If you have sent your kids to public school you know what I am talking about. Sooner or later parents become nit pickers. So----sooner or later----as an inspector, I am going to be a "nit picker" as well----well not the same kind----hopefully.
I don't go out of my way to be a nit picker----sometimes it just happens. I think the kind of nit picker that most agents have a problem with is when those seemingly unimportant items end up in the "Summary of Significant Findings" section of the report. This is "bad form"----as Captain Hook would say. While this stuff should be mentioned in the context of general "information" about the home, placing it in the Summary gives it "weight" that it doesn't deserve.
Take for example this P-trap connection on a Garbage disposal.
At first glance it looks sort of normal. But actually it is installed backwards.
The next couple of pictures will help explain what is wrong with this installation. Traps are engineered to be self scouring (cleaning) by virtue of their shape. Note how in the top picture the flow of water enters from the sink (disposal in this case) at Point C and the blue arrow. The force of the flow of water accelerates when it hits the bottom helping it flow up and over the hill and down the drain at the left blue arrow. In the bottom picture we can see that when the trap is installed "backwards" the distance labeled "B" is much greater than distance "A"-----a much higher hill for the water to get over. It also doesn't have the help of acceleration provided by its being installed the other way. The flow of water is actually reduced because the flow of water runs into a more vertical wall in the lower installation.
So what will happen if this is not fixed? Well eventually the trap will clog up with debris and water will just not drain properly. It isn't a difficult fix---something any plumber can do when they are at the home for other reasons or something that even a knowledgeable homeowner or other qualified repair person can fix.
I think I won't be putting this on the summary.
Charles Buell
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I appreciate a good nit picker. There are way too many inspectors pretending to know what they are talking about to justify a fee.
I want my inspectors to find everything possible that is wrong with that house...the more anal they are the better. This gives us more room to negotiate on the back end. Many times you can give up the little things in order to get the major issues resolved quickly. Nice post!!
Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com
Marty, there are some who would say that a nit picky inspector is just trying to justify his fee:)
Randall, while I like to give the buyers as much info as possible I don't do it for negotiating purposes----I just want them to know as much as possible. That they might be able to use it as a negotiating tool is just a fringe benefit. I don't see too much "negotiating" going on these days:)
Another new "wrinkle" in my brain... (that happens when I learn something new)... thanx.
Thanks for your post. I work with some great inspectors, and some alarmists or nit pickers too. But, you have to point everything out, but explain the significance too. Good example!
Alan, we have to keep adding "wrinkles" so that we don't notice the ones that are going away:)
Kristin, thanks
Charles, Again you never seize to amaze me with your knowledge...
See...that's why I stop in here. I always learn something. Pretty soon I will be a bonified home inspector nit picker too!
Paul, you mean this isn't all common sense?
Lizette, always good to have you stop by.
A good buyer's agent will know to advise their clients of how to read and respond to inspection reports. Put those issues in a summary, just don't label it as significant. Just please don't stop pointing those issues out -- a buyer needs to have the opportunity to determine what is important to them and what is not.
Charles - Great pictures - did you do them yourself? Oh by the way, I like the way you do your report.
OMG!!! I can't believe it! I have been having clogging problems with my kitchen disposal and it leaks down into the cabinet and I haven't been able to figure out what the problem is and so I kept pouring drano down the sink. I went and looked and wouldn't you know, IT'S ON BACKWARDS LIKE YOUR PHOTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You just saved me a lot of frustration! now if I can get the boyfriend to fix it....
If that's a "P" trap, why does it look like a "U?"
Sorry, Charles, I couldn't resist...
As many of you know, Mr Charles is away in Florida. Despite the fact he criticizes me, I am publicly announcing that, while he is away, he had put me in charge of answering all of his blog comments and also running Charles Buell Inspections for a few days.
Yours Sincerely,
Nutsy
So, Nutsy, why does it look like a "U?"
Great flashlight, by the way - do you let your light so shine? (Check my previous blog post...)
P.s. Does "Mr. Charles" know about this, um, substitute teaching...?
Hi: Charles another great post filled with good info.
Jay... in answer to your question... turn the photo of the trap (the configuaration ones), 90 degrees counter clockwise. :-)
I agree that you should try and not make mountains out of mole hills, but the client ultimately decides what's important to them in the context of the inspection. I'm sure we all have stories of a buyer who was troubled by some, to us, seemingly insignificant issue. Also some buyer in my experience are the worst nit pickers of all.
Wow, I turned it and it's a "J" !!
Now I guess I'll have to start checking pee traps! Having a good vacation????
Mr Buell,
Please call the office. I am in crisis.
Your assistant manager in charge
Nutsy
Sorry all----finally catching up on my comments:)
Cynthia, I am careful to make sure the buyer is aware that the summary is my opinion and they many very well think things are more important and deserve to be in the summary.
Jack, yes, all the pictures I sue are my own (except for a few I occassionally liberate from Steve:)
Sandy, that is so dool to have my post actually turn out to be useful to you.
Jay----real good question:)
Nutsy----what can I say except what everyone already knows----that you are nuts!
Frank, thanks
Alan----good idea:)
James----so true
Jay----gotta love the "Jay" traps:)
Barbara---great vacation---even got some photos of Pee-traps
Nutsy----you wouldn't know who you are if it weren't for crisis.
Poor Sandy doesn't realize the greatest frustration of her situation lies ahead of her.
Knowledge is the easy part.
Spur to action by the boyfried is a big hill to climb!
Erby, in my experience women are very powerful when it comes to getting things done:)
ONLY, did I say ONLY, if you want what they withhold!
Here's a sample of that in action but it is ADULT in nature. Don't whine to me if you click on it and get offended.
http://b4uclose.tripod.com/stuff/lifecontrol.jpg
Erby, my wife thought she was going to have to call an ambulance after that one----but they would have to take both of us away for dying of laughter.
Erby that is hilarious! And oh so true.
James, it's only true if you want it to be.
Charles: I'm glad it didn't come to actually calling the ambulance!
While it's adult "R" it is very humorous! Did you know you can track the number of clicks on stuff like that. Quite a few looked but didn't comment!
Erby you replied: James, it's only true if you want it to be. ----I am not so sure:)
Still laughing here!
Well, that's because YOU want it! Keep laughing. It's healthy for you.
Still laughing here Erby:)