Tim Borst - Security Home Inspections

Initial Business Response / [redacted] (1000, 6, 2015/09/03) */ I would like to state that I am an ITA Certified Home Inspector, and have been for yearsNow lets address the customers complaintsFirst item is the sump pumpThe sump pump in the house was a submersible pump and when the float was raised it turned onThere is only one intake on a sump pump and one fitting to connect a drain line toThere is no way to connect it backwardsSecond item is the water softenerThe softener whether in bypass or operation mode is checked that the timer is operationalYou start the softener and once the softener starts its cycle it is canceled and turned back offThe timer on the softener did startI spoke with a Culligan Service Manager and other than running a complete 1-1/hour cycle and then running a total series of tests is the only way a person can determine that the softener was running but not softening the waterThird item is the wet stains on the basement floorThere was no water or moisture on the basement floor the day I inspected the homeThe realtor, Kathy, was with me as we went through the houseIf there had been stains and also mold all over the walls in the basement,not only I would have seen and made note of it but the Realtor with me would have seen it alsoI have emailed the realtor and she has,as of today 9/3/2015, not responded concerning this ongoing problemThe next complaint was the fascia that was rotten and split, and that there are no guttersThe absence of gutter was noted on the reportSometimes rotten wood appears solid because of the paint when in reality it is not in very good shapeThis is a story home and all of the soffit and fascia was inspected with binoculars and what I saw seemed to be in good shapeThe last item is the claim for the $cost of the inspection and the $dollars for the deductible on the insurance claimHow can an inspector or anybody be held responsible for a sewer back up that could not be predicted and do damage to the sheet rock in the basement and/or other items that were not mentioned There is no mention about the in depth inspection and the other issues that were found, a copy can be provided if neededI pride myself in the careful inspections that I performI try to inform my client about anything that could cause problems in the futureBut I am human and I might miss something that has happened, but I can not predict that a sewer backup was going to happen or what it would do to the basementIn over home inspections, this is only the second inspection where the client was not present and all of the info was to be related to the client through the realtorWhen you are with your client all things are talked about and any concerns from the client can be answered on the spotWhen you are speaking with a realtor you believe all items were discussed I hope and pray that this matter can be cleared up for my client and myself Initial Consumer Rebuttal / [redacted] (3000, 8, 2015/09/04) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) First off, I don't believe I mentioned missing gutters in my complaintthis I was aware of prior to purchaseRick Bohlen Plumbing of New Richland addressed the sump pump issue; Kevin [redacted] of PuroClean tested the sump pump and it sprayed waste water all over himIt happened to me previously as well when claims adjuster told me how to testKevin also pointed out the obvious water stains on the floors and walls, tested the moisture, pointed out the mold on all the drywall, and the rotted wood on the railing in the basement and the wood support 2x4s around the basement walls and supporting the drywall, all in plain viewServiceMaster removed all of drywallNo where on the report were the boxes checked for these itemsThe rotted split facia was pointed out by Kevin Moret of PuroClean obvious on the first floor all along the back deck and frontThe water softener did NOT work and was tested by Bruce of Culligan Water, Waseca; by George pf Garlick's Kinetico in Mankato and also by Doug [redacted] Mckay's Coin EganAs far as a realtor pointing out issues, they are trying to make a sale Final Business Response / [redacted] (4000, 10, 2015/09/13) */ The statement and I quote "he never mentioned the house needed gutters although that was obvious even to me." Again it is written on the report that the house was without any guttersWhen you test items to see if they work, all you do is to turn them on and note if they are or are not workingYou will never find a home inspector that would disconnect a sump pump and take it out of the well and turn it on againAs was stated before there was not any water stains and mold on the drywall in the basementA realtor that was to take the responsibility of being at the house for her client, should relay all of the information to the clientNotes on the report shows that there were no gutters, that the upstairs windows would not stay open, that there were no moisture present, that the crawl space needed to have a vapor barrier put over the bare soil, that there were miswired outlets in the dining room and living room and outlets and switch boxes were missing coversI am trying to find out if there is anything that my client would really need to be concerned aboutI am not just trying to "make a sale." I am sorry that there was a sewer back up, and the damage it caused, but again I can not be held responsible for something that is out of my control

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2015/09/03) */
I would like to state that I am an ITA Certified Home Inspector, and have been for 8 years. Now lets address the customers complaints. First item is the sump pump. The sump pump in the house was a submersible pump and when the float was raised...

it turned on. There is only one intake on a sump pump and one fitting to connect a drain line to. There is no way to connect it backwards. Second item is the water softener. The softener whether in bypass or operation mode is checked that the timer is operational. You start the softener and once the softener starts its cycle it is canceled and turned back off. The timer on the softener did start. I spoke with a Culligan Service Manager and other than running a complete 1-1/2 hour cycle and then running a total series of tests is the only way a person can determine that the softener was running but not softening the water. Third item is the wet stains on the basement floor. There was no water or moisture on the basement floor the day I inspected the home. The realtor, Kathy, was with me as we went through the house. If there had been stains and also mold all over the walls in the basement,not only I would have seen and made note of it but the Realtor with me would have seen it also. I have emailed the realtor and she has,as of today 9/3/2015, not responded concerning this ongoing problem. The next complaint was the fascia that was rotten and split, and that there are no gutters. The absence of gutter was noted on the report. Sometimes rotten wood appears solid because of the paint when in reality it is not in very good shape. This is a 2 story home and all of the soffit and fascia was inspected with binoculars and what I saw seemed to be in good shape. The last item is the claim for the $250.00 cost of the inspection and the $500.00 dollars for the deductible on the insurance claim. How can an inspector or anybody be held responsible for a sewer back up that could not be predicted and do damage to the sheet rock in the basement and/or other items that were not mentioned.
There is no mention about the in depth inspection and the other issues that were found, a copy can be provided if needed. I pride myself in the careful inspections that I perform. I try to inform my client about anything that could cause problems in the future. But I am human and I might miss something that has happened, but I can not predict that a sewer backup was going to happen or what it would do to the basement. In over 200 home inspections, this is only the second inspection where the client was not present and all of the info was to be related to the client through the realtor. When you are with your client all things are talked about and any concerns from the client can be answered on the spot. When you are speaking with a realtor you believe all items were discussed.
I hope and pray that this matter can be cleared up for my client and myself.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 8, 2015/09/04) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
First off, I don't believe I mentioned missing gutters in my complaintthis I was aware of prior to purchase. Rick Bohlen Plumbing of New Richland addressed the sump pump issue; Kevin [redacted] of PuroClean tested the sump pump and it sprayed waste water all over him. It happened to me previously as well when claims adjuster told me how to test. Kevin also pointed out the obvious water stains on the floors and walls, tested the moisture, pointed out the mold on all the drywall, and the rotted wood on the railing in the basement and the wood support 2x4s around the basement walls and supporting the drywall, all in plain view. ServiceMaster removed all of drywall. No where on the report were the boxes checked for these items. The rotted split facia was pointed out by Kevin Moret of PuroClean obvious on the first floor all along the back deck and front. The water softener did NOT work and was tested by Bruce of Culligan Water, Waseca; by George pf Garlick's Kinetico in Mankato and also by Doug [redacted] Mckay's Co. in Egan. As far as a realtor pointing out issues, they are trying to make a sale.
Final Business Response /* (4000, 10, 2015/09/13) */
The statement and I quote "he never mentioned the house needed gutters although that was obvious even to me." Again it is written on the report that the house was without any gutters. When you test items to see if they work, all you do is to turn them on and note if they are or are not working. You will never find a home inspector that would disconnect a sump pump and take it out of the well and turn it on again. As was stated before there was not any water stains and mold on the drywall in the basement. A realtor that was to take the responsibility of being at the house for her client, should relay all of the information to the client. Notes on the report shows that there were no gutters, that the upstairs windows would not stay open, that there were no moisture present, that the crawl space needed to have a vapor barrier put over the bare soil, that there were miswired outlets in the dining room and living room and outlets and switch boxes were missing covers. I am trying to find out if there is anything that my client would really need to be concerned about. I am not just trying to "make a sale." I am sorry that there was a sewer back up, and the damage it caused, but again I can not be held responsible for something that is out of my control.