Because zero stars is not an option...
On 11 April 2017, SPEK Home Inspections, LLC (hereinafter "SPEK") entered into an agreement for SPEK to perform a pre-purchase home inspection on house. SPEK completed the inspection and submitted the inspection report (hereinafter "report") on 18 April 2017. We relied on that report, to our detriment, in making the decision to purchase the property.
§5 of the report states "[t]he home inspector shall observe: Interior water supply and distribution system, including: piping materials, supports, and insulation...." §5.0 rates the plumbing water supply, distribution and fixtures as needing to be removed and replaced because of: "Active water leak under the jetted tub in the master bedroom. Recommend repaired by a qualified license plumbing contractor." The report provides no other comment regarding the interior water supply and distribution system, including: piping materials, supports, and insulation.
On 02-03 January 2018, two water supply lines in the attic above the southeastern and southwestern most rooms froze and burst, flooding the house. Upon inspection of the plumbing in the attic by licensed plumbers, it was discovered that the plumbing water supply lines were not adequately insulated, and in most places, lay bare above the ceiling insulation and clearly visible from both attic access points. In fact, bare, uninsulated, and clearly visible water supply lines were within 12 inches of both attic access points, reducing the probability that a home inspector would not see them to an extremely remote probability. Furthermore, the licensed plumbers who repaired the pipes said that the home should have never passed a home inspection. Moreover, §4 and §7 of the report states that SPEK inspected the heating and air conditioning system and the attic space; both of these sections of the report place SPEK within 12 inches of long runs of bare, uninsulated, and clearly visible water supply lines.
On 07 January 2018, in accordance with Home Inspection Agreement §6(1), we notified SPEK of the adverse findings. On or about 12 January 2018, SPEK came to the house to visually inspect the attic spaces. While at the property, Mr. Nagi took several pictures of the attic. When he finished, he stated that the insulation was there when he inspected it. To date, SPEK provided absolutely no proof t o substantiate that statement. Furthermore, the statistical probability of someone removing the plumbing insulation from the attic sometime after the SPEK inspected the home and before the pipes burst is so low it seems absurd to even utter it aloud.
With these facts considered, we believe SPEK knew that §5 of the report was false, or the report was made with such reckless disregard for the truth that knowledge of the falsity of the report can be imputed to SPEK.
The flooding reached every room in the house and destroyed 100% of the wood flooring. It cost us several thousands of dollars of personal property and other expenses, and cost several thousands of dollars to insulate the pipes. SPEK was unwilling to entertain any type of compensation for the costs we incurred as a result of SPEK's failure to note the lack of, and in many cases the absence of, plumbing insulation in the report.
BUYER BEWARE! read more
