. Unlike a forensic engineer,
we don't get to order destructive testing. Whichever camp is your tendency, better
investigative skills can only improve your service to your clients and reduce risks
for all.
A natural, careful program? Sounds far too orderly! Home inspections are chaotic.
There are people, control, and technical issues! Clues are often discovered
randomly with respect to space and time.
The right attitude is essential. Cookbooks don't work. Checklists are incomplete.
High-speed run-throughs cheat both the consumer and the property. Every house
has a unique surprises. Look for them. Stay open to new, unfamiliar possibilities at
every house. That’s how to maximize the chance of discovering as much as
possible about the property. Don't’ assume! The last explanation for a familiar
anomaly may not be correct this time.
Little clues can point to hidden (or previously undiscovered) problems. Collect
them.
Clues may be small visual anomalies, historical information, smells, sounds, both
familiar and unfamiliar.
The most powerful clues are often simply construction practices which are known
to lead to trouble.
If an anomaly doesn't lead to something, just keep it on mental file for a while.
Volume & Detail Obscures Building or Complex System Defects
Looking carefully at any complex system will produce a large volume of clues.
This large volume is distracting, confusing, and makes for trouble for everybody.
Before you can start contemplating details, how do we deal with the signal-to-noise
ratio problem?
1. Stay away from unimportant details even if they "impress the client" (like testing
stove burners) - they can cost big-time by diluting attention. An expert should sort
detailed observations into clues that may justify further investigation and those that
can with confidence be classed as a terminal point for an unimportant finding. For
example, is a stain seen on a wall due to a hidden leak or due to soiling from a pet
who rubbed against that area?
2. Avoid Selection Errors – making a mistake about which details get attention.
Focus on the center of the large field of an easily-viewed steep-slope roof having
no penetrations and in good condition should not be at the exclusion of a low-slope
hard-to-see roof more likely to be worn and leaky.
3. Choose your focus based on the return on investment of your time and your
client’s money. Time spent assessing clues that suggest costly hidden problems is
more important than time spent testing stove burners or determining which water
lines are controlled by which shutoff valves (other than identifying the main shut-
off).
1. make observations
2. consider implications
6. continue until the observations (fear) force the defect across thresholds of
reporting
7. make recommendations
1. Lowest: consider but do not report – premature, keep the observation in mind
and continue inspecting
The realtors present at this case study, and some of the building inspectors all
argued that since one could not personally see a framing problem, there was
nothing that should be reported. This camp argued that reporting a costly building
damage condition was mere speculation.
I agree - that it is speculation, but I'd call it "informed" speculation. If the collection
of contextual clues crosses a sufficient threshold of risk, such items should be
reported. And of course, as most readers will suspect, later removal of siding
showed very extensive sill and floor joist framing damage from termites and rot. At
$100./linear foot just for sill repairs, this was a very costly problem that needed to
be brought to the attention of the building buyer and owner.
Weigh the risk of angry realtor who feels that you should not be thinking so
carefully about hard-to-see defects, or embarrassment of being mistaken by
warning of a potential hazard against the risk of someone’s injury or in the case of
collapsing septic and cesspool systems, dangerous chimneys and flues, carbon
monoxide and combustion air problems (can't see that one can you?), or even
mundane falling hazards, there is risk of serious injury or even death!
Here are the classes of findings which deserve highest priority of attention. This
little list can help the inspector and the inspector's client sort through the large
volume of clues and "findings" that will be produced by any careful inspection of a
building. For the following three items, the "building is in control of the client's
money" in the sense that items in all three categories really need to be addressed
promptly.
Correcting other defects may be highly desirable, may make a building more
economical to operate, or more comfortable, but they may be elective in that the
client can decide when these expenses are to be incurred.
If a building has no insulation, the inspection and report need to point that defect
out, and significant cost may be involved in its remedy. But delaying the installation
of insulation means higher heating or cooling costs, not that the building is
suddenly unsafe or deteriorating rapidly (excluding the freezing pipe problem in
freezing climates). So this is an example of an item which, while important, can be
deferred.
You may point out minor defects, as a courtesy or even as an added service, but
keep yourself and your client focused on the purpose of the inspection: to reduce
the chances of a costly or very dangerous surprise. Otherwise both you and your
client will be very sorry later. Explain this focus to your client.
Isn't this what you're already doing? Then why talk about it?
4. What could you have seen or thought that might have permitted an accurate
guess, warning, prediction?
Don't bother memorizing the specific case study conditions which follow.
5. Concluding [a decision of the level of risk involved and an opinion of the need for
action]
Techniques can improve visual detection of defects present on the system being
examined, reducing inattentional blindness by a variety of methods
Techniques for focusing vision and avoiding distraction can improve visual
detection of clues suggesting “hidden” defects
What was the very first clue that got me thinking about it?
When did I first understand that there was probably a serious defect?
What additional clue, observation, thought led me to that conclusion?
How did I find and correlate it to come to a final identification or other conclusion
that this was, or was not, a significant concern?
In sum, what small anomaly did I observe that led to an important conclusion?
This approach by no means suggests that you cast out more strict and methodical
investigative procedures. Checklists and procedures are most helpful for
determining that something is missing, or that you've left something out. But no
inspection checklist, no procedural guideline, can ever possibly cover every
anomalous condition nor every possible major defect that may be present at a
property.
What is the nature of the most valuable possible advice to a client regarding
property condition?
Researchers are concerned about Type I Errors and Type II Error. Or: the error of
accepting a false hypothesis and the error of rejecting a true hypothesis.
“The furnace is new, I don't see any rust, so the fire chamber is ok.”
Observations missed:
- burn marks on back of furnace jacket where flames escape a crack caused
during shipment – the confident inspector didn't look at all sides of the unit.
- inaccessibility – (but might the inspector have noticed something like a crushed
cabinet corner that might have raised a question?) Here’s “X-ray vision!”
Contractor takes the safe, profitable choice: replace all rather than fix
So the inspector recommends that a component be replaced, or that costly
destructive inspecting be performed, when it’s not necessary and not appropriate.
The cost is a misapplication of both attention and money on everyone’s part.
Engage in real risk management rather than simply giving advice that is intended
to protect the inspector at the client's cost.
We identify visually detectable problems, visually detectable risks for which there is
sufficient data to suggest attention, and selecting levels of response appropriate for
economic and safety reasons.
Reducing risk for the client adds value to the inspection – it’s good business.
Reducing risk for the client reduces also risk for the inspector.
See Inspect the property for mold, other contaminants, and mold-causing
conditions
See Mold Investigation Tips for Home Inspectors
See Indoor Air Quality Investigations: Fiberglass in Indoor Air, HVAC ducts, and
Building Insulation
See How to find and recognize asbestos in buildings - visual inspection methods,
list of common asbestos-containing materials
Like open blocks at the top of a concrete block basement wall, cracks in the floor
slab, basement toilets through slabs. And some areas are known to be over "hot"
uranium-bearing rock, such as the "Reading prong." But one cannot know if there
is a radon problem in a building without conducting a proper test.
Electric Power Lines, Electromagnetic Fields, Cancer Risk, & "Enviro-Scare" - The
Normal Curve Cycle of Public Fear of Environmental Issues
Observations: steel pipe in small bald area of ground - blocked with wood chock;
near the barn - ask yourself: What is it?
Implications: what about UST for old farm vehicles, now abandoned. Collapse and
Environmental issues.
Observations: dual sump pumps, very wet basement - distracting and obvious
older oil tank in basement, rusty - don't make an assumption error that there is no
older tank
dual-oil lines coming through basement wall, abandoned oil lines right at the
furnace, flood lines on furnace wall - don't make a capture-error: note the furnace
issue and go to consideration of the abandoned buried heating oil tanks
Implications: There used to be? Or still is a buried oil tank
Further observations: coffee can found under bushes, ignored before, this time,
pick it up! - covers old tank, viewed with flashlight (not on hand at 1 st outdoor trip
around) contains liquid
Implications: old buried oil tank, not in use, not properly abandoned, possible
environmental issue/collapse hazard, significant cost and history of severe
basement flooding, high risk of water damage or rusted heat exchanger on
furnace, i.e. safety and cost issues
See Home Heating Oil Underground & Above ground Oil Storage Tank Problems &
Solutions, and the inspection and testing articles linked-to from this page.
More data available: note pipe routing in crawl space heads right for house wall
near that wood "deck".
More observations: lift wood deck with help from client - very cautiously observe
collapsing steel septic tank
Detail of above
Conclusions:
Inform client - avoid later discoveries that make client look as unhappy as this
woman!
Warning: Don't let unfamiliar structures distract you! (boat-deck takes on a new
meaning)
Observations, inside: bands removed at bottom for entry to sauna, >open ceiling,
heat tapes, repaired pipes, exposed wiring - history of freeze ups, bands removed
at top for entry to bedroom, badly rotted windows
Warning: Don't let one dramatic finding cause you to miss something more
important:
gaps in walls, open to outside, (similar gaps visible. in kitchen below, caulked,
open, no pix)
Implications:
structural movement, risk collapse? poor choice of windows, extensive rot, risk
concomitant insect damage
New/Recent construction, common maintenance
by owners' association - common defects
Observation - recent construction: Siding at ground, Nearby trees (leaves blow into
gutters), General maintenance company on-duty - may not care about details - just
makes more work., Wood-landscape tie steps against front door and front wall -
higher than probable sills, ROT
Implication:
Implication: foundation cracking, insect and rot damage, (no further access,
general warnings made consistent with next example, same house)
Implications: history of gross water entry, flooding, sill and floor and possibly wall
rot and damage, also insect damage, probably water, earth, frost-load damage to
previous foundation.
Question: what has been done to prevent damage to the new foundation and wall
repair work?
Further investigation: found post and beam floor joist tenons rotted off, not
connected to sill, sill tipping and moving, amateur repairs with sister 2x6's face
nailed to rotted sill and to joists, heavy load above floor from Franklin stove and
slate hearth >and large amounts of tenant possessions, 3 teleposts adding
supporting floor from below.
Implications: unsafe wood stove, incomplete and improper structural repair work,
significant cost to cure, risk structural damage or collapse
Observations: drainage towards back of house, rocky hill (see hat), clogged
gutters, heaved walk at rear wall, siding at ground, rot and hole in sill at back door
Implications: history of water entry and recurrent severe flooding, unsafe furnace,
(rusted heat exchanger?) (actually this is a different furnace, photographed through
the inspection door), structural repairs needed at rear wall, drainage and site work
may be needed outside, gutter maintenance needed, bug and rot damage to sills
Conclusion:
Unsafe conditions - risk total blockage,CO, etc.
Implications:
sooty heater operation, poor system operation, possibly just maintenance, could be
very serious: blockage, draft, fire chamber, or other operating problem
damaged combustion chamber liner (obstructs flame, makes soot) (no slide)
Conclusions:
Recommendations:
Observations:
long flue run on gas water heater into oil-fired boiler vent
burn and char marks around heater draft hood
Implications:
Conclusions:
Observations:
Implications:
Observations:
no cleanout door lower than vent entry to chimney sealed-up barometric damper
Implications:
Recommendation: check for unsafe chimney ASAP; system needs proper service.
Observations:
valley runs into chimney - promote risk
Implications
Conclusions
Observations:
Implications:
Observations:
Implications:
ice dams, damage, leaks - look at the ceilings inside, and in attic if accessible -
promote risk
Observations:
Implications:
previous fire, look for other damage
Observations:
Basement at wall bottom, vermiculite spilling out - was poured in walls (may
contain asbestos), but *** avoid an assumption error - keep looking: and notice the
UFFI oozing out from another building cavity - previous environmental issue,
current MCS/marketing issue
Observations:
Rock wool at eaves - >*** avoid an assumption error, look in that gap by the entry
into the attic!
Keep looking: funny corrugated material visible - looks like asbestos pipe insulation
Observation:
Observation:
Observation:
Implication:
Observations:
outside, old foot valve and piping found on ground - implies sloppy repair work,
unsanitary?
near house, wet soggy area in line with water pipe trench between well and house
- implies leaky
pump cycles periodically even when water is off in house - confirms leaky water
pipe?
Implications:
leaking well line between house and well may have burned up previous pump?
Further observation:
Observations enabling the inspector to spot hidden oil spill oil tank concerns
oil odors entering basement - lots of possible explanations. What did you see at
chimney top? What did you see outside about oil delivery piping?
recent delivery? recent service? oil spills found ? operating problem ? tank leak
Tank looks pretty clean, but there's a big wet area
also look at welded seams; also look for seepage at filler pipes;
Observations:
Implications:
Catwalk
Footnotes
[1] Your professional reputation is not reduced by saying you don't know, or you're
not sure. Your professional reputation is destroyed, irrevocably, by bluster and
bullying. Everybody (except you who do it) sees right through the baloney of arm-
waving.
[2] Example: a bad burner on a range, while annoying, is 1. excluded from ASHI
scope and 2. very unlikely to be connected to a significant expense at the property.
Focus on this clue builds an inappropriate expectation in the mind of your client
that the purpose of the inspection is to assure that trivial items are in order: stove
burners, oven temperature accuracy, dishwasher cycling, gate latches. These are
absolutely not the purpose of your inspection, and not only does attention to them
mis-communicate to your client, it also dilutes your total attention and risks an
increased probability that you fail to attend something costly or dangerous.
[3] If your neck is broken because you fell down the stairs (a boring defect but the
most common source of injuries and lost time in North America) then it doesn't'
matter a hoot that the roof leaks or the oven thermostat is inaccurate.
[4] Including things that don't work at contemporary standards of safety and
reliability.
Predictions: