Exam question please help!

[Aaron Scheuerer]

Hey guys I had a question on my exam that i just can't seem to find the exact answer online for. The question was something like "If a client with a metal roof has some rusting what is a quick fix you should recommend?" Honestly the only two answers i can remember were either A. Paint or B. Tar

The other two options i can't remember but i feel like they didn't fit either. Online i see all type of different rust stops but none are paint or tar. lol thanks to anyone for an input

[Jack Feldmann]

Is one of the options to not tell someone how to fix something?

[Garry Sorrells]

None of the above.....

Technically the HI is not there to recommend repairs. There to observe and report.:p

Exactly what Exam are you referring to???

[Jerry Peck]

What the others have said ... and this is the answer:
- Metal roof panels are showing rust, have licensed and qualified roofing contractor determine extent of rusting and repair or replacement of metal roof panels.

Not the home inspectors job to determine 'how' - that's the contractor's job before they do the 'how'.

Also curious what test you are taking (no home inspector test should ask that).

And had been stated: neither is even a good answer

[Eric Barker]

Exam questions often don't relate to field experience and can be vague. I have found that it's a process of choosing the better of the bad answers provided.

[Aaron Scheuerer]

Thans a bunch guys! I know and was thinking exactly what you guys are saying while i took the exam. The only problem is that there was no option for " recommend a licensed roofer take a look" or " needs further inspection by licensed contractor". Every single answer was an actual fix to the problem. Tar, paint, some type of gloss i think and something else i can't remember. Oh and this WAS the National Home Inspectors exam. I live in New Jersey and just finished up class. I couldn't believe it when i saw the options I had to answer this question and on top of all that there were at least 5 other questions on the exam with the same type of wording and options to answer. None of them had options other then actual fixes for the problems. Thanks anyways guys mud appreciated! Im new here but look forward to soaking up some of the wisdom! Be well!

[Raymond Wand]

An inspector is not to recommend repairs or cause? Thats a new perspective.

If a hot tub motor is leaking am I not obligated to recommend repairs, or the possible cause? I can't remember ever having a client who did not want to know what options may be available in terms of repair.

Clients rely on the inspection report in making decisions about purchasing the home or with respect to potential repairs. If you are not providing that info what are you doing at the inspection?

We have had this discussion before, if you are sloughing off to experts at every issue, you are not giving your clients what they expect, and in my view operating at minimum SOP.

[Jerry Peck]

An inspector is not to recommend repairs or cause? Thats a new perspective.

If a hot tub motor is leaking am I not obligated to recommend repairs, or the possible cause? I can't remember ever having a client who did not want to know what options may be available in terms of repair.

Clients rely on the inspection report in making decisions about purchasing the home or with respect to potential repairs. If you are not providing that info what are you doing at the inspection?

We have had this discussion before, if you are sloughing off to experts at every issue, you are not giving your clients what they expect, and in my view operating at minimum SOP.

Raymond,

I think you are missing the terms and mixing the terms - let's take one of your examples:

- "If a hot tub motor is leaking"

- Do you typically state what is leaking where and how to repair it? Such as 'The overflow is leaking, replace the gasket behind the tub where the overflow seals to the back of the tub. This can be done by removing the overflow cover, removing whatever gasket, if any, is there now, and replace with a proper gasket, tightening the overflow cover to pull the overflow tight to the gasket and pull the gasket tight to the tub.'?

I trust that you do not report as above.

Thus, you would not report 'slap tar on the rusted area of the metal roof panel' or 'paint the rusted area of the metal roof panel' ... would you?

Sounds like your britches are in a snitch for nothing - got a wedgy? :)

[Raymond Wand]

Jerry

I might be inclined to tell the client how something should be fixed if its something easy, but I do not go into extraneous detail. Just as I might tell them how to remove old dried out caulking using a putty knife or heat gun, clean out gap and apply good quality caulking, something along those lines. Does that go in the report? No. I tell them verbally if they ask how they might go about the repair. Ditto repair options that an contractor might utilize.

And no I would not tell them to slap on tar as that would be an improper repair and temporary at best. The panel may need replacement due to zinc coating has been damaged as an example

[Jerry Peck]

Raymond,

Maybe painting?

Cold galvanizing - it's only $150 a gallon ... :) ... for the paint, not including labor to get it ready to paint ... :(

[Aaron Scheuerer]

Raymond,

Maybe painting?

Cold galvanizing - it's only $150 a gallon ... :) ... for the paint, not including labor to get it ready to paint ... :(



lol thanks man!

[Garry Sorrells]

Hey guys I had a question on my exam .......


An inspector is not to recommend repairs or cause? Thats a new perspective....................................

We have had this discussion before, if you are sloughing off to experts at every issue, you are not giving your clients what they expect, and in my view operating at minimum SOP.


Raymond, you are missing the point of the OP. He is asking about a question on an exam. We do not know what exam he is referring to, though you may first think it is one for HI licensing in NJ. In NJ you take the National Home Inspector Examination as part of the licensing process. He is in NJ and questioning this forum, so a good theory.

Like all exams you do not add anything into the question. The question is kept pure and concise. No "what if", "and", "or", "might be", "could be", or "in my opinion are incorporated into the answer.

If the LAW says that you observe and report or follow some SOP that is all that you do. Most licensing law specifically state what you are to do to meet the requirements of the law. The level of expertise is limited to the requirements of the Lic Law and that is what the exam is focused on. The Exam is predicated on minimal knowledge and limited expectations of background experience and expertise.

To many HIs try to offer opinions and repair specifications in areas they do not have the experience and background. Granted the mantra is to refer/defer all inquires to experienced qualified contractors when any questionable thing is found during an inspection; that is performing to the specification of the Law or a SOP.

If you offer more than the minimal SOP you better have the experience and the expertise to back it up not just an inflated ego or a reluctance to look stupid.

Bottom line is that the Exam is about Code and Law not how to effect repairs. Which is why I stand behind my answer "none of the above".

[Nick Ostrowski]

Exam questions often don't relate to field experience and can be vague. I have found that it's a process of choosing the better of the bad answers provided.

Agreed.

[Jerry Peck]

If you offer more than the minimal SOP you better have the experience and the expertise to back it up not just an inflated ego or a reluctance to look stupid.

Garry,

The above may sound correct on its face, but it is not ... it is a minimalist's approach.

First - if you offer ANY service ... even "minimal SOP" ... then "you better have the experience and the expertise to back it up not just an inflated ego or a reluctance to look stupid."

Second - if you do not exceed the SOP ... there is a very good chance that you failed to even meet the SOP ... and that is even worse.

Third - every inspector should continue to strive to do more and learn more, the SOP is the minimum level, one MUST NOT DO LESS ... which means the second thing above ... followed by doing more and learning more, and therein lies the rub that one 'learns by doing' while, during, and after 'learning by some other means (reading, classes, mentor, etc)".

I would never advise or encourage not exceeding SOP ... if the inspector does not know at least that much - and more - the inspector should not go into the field yet ... which leaves it open that the inspector in the field should be 'ready to do more' than the SOP.

[Raymond Wand]

Like all exams you do not add anything into the question. The question is kept pure and concise. No "what if", "and", "or", "might be", "could be", or "in my opinion are incorporated into the answer. Gee, do you think?


If the LAW says that you observe and report or follow some SOP that is all that you do. Most licensing law specifically state what you are to do to meet the requirements of the law. The level of expertise is limited to the requirements of the Lic Law and that is what the exam is focused on. The Exam is predicated on minimal knowledge and limited expectations of background experience and expertise. I disagree the law does not set expertise, that is something an individual has by way of experience/knowledge each person is going to be different. When I wrote the ASHI exams there were many questions that I was not sure of the answer. I don't think the exam had anything to do with my experience at the time which was minimal as per home inspections. It was not tailored to me.


To many HIs try to offer opinions and repair specifications in areas they do not have the experience and background. I don't agree based on experience and law they don't go far enough and the law tends to agree on that, and that is why inspectors get in trouble.
Granted the mantra is to refer/defer all inquires to experienced qualified contractors when any questionable thing is found during an inspection; that is performing to the specification of the Law or a SOP. Agreed. But its a minimum, it doesn't dictate that one cannot go beyond the minimal.


If you offer more than the minimal SOP you better have the experience and the expertise to back it up not just an inflated ego or a reluctance to look stupid. Offering the minimal SOP is a sure way to end up in trouble. You also have to look to a standard of care which is above and beyond the SOP.[/quote]


Bottom line is that the Exam is about Code and Law not how to effect repairs. Which is why I stand behind my answer "none of the above". That was not one of the answers on the test at least that the OP could remember. Further if you don't know how repairs should be affected to provide your client with options then you are not providing your client with the info he needs to make decisions.

[Aaron Scheuerer]

100% the 4 options to answer the questions were all actual fixes for the problem. Paint, tar, some type of gloss and one other I can't remember. "None of the above" or "see a roofer" was not an option

[Garry Sorrells]

The OP didn't say what type of exam he had taken. Further he only remembered 2 of the offered answers. I can not believe that the NHIE would suggest offering types of repairs or ask about a "quick fix" suggestions as the correct answer. Really a "quick fix" question. Maybe it was a internachi test? If that is the case I would believe it might be a question that they would ask. Heaven only knows since I dough if we will find out what he actually had taken.

[Aaron Scheuerer]

The OP didn't say what type of exam he had taken. Further he only remembered 2 of the offered answers. I can not believe that the NHIE would suggest offering types of repairs or ask about a "quick fix" suggestions as the correct answer. Really a "quick fix" question. Maybe it was a internachi test? If that is the case I would believe it might be a question that they would ask. Heaven only knows since I dough if we will find out what he actually had taken.

National Home Inspection Exam

[Jurie Fourie]

When clients asks for a quick fix like this my advice to them would be " Go to your nearest paint shop. They will advise you on what to do and what to use to fix the problem". Maybe that should have been or was one of the options in the exam question. As stated by others above it is not in the SOP to recommend fixes or give estimates to clients but to observe and report.