Performing a Foundation Inspection According to the InterNACHI® SOP

[@aaronerickson8878]

This guy actually gets into technical details, which is what we're all looking for

[@internachi]

Correct. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@marcellogenovese199]

Shouldn't it be noted that the un-eveness in the finished basement was most likely occuring along the engineered expansion joint which would most likely be measured on center with the other unfinished side? Also shouldn't there be a note about the carpet in the basement? I thought carpet in a basement like that is a sponge for moisture, I would assume you would at least note that and use a moisture meter down there wouldn't you?

[@internachi]

Hi, Marcello. Good questions. The home inspection standards of practice does not require diagnosing. So, determining what's going on under installed carpeting is beyond the scope of a home inspection. And carpeting in a finished basement is expected and common.

[@marcellogenovese199]

@@internachi Ok Thanks Ben, I get caught up in the explaining part and have to remember to just observe and report only.

[@NewWaveSports229]

@@marcellogenovese199 Couldn't diagnosing it put you at liability if you are wrong? If you kill the deal so to speak so the seller goes out and gets an exhaustive study by a structural engineer and blames you for mis-diagnosing something that was beyond the scope of your inspection.. Remember they are only paying you for a limited visual inspection

[@marcellogenovese199]

@@NewWaveSports229 That depends really on your approach. If a slab for example is humped in one spot and out of level then you should do much more IMHO then simply point out the flaw and defer to another professional. So for this example lets say efflorescence is present on the slab as well, now I have enough information to put things together for my client. Now I can tell them that it's very likely that there is a moisture issue, and how exactly moisture could cause this event (heaving, undermining etc). I wouldn't stick a pin in any exact theory, however because I cannot of course be 100% sure. My clients are always much more satisfied when I am able to put things like that into my reports and that also makes the agents happy because an unknown problem is what kills deals, not something as simple as the home lacks gutters and is poorly graded, those two things will help keep the footing drier. In my experience over time you will lose out if you always pass the buck rather then offer up any possibilities. Just avoid trying to nail it down with certainty. After all only a couple things can make a slab crack and be uneven, either settlement because they didn't pack the earth beneath, or more often water. Anyway, hope that made sense.

[@NewWaveSports229]

@@marcellogenovese199 I would point out the uneven issue, suspecting that it is a structural issue but it was covered by carpet and wall finishing, so not further inspected, and recommend further review by either a structural engineer or a foundation contractor. You should protect yourself from liability.. I think sticking strictly with that scope and sop is best based on what you can see. When you go beyond the SOP of your certification then you are putting yourself at liability.. And also if you go beyond a "visual" inspection in one area, the argument can be made that you should have went beyond the visual inspection in other areas also. Even if you might want to go beyond in an area.. for example an electrical panel is missing a green "bonding" screw and you stick it in because you have extra... later there is an electrical problem and you get blamed..well you aren't an electrician and did electrical work on the home? What would a court think? or For example why didn't you run a camera down the sewer pipe to check for cracked pipes ? well it isn't covered in the SOP. "Well you went beyond the SOP in one area, so you should have went beyond it in other areas also" Some customers are looking for someone to blame

[@Sequenceinspections]

The pier should go down to bedrock? That could be 40+ feet below the house! Their discussion on this should have addressed soil compaction which is out of scope. Is there any evidence of heaving, cracking, crushing, or other movement of the pier or support column? If not, then these appear to be ok.

[@internachi]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@SwingTrading]

Do you guys ever have any converses?

[@internachi]

Not sure what "converses" are?

[@fruitbandit8369]

@@internachi They must be talking about sneakers?🤔 👟🤷🏻‍♀️

[@tchrisou812]

How do FHA inspections differ from conventional loan inspections if at all?

[@internachi]

FHA inspections are limited, like a 4-point inspection. A full home inspection is complete and thorough with every system and component in a house.

[@tchrisou812]

@@internachi thanks for the reply and information

[@ktg5713]

👍 Great

[@internachi]

Great.

[@Sequenceinspections]

So you will raise a flag in your report about potential heaving in the basement floor but don't state what needs to be done about this. Do you think you're being helpful to your client?

[@internachi]

Home inspectors are conservative when making recommendations on repairing, which is best coming from a contractor specializing in that repair.

[@sandymoonstone855]

ty

[@internachi]

You're welcome.

[@NewWaveSports229]

Your definition of a very small crawl space..LOL come to Oklahoma they are maybe 10 inches in many cases

[@internachi]

That's tight.