Yes, That Just Happened...(Inspection Issue)

Yes, That Just Happened...(Inspection Issue)

Chris ClothierBusiness Member
Rental Property Investor · memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes

We've been fixing houses for a long time now in multiple cities and for lots of different exit strategies. Even though we have had thousands of inspections done on properties, we've never before had to face this issue! I am quoting directly from the inspection report that just came across my desk:

"The door bell did not operate properly at the time of inspection. The doorbell dings, but did not dong. The door bell should be serviced."

I get it that many people feel inspectors sometimes try to "justify" their existence by looking for every little thing. Sometimes that appears to be true. I personally have no problem with inspections or inspectors and we even have it in our contract that investors can order inspections on every purchase so there is always third party verification. But, IMO, this "urgent issue" is way over the top!

Any one else had crazy line items on their inspections that beat that one?

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J ScottPro Member
Moderator
Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
13y

You must be selling high-end stuff...none of my entry-level buyers expect a DONG at our price points.

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    13y

    I'd frame that report and hang it on my wall . . . absolutely ridiculous!

  • Lexington, KY · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    13y

    The improper sound of the doorbell needs to be remedied immediately. The doorbell is probably an AC solenoid doorbell, which means when current flows through the solenoid, a magnetic field is generated, thus creating a force which pulls the plunger to the plate (ding). Since it is an AC current, it will reverse the force, sending the plunger to the other plate (dong).

    I love the thoroughness and attention to detail of this great inspector :)

  • Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    13y

    How would you like to be that guy's wife, kid, or employee?

  • property manager · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2012 · 502 posts · 171 votes
    13y

    Presence of illegal light bulbs.?! We were advised to Remove and replace all old standard incandescent household globes with new high efficiency CFL globes as required by the EPA.
    You know, the new expensive ones that contain hazardous waste-mercury and require adherence to disposal laws.

  • J ScottPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    13y

    You must be selling high-end stuff...none of my entry-level buyers expect a DONG at our price points.

  • Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    13y

    At some point the current CFLs will become illegal. Sigh...

  • SFR Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 484 posts · 181 votes
    13y

    You laugh, but on my primary residence, i am currently suffering from a "dong" problem. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that the "ding-dong" wire is actually broken on my doorbell, and a previous owner had covered up the "dong" defect by re-routing the "ding-dong" wire to the "ding" terminal on the doorbell, thus leaving me with a "ding", but no "dong".

    For over three years now, I have survived without a "dong", but this thread has brought up that inadequacy and now I feel like I must rectify the situation immediately, however I must remind myself that doorbells are not free. A recent trip to the Depot reveals that repairing my "dong" will cost $40.00, plus tax.

    I feel quite foolish in retrospect, if I had only hired a home inspector, I could be enjoying my "dong" right now, instead of trying to come up with $40 to satisfy my urgent need for a "dong".

    Let my story be a lesson to you all.

  • Chris ClothierBusiness Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Tiger M.:
    Presence of illegal light bulbs.?! We were advised to Remove and replace all old standard incandescent household globes with new high efficiency CFL globes as required by the EPA.
    You know, the new expensive ones that contain hazardous waste-mercury and require adherence to disposal laws.

    OK - I think you got me beat. Even this one would get my vote for stupid inspection comments!

  • Brandon TurnerPro Member
    Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y

    There was some rot in a few places on the siding of a house we're trying to sell right now - at the bottom near the ground. The inspector wrote in his report "The siding has failed." That's it. So the buyer got freaked out and demanded ALL of it be replaced or she would back out.

    Yep. We replaced it.

  • Investor · Southeast, MI · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    13y

    Years ago, I was selling a house for a client. After the buyer had their home inspection, they demanded that the roof vents be replaced because there were small dents in them from hail. My seller agreed to replace them since he was getting a huge price for the house. He did the work himself and probably did more damage to the roof taking out the old roof vents and replacing with new. I was alweays curious as to how long it would be before that roof started to leak.

    I guess a leaky roof is better than tiny dings in that buyers mind......

  • Residential Real Estate Agent · Chandler, AZ · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 928 votes
    13y

    I've had one were the previous owner built a flower bed in the backyard. The inspector flagged it because the flower bed wall was not a properly built retaining wall. The underwriter of the loan would not approve the loan until this issue was fixed. I had to explain that it was for a flower bed. The loan eventually was approved after three explanations.

  • Jean BolgerPro Member
    Aurora, CO · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    13y

    I had a buyer freaking out that the electrical was not up to code. The house was built in 1951 (before the era of grounded outlets) and a lot of the outlets had been replaced with modern 3 slot ones instead of the old two slot ones (that you can't plug a modern three-prong plug into). We paid to have an electrician replace every outlet with the old fashioned two-prong version, and she was happy. (I really should have given her a bag of three-prong adapters for a move in present... but I didn't)

  • Portland, ME · Member since 2012 · 616 posts · 550 votes
    13y

    My issue was with the appraiser. The house was a modified raised ranch, with three sides about 3 feet below grade and the front at ground level. Above the attached garage was an illegal apartment (no permits). I fully disclosed this. The problem with the appraisal was not the illegal apartment, but the fact that the kitchen was technically below grade, therefore, according to the Rural Development lender, it didn't have a kitchen! The solution was to punch a doorway between the master bedroom closet and where the illegal apartment kitchen refrigerator had been, thus making the illegal apartment kitchen into the legal kitchen for the home. Appraiser came back and took a photo of it and we closed on the sale.

  • Chris ClothierBusiness Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Amy Arata:
    My issue was with the appraiser. The house was a modified raised ranch, with three sides about 3 feet below grade and the front at ground level. Above the attached garage was an illegal apartment (no permits). I fully disclosed this. The problem with the appraisal was not the illegal apartment, but the fact that the kitchen was technically below grade, therefore, according to the Rural Development lender, it didn't have a kitchen! The solution was to punch a doorway between the master bedroom closet and where the illegal apartment kitchen refrigerator had been, thus making the illegal apartment kitchen into the legal kitchen for the home. Appraiser came back and took a photo of it and we closed on the sale.

    WOW!

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Jean Bolger:
    I had a buyer freaking out that the electrical was not up to code. The house was built in 1951 (before the era of grounded outlets) and a lot of the outlets had been replaced with modern 3 slot ones instead of the old two slot ones (that you can't plug a modern three-prong plug into). We paid to have an electrician replace every outlet with the old fashioned two-prong version ...

    Jean Bolger - sorry to say this, but that is a very legitimate inspection issue. Those receptacles were not compliant with any electrical code. So they MUST be corrected, and the electrician corrected that issue in the least expensive manner IMO.

    When the electrical system does not meet code, it is an issue that the municipality and the insurance companies frown upon.

  • Chris ClothierBusiness Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Jean Bolger:
    I had a buyer freaking out that the electrical was not up to code. The house was built in 1951 (before the era of grounded outlets) and a lot of the outlets had been replaced with modern 3 slot ones instead of the old two slot ones (that you can't plug a modern three-prong plug into). We paid to have an electrician replace every outlet with the old fashioned two-prong version, and she was happy. (I really should have given her a bag of three-prong adapters for a move in present... but I didn't)

    Jean -

    I'm gonna agree with Steve on this and hope that we can keep this to inspection issues that seem a little nutty like wanting all the light bulbs replaced or a door bell because it dings and not dongs. I'm thinking that a panel or receptacles not up to code is a pretty legitimate issue. I get that you thought her being ok with a fix that took the electric back to 1950's level was crazy, but as an investor I thought it may have been more crazy to replace the receptacles without replacing the panel. just my thoughts...

  • Chris ClothierBusiness Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by J Scott:
    You must be selling high-end stuff...none of my entry-level buyers expect a DONG at our price points.

    I kind of expected that someone would go there...and...I knew it would have to be someone who could pull it off...enter J Scott! yeah - i voted for it - I thought that was pretty damn funny.

  • Rental Property Investor · Manteno, IL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    13y

    Did you try pushing back on the inspector and tell them to take a hike on the door bell? I'd ask them where it says in the code that a door bell has to ding and dong.

    I had something silly come up on my last rehab. The inspector said I had to put flooring in the utility room. This is a tri-level home so, technically, that area downstairs is below grade and should be considered a basement.

    I argued just that fact and said I've never heard it being mandatory that a utility room have flooring. "Its a basement!" They then agreed that I didn't have to put flooring in but that I did have to remove the two stick tiles that were still on the floor.

    It was a heck of a lot cheaper and quicker to remove the two stick tiles than it was to put flooring down in the 250 sq ft utility room.

    I know you don't ever want to risk upsetting one of these inspectors but I think there's a time and place to call into question the nonsense.

    If they really won't budge, I do the stuff. But I'll always try to negotiate out some of the stupid things. Or else I ask them if they'll pass me provided I do it later. Then sometimes I do it later and sometimes I don't.

    Depends on what they have in the report. :-)

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Amy Arata:
    My issue was with the appraiser. The house was a modified raised ranch, with three sides about 3 feet below grade and the front at ground level. ... The problem with the appraisal was not the illegal apartment, but the fact that the kitchen was technically below grade, therefore, according to the Rural Development lender, it didn't have a kitchen! ...

    This is a well-know issue IMO; see links:

    http://appraisersforum.com/showthread.php?t=69993

    http://appraisersforum.com/showthread.php?t=182193

    http://appraisersforum.com/showthread.php?t=71419

    So only count the finished space above grade - because that might be all the appraser will count!

  • Jean BolgerPro Member
    Aurora, CO · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    13y

    Steve Babiak & Chris Clothier
    Just to reassure you that no one was endangered: I did have a master electrician look in to it who assured us that all the electrical in the house- while it would not meet today's construction codes- was safe, and legal in a house of that age. He thought this outlet switcheroo was the strangest job he'd ever been hired for.

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    13y

    Then that electrician needs to read up on the electric codes. A recent thread gives some acceptable ways:

    http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/52/topics/81859-old-2-prong-outlet-question

    Don't blame the inspector in this case - he was doing the proper thing and not just nit-picking.

  • Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Steve Babiak:
    Originally posted by Jean Bolger:
    I had a buyer freaking out that the electrical was not up to code. The house was built in 1951 (before the era of grounded outlets) and a lot of the outlets had been replaced with modern 3 slot ones instead of the old two slot ones (that you can't plug a modern three-prong plug into). We paid to have an electrician replace every outlet with the old fashioned two-prong version ...

    Jean Bolger - sorry to say this, but that is a very legitimate inspection issue. Those receptacles were not compliant with any electrical code. So they MUST be corrected, and the electrician corrected that issue in the least expensive manner IMO.

    When the electrical system does not meet code, it is an issue that the municipality and the insurance companies frown upon.

    Steve Babiak I was going to respond, but thankfully you did. Pretend/faux grounded outlets are not something to ignore, especially when you are not the resident. New owners and tenants should not be assuming there is a ground where there isn't one. No electrician who cares about what they do will add the 3-prong without a real ground. I live in a 1920s houses and that hasn't been rewired yet. I know all about adapters.

  • Mechanicsburg, PA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    13y

    @Chris Clothier

    We were doing an extensive remodeling job more than doubling the square footage of the building. As is standard protocol there are many intermediate inspections along the way. One such inspection was the insulation inspection which must be completed before drywall is installed. The governmental inspector came by and failed the insulation inspection and issued a stop work order on all the other work and sent all the trades home. The gross problem detected? There were staples holding the insulation in place one staple every 6 inches. The BOCA building code says that you need to have staples one every twelve inches, therefore we were in gross vialoation. The inspector made the contractor remove every other staple in order to be code compliant. You can't make this stuff up.

  • Chris ClothierBusiness Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Jean Bolger:
    Steve Babiak & Chris Clothier
    Just to reassure you that no one was endangered: I did have a master electrician look in to it who assured us that all the electrical in the house- while it would not meet today's construction codes- was safe, and legal in a house of that age. He thought this outlet switcheroo was the strangest job he'd ever been hired for.

    Hey Jean Bolger, no worries on this end and no judgement against you. I said all I wanted to say in that last comment. I am sure you handle your business the right way and Steve gave good advice to make sure your electrician is on top of his game. I would agree with the electrician that installing two-prong outlets would be a crazy job to get paid for nowadays.

  • Chris ClothierBusiness Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by David Krulac:
    @Chris Clothier

    We were doing an extensive remodeling job more than doubling the square footage of the building. As is standard protocol there are many intermediate inspections along the way. One such inspection was the insulation inspection which must be completed before drywall is installed. The governmental inspector came by and failed the insulation inspection and issued a stop work order on all the other work and sent all the trades home. The gross problem detected? There were staples holding the insulation in place one staple every 6 inches. The BOCA building code says that you need to have staples one every twelve inches, therefore we were in gross vialoation. The inspector made the contractor remove every other staple in order to be code compliant. You can't make this stuff up.

    Wow - that is really gross negligence on your part. I don't know why the installer thought it would be a good idea to be doubly sure the insulation held in place! No reason for anyone to go above and beyond anymore when they are going to cite you for doing more than the bare minimum!

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