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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Sioux City, Iowa
    Posts
    49

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
    Posts
    4,245

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Forever, but 7 years is more likely the more correct legal answer.

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    1,096

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    If you store stuff electronically get one of these. You can store alot of reports on 1TB.


    1TB external


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Every home inspection report and picture ever taken I have stored on a external hard drive and on CD's as a backup. A bit extreme maybe, but its just something I do.

    To make it worse, I have an email account with Google and I always CC every emailed report to myself to have as a backup in case I'm out of the office and need to look up a report. Just another storage place at NO Charge.

    rick


  5. #5
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Everything I had past the last few years went up in smoke. Paper, CDs and hard drive....gone for ever. I didn't want to store it just anywhere so I stored it at a friends while waiting for the new place....... The house burned down All gone


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    2,365

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    To make it worse, I have an email account with Google and I always CC every emailed report to myself to have as a backup in case I'm out of the office and need to look up a report. Just another storage place at NO Charge.

    rick
    I do the exact same thing.... Gmail is the best poor man's backup available. The convenience is great. I can forward reports right from my cell phone and, if necessary, open the laptop and have full access.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    As a few others have said it can depend on your location. Mississippi has a 3 year limit of liability from the date of the inspection in their statute (law), after that legal action can not be brought against a home inspector.

    In Tennessee right now it is 5 years, hopefully we will get that down to 1 year with a change in the law this year.

    From a common sense aspect you need to think of why you should retain records and what is the worse outcome of not keeping them for eternity or however long. Personally I would have a difficult time trying to recover any inspection from any date past 3-4 years.

    Why would you want to keep an inspection record from a job you did 3+ years ago unless your state law requires it?

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  8. #8

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Patterson View Post

    Why would you want to keep an inspection record from a job you did 3+ years ago unless your state law requires it?

    You wouldn't. In CT we can be sued for 3 yrs on liability and 6 years on contract. The IRS requires 7 years, (i think). I throw all my stuff as soon as it hits the 6 year mark. An IRS audit would not need to look at individual reports.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    I've got in$pection reports going back to 1994, with the exception of a few I lost in computer hard drive crashes - 1994 is when I started doing my reports on the computer.

    My question is: Those files take up so little room ... Why not keep them?

    Dang, some make it sound like you will be in legal trouble IF you keep them that long.

    Paper report files done before 1994? Threw them out when we moved up here in 2006 simply because I did not want to lug them around and store those boxes any more.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  10. #10
    Edward Loughran's Avatar
    Edward Loughran Guest

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    I use an automatic back up service (Carbonite). Plus thumb drives etc.


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    I've got in$pection reports going back to 1994, with the exception of a few I lost in computer hard drive crashes - 1994 is when I started doing my reports on the computer.

    My question is: Those files take up so little room ... Why not keep them?

    Dang, some make it sound like you will be in legal trouble IF you keep them that long.

    Paper report files done before 1994? Threw them out when we moved up here in 2006 simply because I did not want to lug them around and store those boxes any more.
    All true, but I still see no need in keeping files when you really don't need them. Heck, I'm also the type of person if I have not used something in a year or so it might get tossed if it is cluttering up the area. My wife on the other hand does not toss anything! She just keeps collecting stuff......

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  12. #12
    Richard Stanley's Avatar
    Richard Stanley Guest

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    I do not recall seeing any LAW in Texas that requires that reports be retained for any amount of time. Anyone?? I have heard many un-official opinions.


  13. #13
    Rick Maday's Avatar
    Rick Maday Guest

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    5 years - reports AND notes/pics per IL law.

    And you don't need to cc: yourself on every email. They should be in your "sent items" folder (attachments and all)


  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Posts
    3,154

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Maday View Post
    And you don't need to cc: yourself on every email. They should be in your "sent items" folder (attachments and all)
    Not if you use POP 3 like Outlook or Firefox and you are on a different computer.

    Department of Redundancy Department
    Supreme Emperor of Hyperbole
    http://www.FullCircleInspect.com/

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Georgetown, KY
    Posts
    538

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Online Backup, Computer Backup Software & Remote Backup – Carbonite.com

    Once you have it set up, forget it. It backs everything up automatically every time you're connected to the internet.

    I was forever forgetting to back up with that old "I'll do it tomorrow" but never got to it.

    With carbonite, I don't have to remember or put it off. It's just done!

    $43.00 bucks a year.

    -

    Erby Crofutt, Georgetown, KY - Read my Blog here: Erby the Central Kentucky Home Inspector B4 U Close Home Inspections www.b4uclose.com www.kentuckyradon.com
    Find on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/B4UCloseInspections

  16. #16
    Rick Maday's Avatar
    Rick Maday Guest

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist View Post
    Not if you use POP 3 like Outlook or Firefox and you are on a different computer.
    Outlook will save them in a sent folder if you'd like. Haven't used the firefox email app, but I imagine you can configure it to do same.

    Yes, using a local program like Outlook will only save them on one computer.


  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    While I still have a bunch of paper reports going way way back, they are getting tossed this winter when I tackle the basement for de-cluttering project.

    As a side note. I have an external hard drive that does an automatic back up. That drive crashed. While my computer is in good shape, my back up crashed.
    Got me thinking about off site back ups. I guess I need to look now.


  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
    Posts
    4,245

    Default Re: Record retention for inspection files

    I've never used Carbonite but have used Mozy for about a year now for similar process. Mozy has been trouble free and unobtrusive in it's operation. The only time I know it is working is once a day I will have a message pop up telling me the backup has been successfully performed and how much memory has been used. I keep about 10.5Gb out of the 11 paid for so far. If I exceed what I have purchased, I just go in and buy a little more. Simple, and I don't have to remember anything except the pass words to get in to access my account if I ever have a problem. I also have most of the reports available on my Yahoo! email server for free.

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

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