Home Inspections by PE
Home Inspections by PE
(OP)
I am wondering if a licensed PE can provide home inspections. I can't seem to find the information specifically saying so. Also, if a friend is needing this as a favor, are there any liability issues with providing such services? This would be a free service on my own time.





RE: Home Inspections by PE
RE: Home Inspections by PE
JStephen is absolutely correct.
But if your friend just want's your opinion, there is nothing wrong with you doing walk-thru with your friend, and giving him your opinion. You could educate him on what to ask the "official inspector" when it is done.
RE: Home Inspections by PE
You'll probably find that most lenders (banks) mandate licensed home inspections to protect their inerest (the loan). If your friend is the buyer and isn't getting a load then he/she can probably waive the inspection but if a financial institution is involved...crack a phone book and look under "inspectors."
RE: Home Inspections by PE
I would approach it as monkeydog suggests-walk thru and look at structural isses(big deal in CA, maybe less so in non-earthquake states, nad then help your friend interpret the actual inspector's report.
A house is a big investment-is $500 or $1000 going to make a difference 10 years from now?
RE: Home Inspections by PE
RE: Home Inspections by PE
RE: Home Inspections by PE
When I bought my home, my inspector was a Certified Engineering Technologist, certified by OACETT here in Ontario. I am a CET too, but not in the same field. I forgot to ask what his training was. Another acquaintance of mine was a home inspector, but I am not aware that he has any engineering or technology accreditation. He got out of the field because the liablity insurance was getting too expensive.
The guy who inspected my house pays a lot of liability insurance. He claimed he had been sued once. He advised someone to empty an oil tank and remove it from a basement, and someone decided to not empty it. The inspector was not held liable in the end.
There was no discussion of structural integrity with my home insurance company. There was great interest in the possible presence of knob and tube wiring. The inspector assured me my wiring was less than twenty five years old. I have not yet found any of the old stuff, but I have not ripped very many wall out, either.
From what I am seeing, being a PEng would not be a barrier to home inspection, but it is not a requirement, either. You still need to be right.
JHG
RE: Home Inspections by PE
Thanks.
RE: Home Inspections by PE
On my part, it was a bad idea. I still had to have an electrician come in to check some things out.
Charlie
www.facsco.com
RE: Home Inspections by PE
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Home Inspections by PE
They will let congressmen home inspect?
I'd hide and lock all valuables before letting one of those guys in the house.
RE: Home Inspections by PE
I live in a small town where there is not good access to those who do inspections on a full time basis and started doing them as a favor to the local real estate community.
I only do about 20 a year so it’s not much of a money maker. (Actually did not do any last year because I was away most of the time.)
The contract that I use for the inspections has a clause in it that limits liability to the value of the inspection. Therefore the limit of my financial liability is for the price of the inspection. Without that clause I could be liable for the full cost of repairing any and all defects that I did not include in the inspection report.
I am also open to professional discipline if I don’t do the inspection to a reasonable level of competence.
If you give a friend an off the cuff opinion you can be held liable both in the area of professional liability and at tort. (Tort is the area of civil law where you can be sued for causing someone harm in the absence of a contract.)
Bottom line is like everything in engineering. If you are not component at doing something then don’t do it.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Home Inspections by PE
That is a very good point, and if you are in error, a good way of losing a friend.
RE: Home Inspections by PE
The majority of issues that are picked up will be architectural. It will be well worth your friends money to get someone experienced at these inspections to look at it.
will you be able to spot water damage that has been covered up? e.t.c. e.t.c.
RE: Home Inspections by PE
The buyer had a licensed home inspector do an inspection, and even though he had the coolest little laptop and portable inkjet printer, the nice report he handed the buyer was,,, not worth the price of his printer, or his $400 fee. I recall 2 or 3 items he brought up in total, and they were corrected by explanation (education). I'll not say how many items I gave my agent, but none were structural or potential safety items. One was noticed by the buyer, and brushed aside by the inspector.
....so the point is: Get someone recommended by (disinterested, 3rd party) construction professionals!
Please let us all know how this works out for you! and don't forget FAQ731-376