Home inspectors are generally proud of their equipment.  They are often even more proud of their ability to use it effectively.  It not only hurts our self-image, but can destroy our credibility with clients and agents when things go wrong. Many of us have suffered while struggling to re-secure a balky furnace cover or electrical panel. But one of the greatest indignities of all is having your ladder fall down when you are up on the roof.  Yes, it has happened to me.  It was a windy day, and I was alone at the house.  I was using a medium-sized extension ladder, and failed to tie it off to the gutter.

The crash of the falling ladder was the first indication of a problem. There I was, stuck on the roof with no one at home and no client or agent to lend a hand.  I waited for about 15 minutes until I was able to catch the attention of a passerby on the street. They were kind enough to help, and polite enough not to laugh.

What did I learn? Tie off your ladder, especially on a windy day.

Here is a good website on ladder safety. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/falls/4ladders.html

Everyone likes to feel they are strong. Sometimes it gets us into trouble. Standing on the rear deck about 5 feet above grade, a new inspector and I were explaining to the client the importance of guardrails around a high deck like this. We spoke about how people often lean against railings and there can be a lot of force on them, especially during a party with lots of people and a little alcohol.

My associate grabbed the railing and applied some force – more than the railing could withstand, as a matter of fact. The railing gave way and he would have fallen after it, had the client and I not grabbed him. The point was made, but the damage was done. We were all a little shaken up.

It was very difficult to make the seller understand that the railing was unsafe and not our responsibility to replace. We ended up splitting the cost of replacement.

What was the weak link? In this case there were several, but the most significant was where the railing was (barely) secured to the house wall. We often can’t tell by looking where the problem may be.

What did we learn? Test progressively and carefully. Don’t put yourself in danger. Have you ever done anything like this at an inspection? Let me know.

Footnote: From an insurance standpoint, this is where Commercial General Liability insurance is useful. If you damage something at an inspection, you can be insured.

Here is an article from Newsweek that may be of interest to Canadians in these  uncertain times. Many professional home inspectors in Canada and the United States are struggling, and we look forward to a significant recovery where everyone can focus on, and be compensated appropriately for, providing incredible value to home buyers and homeowners throughout North America.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/183670