Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/11/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I hired a ******************* of Oregon Home Inspections (OHI) to do a complete inspection of a home I was in the process of buying. The home is old, and I wanted to know all of the defects so that I could plan for repairs. I was particularly concerned about under the house because of possibility for water damage and I hired OHI specifically because their website advertises the use of a under-house robot which would allow them to go inspect difficult to access crawl spaces. One June 13, **** performed most of the inspection. But he did NOT go underneath the house. He cited that there were bees as a reason not to go under. He did not let me know at the time, but when I saw the report, I called him on it. The bees were not the stinging type and he had his robot, even if they were. He claimed that the robot 'really did not work and kept getting stuck so he never used it.'So I said that I could get the bees removed so he could complete his incomplete inspection. He agreed. I did get the bees removed. The beekeeper did not even need to suit up, he simply went under and removed the hive. No stinging took place. So I called *******************, who said to call him the following week and remind him and he would schedule a time to go under.When I did that, he wanted to charge me again for this crawl space inspection which was part of the original contract. I agreed to pay him a nominal fee for having to drive back a few miles to do it again ($75), but he said that he needed more if he was going to provide a written report.I need the written report and kept trying to negotiate this for some time. I have now given up. ******************* advertises a service (crawl space robot) that he does not use, and in doing so is misleading on the depth of the type of inspection he actually conducts. People need to know that if they want to thorough home inspection, they should not use *******************.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/06/2022

  The following documents are attached:
   - Inspection agreement
   - The report with the OARs
  

   

  On 06/07/2022 at 11:42 AM Mrs. **** sign the Inspection Agreement (attached) and the inspection was preformed on 06/13/2022. The inspection was performed in accordance with conditions of the agreement and as well as Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Division 8 Chapter 812 and the standards, limitations, exceptions and exclusions described in OAR 812-008-0202 through OAR 812-008-0214. Note that ****** did not attend the inspection on 06/13/2022. 

  
  In response to the bees. I'm not a bee keeper and don't know what bees sting and which ones don't additionally no home inspector in their right mind would enter a confined space such as a crawlspace with a swarm of bees whos nest has been disturbed and are swarming out of their ground nest. The following is from OAR 812-008-0204 Section 2, subsection E.  Oregon Certified Home Inspector is not required to: Enter any area, undertake any procedure that *** damage the property or its components, or be dangerous to the Oregon certified home inspector or other persons. I would like to add that Mrs. **** later told me after the inspection was complete that she knew prior to the inspection that there were bees in the crawlspace and did not tell me. Had she told me this information there would be no complaint because I would have told her to hold off on scheduling the initial inspection until the bees had been removed. Knowingly let me enter the crawlspace without warning me of a potentially hazardous and dangerous situation is gross negligence. Furthermore it is inconsiderate to me, my safety, well being and the well being of my family. 

  
  In response to the robot. It's a tool I have to use at my discretion and it is not advertised anywhere that it will be used as part of every home inspection. Due to its limitations it has very selective applications and unfortunately this wasn't one of them. I'd like to add that inspecting the crawlspace myself is far more thorough. Had Mrs. **** called and discussed the bee situation rather than assuming I would have gladly explained those limitations.

  
  In response to the re-inspection fee. I offered a verbal re-inspection for $75 or if she wanted an updated report with photos it would be $150. Both of these prices are less than what I would charge for a stand-alone crawlspace inspection. When she didn't want to pay for the written option I suggested she write down what I found as a compromise.  She does not have a clear comprehension of what is involved to do my job and the time involved. Furthermore the price of the initial inspection would have been the same whether or not the house had a crawlspace. I charge fees based on the square footage of a home and not by the components or areas inspected or not inspected.