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Ron Bibler
08-12-2012, 08:39 PM
DILIGENT VISUAL INSPECTION

Are you providing these inspection ?

Termite Inspection
Roof Inspection
Electrical Inspection
Plumbing Inspection
Structural Inspection

QUESTION: The law in California requires a "diligent, visual inspection" every three years of property the Condo. association is obligated to maintain. What is diligent?

ANSWER: You are referring to language found in the Davis-Stirling Act which requires boards "as part of a study of the reserve account requirements" to "every three years" cause to be conducted a:

a reasonably competent and diligent visual inspection of the accessible areas of the major components that the association is obligated to repair, replace, restore, or maintain . . . (Civil Code §1365.5(e))

"Diligent" is not defined in the statute but is clearly more than a cursory inspection. Black's Law Dictionary defines diligent to mean "attentive and persistent in doing a thing." In addition to "diligent," we must factor in what proceeds diligent, i.e., “reasonably competent" and what follows, "accessible areas."

Reasonably Competent. "Reasonably competent" does not require a particular professional license but there are two national credentials available to reserve study professionals. One is the Professional Reserve Analyst (PRA) administered by the Association of Professional Reserve Analysts (APRA). The second is the Reserve Specialist (RS) administered by the Community Associations Institute. Both organizations require a demonstrated background of training and experience in properly preparing reserve studies before they will issue designations.

Accessible. Inspection of "accessible" areas does not mean tearing off roofs and opening walls. In my opinion, it means getting onto roofs, going into elevator rooms, opening electrical panels, and opening equipment service panels (such as on boilers) to obtain equipment information. A diligent person would do all of the above.

Disclosure. Finally, industry standards require that reserve professionals disclose whether a complete inspection or representative sampling was used, whether field measurements or plans/schematic take-offs were utilized, and whether destructive testing was employed.



Ron Bibler
Excellence Exterminating Co.
Termite Inspection | Pest Control | Fumigation | California - Santa Rosa - Sonoma County (http://www.santarosapestcontrol.com)
Termite Inspection & Fumigation, Pest Control in San Rafael, Marin County, California - (http://www.sanrafaelpestcontrol.com)
Termite Inspection & Fumigation, Pest Control in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California - (http://www.petalumapestcontrol.com)
Termite Inspection & Fumigation, Pest Control in Marin and Sonoma County, California - (http://www.marinpestcontrol.com)
707-570-2000
ronbibler@gmail.com

Excellence/Home/Building Inspection Services
Santa Rosa California Home Inspection - Exterminating & Thermal Imaging (http://www.santarosacahomeinspection.com)
707-570-2000

Jerry Martin
08-13-2012, 04:28 AM
That would require state license here.

Peter Louis
08-15-2012, 10:45 AM
something like Strata depreciation report

http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/business-operations-home-inspectors-commercial-inspectors/31742-strata-depreciation-report.html