Originally Posted by
Jerry McCarthy
Ted, I beg to differ. There are times when disclaimers must be used in order to show why you didn’t check something that you would normally inspect. A utility is shut-off, the “fully packed” garage, any room stacked high with personal items or debris, “There’s a sleeping baby in that room, please don’t go in.” The attic with R-30 insulation, the foundation crawl space of “Mr. Pack-Rat’s” residence, etc….. After escrow closes and these folks have evacuated the home “stuff” is now visible and so why didn’t you see it and report it?
Most of that is covered in the state contract. As far as most of the rest of what you mentioned, well, of course, a very brief one liner for the baby sleeping in the right front bedroom. I was using the statement that I do not put disclaimers as in some reports I see with a paragraph or 2 under every single section. You don't need a paragraph to tell folks that you were asked not to go into a particular room for a baby sleeping.
The vast amount of inspections do not have the sellers there. Almost all.
I do not move furniture or owners belongings other than the above mentioned small items to get at a panel or water heater etc, disclaimer sure. Pretty brief and simple.
I cannot see thru walls
I cannot see thru rugs or concrete floors! I cannot see thru insulation! If they don't know that, well, bring it on.
The insulation is a standard "I do not disturb the insulation other than gently walking thru it to inspect the rest of the attic as well as any low or inaccessible attic areas.
I am sure you have seen plenty of reports where half if not most of the report is nothing but disclaimers.
Sorry for the direct "I do not give disclaimers" I should have said and I think I alluded to massive ridiculous disclaimers.
Oh yeah, I did mention roofs briefly as an example. That was meant to tell you or whom ever that there will be an occassional, brief disclaimer.
As far as roofs we have to say where we inspected it from and why, same with attics or crawls. That is all part of the state standards. So in saying that it is throughout the report where folks are told certain things and I do not consider those outright insane disclaimers. They are general entries.