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Re: Attic access problems
The subject of liability is always an interesting discussion. It is always good to keep in mind that as a home inspector, we generally do not do any thing that a normal person would not do. If something occurs unexpectedly as a result of an action that should have been anticipated, then it seems reasonable that it is due to the seller's negligence.
What would a buyer do? Would they light a pilot light to see if the appliance was working? Unless they were woefully ignorant, they most likely would. Might they open an attic scuttle? Certainly.
It amazes me how Americans (and everybody else nowadays, it seems) like to blame others for their errors. A good home owner maintains their appliances, for example. If it is broken, a reasonable person would say so up front. A good home owner checks their attic once in a while. They would have insulation cleared away from the attic scuttle, or have it arranged so that it would not fall down out of the attic scuttle once the scuttle was opened. Glass vases should not be placed so that they fall out of a cupboard when the door is opened. Air conditioner evaporator coils should be kept clean, so they do not ice up. Air handler filters should be changed or cleaned to allow proper airflow through a heat exchanger or evaporator coil. Electrical systems should be maintained in safe working order. And so on.
Just because the home inspector came to visit does not mean that everything that went wrong was his or her fault. That's a little like blaming the dentist for cavities.
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