Originally Posted by
imported_John Smith
At what point do you start/stop disassembling items.
Removing a panel which was put there for inspection and service is not 'disassembling' the unit.
I think you have to at least go by the SOPs, but those are the SOPs regardless of what >than 50% of inspectors in your area do.
SoPs are just that, as you said, regardless of what other inspectors do. SoPs are "REQUIRED MINIMUMS", when you inspect a NEW HOME, do you expect to find the builder did everything to MINIMUM? No. You would pooh-pah the builder for building a minimum home. Why should a home inspector be treated any differently?
Minimums? That's not what you get up in the mornings and
broadcast to the world about 'Today, I am going to meet my required minimum standards.' - okay, what about yesterday and the day before? Did you do less?
No, like code for builders, SoP for home inspectors are what you are expected to do ... minimum ... like it or not ... you agreed to do *at least that much*, that is nothing to beat your chest about, you HAD TO do at least that much.
The SOPs are the minimum and of course some people do more than the minimum. We all pull covers on electrical panels, water heaters, etc. but I would venture to say most people arent dismantling all wall switches/receptacles/plumbing clean outs/etc.
No one said anyone had to, or would be expected to.
Now, though, back to the 50% plus factor ... if you ever go to court, two thing will first be looked at:
1) Did you *at least* do what the SoP requires you do to?
2) Did you *at least* do what 50% plus one of the other inspectors in your area do? That is the established "standard of care" for your profession in your area. Do less and you will be treated as less than average. Do you want to be considered as 'doing less than average' work? You will likely lose when you go to court if you chose that as your business model.