When disclosing property upgrades

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No permits, no problem: How sellers avoid trouble

Mortage 101*

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

When disclosing property upgrades, follow 2 key rules

Barry Stone

Inman News

http://www.mortgage101.com/partner-scripts/inman.asp?

ID=inmannews49832

Dear Barry,

In one of your articles, you faulted a home inspector for failing to

disclose mold that was present in a home. As a professional home

inspector, this misinformation concerns me. Your readers should be

told that mold and all other environmental issues are not covered

under the standards of practice for the home inspection profession.

No home inspector is required to investigate or report on such

things, and your readers should be informed of that fact. Please

clarify this in an upcoming article. --Wayne

Dear Wayne,

Home inspectors are not required to disclose mold infection in a

home. A contrary impression from a past article was a

misunderstanding. Environmental hazards are not within the scope of

a home inspection, and home inspectors are not expected to report on

such issues. But that does not let home inspectors off the hook

completely. So let's have some clarity on this issue.

In cases where mold is visible on accessible surfaces -- beneath a

kitchen sink, on a bathroom windowsill, in a plumbing access, or the

corner of a closet -- what should a home inspector do? Should the

inspector ignore that condition and say nothing about it, simply

because mold is not within the scope of the inspection? To do so

would constitute professional negligence. Instead, the inspector

should point out the " stains " and recommend further evaluation by a

mold specialist. If that was not clear in the article you read, then

this one should provide that clarity.

To write to Barry Stone, please visit him on the Web at

www.housedetective.com.