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What's The Rush

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:41:00 -0400

WHAT’S THE RUSH??

A recent phone call had me reminiscing about how easy home inspections were way back when, a simple 9 or 10 page report with all the major items covered but not bogged down with minutia, a time when buyers’ were happy to just have someone on their side. Someone who knew a little bit more then “Uncle Freddie” who used to work for a guy that worked for a contractor and he knows everything. Things were so much simpler back then, there was no such thing as a licensed professional home inspector we were all just home inspectors. I still vividly remember the first inspection I performed for a young couple buying their first home, a simple colonial in pretty good condition. However it is not the home that has stayed in my memory it was the amount of trust that this couple had in me, the faith that I would give them all the answers that would guide them in making a sound decision to spend their hard earned money on this house. I had spent maybe an hour and a half performing this inspection, much to the chagrin of the watch checking listing broker whose biggest concern was “how much longer will you be? I have another appointment.” All I really wanted was to make sure the client got what they deserved for the exorbitant fee of $150.00 at the time. At the conclusion of the inspection the young couple professed their profound gratitude for all my help and for answering all of their questions and we all went on our way. The gratitude they paid to me was the single reason I stayed in this business, and there can be no greater feeling then knowing you have assisted someone in making such a huge decision in their life.

But alas the times have changed; the simple 9 or 10 page report has become the 30 page computer generated , jpeg attached pdf that can be e- mailed in the blink of an eye to brokers, attorneys, mortgage originators, banks and of course “Ole Uncle Freddie”. The simple one and a half hour home inspection has turned into an easy three hour affair to meet the hundreds of benchmarks set forth by the state. The Acts of 1999 was the bill that catapulted the licensing for all home inspectors in the state of Massachusetts. This forever changed the amount of time it would take to perform a proper Home Inspection. Along with licensing came the Standards of Practice and the Board of Home Inspectors whose sole function is to make sure that the consumer is protected from incompetent home inspectors. Everyone in the Real Estate community should understand that Home Inspections take longer because there is more to do, more to explain, and more to document so that the client gets what they deserve and the home inspector meets their standards of practice. Clients are paying much more than $150.00 these days and they DESERVE to have enough time to have all of the items contained within their report explained to them. This enables them to make an informed decision on whether to spend their hard earned money.

We respect and understand everyone’s time is valuable and precious. But guess what the customer’s time in this instance is just as valuable. I am sure you will all agree that the home inspection is vital part of the home buying process. So I ask the real estate community, “What’s the rush?”

MA State Law Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:14:45 -0500

The following is very important information for all home owners and home buyers regarding the new MA. State law regarding the oil heating system upgrade and insurance law.

This fact sheet contains important information for those who heat their homes with oil. By September 30, 2011, you must upgrade your home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your furnace. By making a relatively small expenditure now, you can prevent a much greater expense in the future.

Massachusetts has a new law to address oil leaks from home heating systems (Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008, as most recently amended in 2010). This law has two major provisions that require:

the installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices; and
insurance companies that write homeowner policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.

Most homeowner policies do not currently include such coverage, leaving many to pay for costly cleanups out of their own pocket. Although it is mandatory that insurance companies make this coverage available by July 1, 2010 to homeowners whose systems are upgraded, the insurance is an optional purchase.

Who must take action?

Owners of 1- to 4-unit residences that are heated with oil must already have or install an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with a protective sleeve, as shown in the diagram above. Installation of these devices must be performed by a licensed oil burner technician. Technicians are employed by companies that deliver home heating oil or are self-employed. It is important to note that heating oil systems installed on or after January 1, 1990 most likely are already in compliance because state fire codes implemented these requirements on new installations at that time.

Who is exempt?

Homeowners are exempt from taking these leak prevention steps if:

the oil burner is located above the oil storage tank and the entire oil supply line is connected to and above the top of the tank OR
an oil safety valve or oil supply line with protective sleeve was installed on or after January 1, 1990, AND
those changes are in compliance with the oil burning equipment regulations; a copy of the oil burner permit from the local fire department may be used to demonstrate compliance.

Why comply?

Not only is complying with the new law required, it makes good financial and environmental sense. Homeowners who take these preventive measures can avoid the disruption and expense that can be caused by heating oil leaks. A leak may result in exposure to petroleum vapors in your home. If the leak reaches the soil or groundwater beneath your house, then a cleanup must be performed to restore your property to state environmental standards. Leaks that affect another property or impact drinking water supply wells can complicate the cleanup and increase the expense. Each year, several hundred Massachusetts families experience some kind of leak.

What will an upgrade cost?

The typical cost of installing either an oil safety valve or oil supply line with a protective sleeve ranges from $150 - $350 (including labor, parts, and local permit fees).

What could it cost to cleanup a leak?

The cleanup cost for a "simple" leak can be as much as $15,000. In cases where the leak impacts the groundwater or is more extensive, the cleanup costs can reach $250,000 or more.

What kind of insurance is available?

To be eligible for the new insurance coverage, homeowners must ensure that their oil heating systems are in compliance with the new law. Homeowners who have been certified to be in compliance with (or exempt from) the leak prevention measures qualify to purchase insurance that:

provides "first party coverage" of at least $50,000 for the cost of cleaning up a leak to soil, indoor air, or other environmental media from a home heating system at the residence itself and reimbursement for personal property damage, AND
provides "third party coverage" of at least $200,000 for the cost of dealing with conditions on and off the insured's property because the leak from this system has or is likely to impact groundwater or someone else's property. The coverage also includes costs incurred for legal defense, subject to a deductible not to exceed $1,000 per claim.

What should I do next?

Determine whether you have had an oil safety valve or new oil supply line with protective sleeve installed since January 1, 1990. If you have, your permit from the fire department for the installation can be used to document your compliance. You can request a copy from the fire department if the permit is on file, or a licensed oil burner technician can certify that status on a form.
If you do not have an oil safety valve or oil supply line with protective sleeve in place, have one or the other installed and certified. Either contacts your oil delivery company to ask if they employ a licensed oil burner technician or find a service person in your area.
Consider buying insurance coverage for the cleanup of a leak.
- Determine whether your existing policy provides oil leak coverage.
- If it does not, consider calling your homeowner insurance agent to amend the policy to include this coverage.

We at Tiger Home Inspection hope this information helps you with any questions you may have in regards to the new law. If you should have any questions in regard to the changes please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Welcome to Tiger Home Inspection

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:32:11 -0400

Welcome to the new Tiger Home Inspection Website and Blog page. You see here at Tiger we take home inspections very seriously and you should too. Gone are the days when your uncle or your dad would walk through your intended purchase and give you their opinion about how to wallpaper and paint those pesky areas that look old or worn. Home inspectors are held to a much different standard due to licensing of the industry in Massachusetts and other New England areas. In fact Tiger Home Inspection was instrumental in the early stages of the legislation in helping form some of the existing licensing guidelines. Our most important goal is to provide our clients with “a piece of mind” so that you can feel confident with what for most of us is the most important purchase of our lives. It is our hope and intention in the days and months ahead we can provide you with valuable information and helpful tips that will help you our valued customer keep and maintain the most important purchase of your life in tip top shape for many years to come. From roofs and foundations to heating and cooling systems to wood destroying insects we will provide you with pertinent information to allow you to feel comfortable in performing the regular maintenance of your home. So check back often for our tips and suggestions, and when you think home inspection please think Tiger Home Inspection.