[facebook][tweet][pinterest]NEW TREC Rules for 2014

What should you know about new inspector rules that go into effect January 1st, 2014?

The primary changes to the inspector rules are an update to the standards of practice. These are the specific rules covering the scope of a home inspection and a new inspection report form that reflects those standards.  It’s really a tune-up for clarity and to update some information to better reflect current usage in the construction industry.

What was an optional notice to consumers (Texas Real Estate Consumer Notice Concerning Hazards or Deficiencies, TREC No. OP-1) will now be incorporated into the new inspection report form. It covers a somewhat difficult concept for agents to explain to their clients-that something marked may not have violated building codes or common practices at the time of the construction of the home, or it may have been “grandfathered.”

Average consumers reading an inspection report may get alarmed by some of the language, such as the word deficient. They think that must mean something is wrong. Well, that item may operate perfectly well as designed-but it may not be up to today’s code standards-and we don’t require inspectors to do code inspections. We do ask them to point out a few potentially hazardous items that are code-based even though the term deficient may cause concern.  It means: pay attention to this item, it doesn’t mean an item isn’t working. There’s nothing in the standards of practice or the contract forms that requires a seller to remedy any conditions noted in an inspection.

This article is courtesy of TREC administrator Douglas Oldmixon