Home Inspections

By Steve Irvine, Home Sweet Home Inspections

I woke up this morning with a text from my sister, Karen (the Editor), asking for this months’ column. Procrastination gives me no fears. Karen? Sometimes. It was a nice day, so I took off for a ride to buy accessories for my new motorcycle (yeah, I’m that kind of idiot). I spent more than I should have, less than I wanted, and headed home.

Riding a motorcycle somehow makes you feel more connected with the world. You talk to people more and weirdly assume you will be accepted.

I saw a house with an obviously sagging roofline, enough that it made me look twice. What really caught my attention, was the two guys having a seriously animated conversation on the front lawn. The engineer in me made me want to stop. The former bouncer in me said park at the end of the driveway and ask respectfully if I could help. I told them I’m a home inspector with an Engineering degree. One guy was REALLY happy, the other - not so much. I asked what was up and was told a wall had been removed. Not only was the roof sagging, but the exterior walls were bowed out right where the sag was. The Contractor (the not so much guy) stated that there were trusses in the attic, so the walls weren’t important. They were obviously load bearing walls and this contractor had made a big mistake! I asked if there were permits. The Contractor said they weren’t necessary and are expensive. Cost is somewhere around $500 to have a city official say you have a proper renovation. Having a permit cannot only save you money, but can remove any doubts when you sell.

I left a card and some explicit recommendations, the first being hire an Engineer before you remove structure. I assume another Engineer will get a nice payday or, if they pay me, I get a nice fee for court testimony. Home Inspectors can’t work on what we inspect; it’s a big conflict of interest. Insurance companies do not approve. Permits are required for any structural change. Yes, you can sue later, but it’s usually much cheaper to find out before.

I love riding my bike. You never know how the day will go.